On the face of it – Class 12 English Vistas Summary:
The theme of the Chapter: On The Face Of It – Class 12 English
The drama “On the Face of It” explores the idea that persons with any form of handicap or physical limitation suffer from feelings of loneliness and mental anguish. It also discusses how appearances can be deceiving and how we sometimes deal with preconceived notions and preconceptions about individuals without bothering to learn more about them.
About the Author:
Susan Hill (born February 5, 1942) is an English novelist and nonfiction writer. Her works include The Woman in Black, The Mist in the Mirror, and I’m the King of the Castle. For her work I’m the King of the Castle, she won the Somerset Maugham Award in 1971. In the 2012 Birthday Honours, she was named Commander of the Order of the British Empire for her contributions to literature. She is recognized for delving into her worries and loneliness, with her work reflecting genuine grief as well as hope.
Characters of the Story:
Derry: Revoked and arrogant; resentful of the world; alone and depressed; overly concerned with his condition and resents it when people gaze or blame him.
Mr. Lamb: Feel positive; alone but cheerful; has learned to accept his infirmity and is unconcerned about it.
Summary of the Chapter:
Susan Hill’s play “On the Face of It” addresses the subject of disabled persons. It does not talk about the actual pain or discomfort caused by a physical impairment that causes a disabled person to be distressed. It is more concerned with the behavior of those who surround him. People treat disabled people differently and refuse to acknowledge them as members of society. It makes him feel cut off from human culture, and he wants to live alone.
Derry, a fourteen-year-old boy with a burned face, and Mr. Lamb, an older man with a tin leg, are two disabled characters in the play. Derry is reserved and obstinate. He encounters Mr. Lamb in his yard by coincidence. The elderly man devises strategies for dealing with his emotions of loneliness and disappointment. He even assists the youngster in emerging from his isolation and instills in him the strength and will to succeed in this world regardless of what others think or feel about him.
Conclusion of the Story:
The drama is about a bond between an elderly man and a reclusive and defiant little child. Both of them had some physical limitations, but their perspectives on life and people, in particular, were vastly different. The old guy had a cheerful attitude on life, whereas the scarred-faced young child had become distant and depressed.
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FAQs:
Ques: When it’s a little chilly outside, how does Mr. Lamb keep himself occupied?
Answer: When the weather gets cooler, Mr. Lamb harvests crab apples and makes jelly with them. He keeps his gates open to welcome anyone who wants to visit the garden.
Ques: In the story ‘On the Face of It,’ why does Derry tell Mr. Lamb that he is terrified of looking in the mirror?
Answer: Acid burns had left a scar on Derry’s face. This frightened him and brought up unpleasant recollections of the episode. He avoided looking in the mirror in order to avoid them.
Ques: Was Mr. Lamb’s advice to Derry based on good intentions or his desire to befriend him to alleviate his loneliness. Justify your answer.
Answer: Mr. Lamb sincerely cared about Derry and wished for him to conquer his fears of life. He didn’t want the youngster to suffer from low self-esteem as a result of his scorched face. He used himself as an example simply to show him what can be done to overcome loneliness and to show him that a handicap should not prevent one from having fun.
Ques: People are unsympathetic to the needs of disabled people. Provide examples from the story “On the Face of It.”
Answer: When people see the disabled, they usually feel sorry for them or are disgusted by them. People would, for example, gawk at Derry’s charred face and make comments about it. He even overheard two women remarking to each other, staring at his face, that only a mother could love someone with such a face. His whole family was concerned about his prospects. Similarly, people gazed at Mr. Lamb, and children also nicknamed him Lamey-Lamb.
Ques: How does Mr. Lamb attempt to dispel Derry’s irrational fears?
Answer: Mr. Lamb instilled in Derry a sense of self-assurance and bravery. He advised Derry to focus on his physical limitations rather than obsessing over his charred face. He told Derry that he still has hands and fingers, feet, eyes, a mouth, and a mind and that if he puts them to good use by focusing his thoughts, he can outperform everyone else
