WHAT IS THE SUMMARY OF " THE DEAR DEPARTED " ?

In this drama,The Dear Departed ,by William Stanley Houghton satirizes(critisizes)the degradation of moral values in respect and care within the members of the family itself.

It starts like this when the slater family got to know that their grandpa paved way heavenly abode at seventy two.The drama is likely seemed to take place two weeks after his death.The fourteenth day was the mourning day for the family.He spent his last days with Mrs.Slater but before he lived with Mrs.Jordan.Slater never wanted to divide up the belongings of grandpa with mrs.jordan as she acheived what she planned to get grandpa 's bureau dowm from his room and pretend to her sis ' that she won it at an second hand auction.The humurous thing is that both of them thought that their grandpa is dead. The fact is that he is still living in upstairs,and when he came down,the family portraits him as transmigrated one.He comes to know that his daughters were only after his valuables and didn 't even dare to care about him.So,now here 's a funny stuff when they heard the words sayin ' that he is goin ' to be married to a lady in the church.

This drama signifies that how the present generation is reacting towards the elders.The worldly people are after materealistic things , not the care and affectionate they have for the lonely old aged ones.How close we are to them and even a bit time we spend with them,we should ask ourselves.

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Stanley Houghton uses various literary devices to criticise basic human characteristics, in The Dear Departed. He uses a mixture of irony, dramatic irony, sarcasm, simultaneous speech, humour and a twist in the plot to criticise human traits. The characters in the story are very two-dimensional and there is no development. This allows us to easily see through their character and understand their actions.

In this short play, Houghton manages to portray irony in many different ways. Firstly, the title is already ironic. The departed, Abel Merryweather, is not one bit dear and precious to them. The only thing the sisters are interested in is the money or valuables he owns. The ironic statements make the readers think. While the more they think the more they realise the irony criticises our basic human characteristics.

Another instance of irony is between the sisters. When they thought Abel was dead, they were complaining of what a burden he was to them. The moment Abel mentions his new will, in which he will leave everything to the person he is living with when he dies, they both fight for him to live with them. This will is a trophy that both this sisters want and will do anything to get. The irony of this shows us the shallowness of humans, the need for us to have anything that benefits us, no matter what the cost.

Houghton criticises human traits by using dramatic irony, a situation in a play or other fiction in which a character unwittingly makes a remark that the audience is intended to see as ironic, or in contradiction to the full truth. In the play, Mrs Slater comment on the low, money-grubbing spirit of her sister. To us as the audience, we clearly see that she herself is exactly what she calls her sister. This exposes the hypocritical nature of humans, where we jump up at any situation to criticise others while failing to see similar faults in ourselves.

Houghton also uses sarcasm to criticise and bring out the faults of human characteristics. At the end of the play, Abel says he is going to get married. He says it is meant to come as a pleasant surprise. This is clearly sarcasm in action as he knows exactly what his children want, yet he is putting guilt on them. For the sisters, Abel moving away with his money is indeed a surprise, a shocking one. This insults their greed and selfishness.

In several parts of the play, people talk simultaneously. This is to increase the tension in the play. When the characters do this, it is usually to cover up some of their mistakes. This gets our attention and we see the struggle they are up against to make up a viable lie. Though this is humorous, we see truth in it. We, humans, are constantly covering up for ourselves; we lie to hide our previous lies. The sisters have a need to portray a good image to everyone else. They do not want to be second best hence the cover and hide until they give people the impression of what they want to be seen. Houghton is critical of our need for society to perceive us good human beings, an image we want to uphold, and not what we truly are.

Houghton includes a twist in the plot to surprise the audience. This brings out the characteristics of humans that he is so critical of. In light of a sudden change, we can clearly see the ways in which the characters try to make the situation bend in such a way it benefits them. When the sisters realise Abel has changed his will, they try to lie and get him to live with them. This twist in the plot is how the sisters get the lesson they deserve. They are unable to get what they want.

Victoria is an important character in the play. She is the contrast to what the older generation are; she is innocent, smart and observant. This is seen when she questions her father about pinching the bureau. She sees what the older people block out. Her role as a foil is very important in the way in which Houghton criticises human traits. Victoria is a foil; her contrast to the others brings out the bad characteristics in the others. She has genuine affection and love for her grandfather. She spoils everything the others have tried to do by saying Im so glad youre not dead to Abel. This depicts a clear contrast between love and heartlessness.

There are many themes in this play. One of them is family. This family is the prime example of what a family should not be like. There is no sense of filial duty from the sisters. There is no love, only cold heartedness and bitter resentment. Another theme is greed. Greed is one of the seven deadly sins, being greedy deserves a bad ending. Houghton is critical of humans and their lack of concern to anything or anyone other than themselves.

With the use of cleverly crafted sarcasm, irony, themes and twists, Houghton effectively criticises human characteristics. He is able to convey a message of love and family values. He is able to tell us that we have to love to be happy. No one is able to live in a live of coldness, selfishness

The play The Dear Departed presents an interesting situation that has tragically become a

common place in the world of today. The scene of the play is set in the sitting room of a smallhouse in a lower middle-class district of a town. The setting of the play reveals that MrsSlater, a plump an active lady is in mourning and she is getting ready to receive some guests.It is revealed that Victoria's grandfather has passed away and the Slater family is gettingready to receive Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Ben. Victoria expresses surprise at this newsbecause her aunt and uncle had not paid a visit for years all together. Mrs. Slater reveals thatthey are coming over to talk about grandfathers affairs, on hearing of his death.Everyone starts blaming the old man for not paying his premium. Victoria is instructed to goover to grandpas room to get the receipt of the premium. But, she entered looking dazed.She gives the shocking news that Grandpa was active and moving around.After sometime, Mr Abel enters and is surprised to see all his people gathered. He is curious toknow why they are wearing mourning dresses. He reveals that he was well and just had aslight headache. Perhaps, his rest must have been mistaken as death by his people. MrsJordan makes up some story to pacify him. The husbands join their wives in hurling (throw)accusations at each other.Abel discovers the greed that his daughters have, and declares that he was going to changehis will and all the money will go to the one, in whose house he dies. Both daughters fightwith each other to keep their father.Abel candidly watching all the fun and makes an announcement which shocks everyone. OnMonday, he would go to the lawyer and alter his will, and then he would go the insuranceoffice and pay his premium. After that he would go to the church and get married toMrs Shorrock.Hope it helps you!!! All the best!!

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The play ‘The dear departed’ present an interesting situation that has tragically become common place in the world of today. The scene of the play is set in the sitting room of a small house in a lower middle-class district of a provincial town. The setting of the play reveals that the tea-table has been laid. Mrs. Slater, a plump an active lady is in mourning and she is getting ready to receive some guests. She beckons to her daughter Victoria, who is ten year old, and instructs her to change into something sober. It is revealed that Victoria’s grandfather has passed away and the Slater family is getting ready to receive Aunt Elizabeth and Uncle Ben. Victoria expresses surprise at this news because her aunt uncle had not paid a visit for year’s altogether. Mrs. Slater reveals that they were coming over to talk about grandfather’s affairs, on hearing of his death. In the meanwhile Mr. Slater enters. He is stooping and heavy man and he is also in mourning dress.

Henry Slater is skeptical whether Elizabeth will come or not for last time when Mrs. Slater and Elizabeth had quarreled she had vowed never to pay a visit again to their house. Mrs. Slater gives Henry new slippers of her father. She also plans to take away the new bureau of the grandfather and shift it to their room, before Elizabeth and Ben arrive. Both the husband and wife, lock the front door and shift the bureau down and put their old chest of drawers there. Victoria wants to know why they were stealing grandfather’s things but her mother tells her to remain quiet. Grandpa’s new clock is also taken away. Meanwhile there is loud knocking at the door and the Slaters take plenty of time to look normal Mrs. Jordan and Ben pretend to be emotional at the death of Mr. Abel Merry weather. Both the ladies compare their mourning dresses, criticizing the others outfit. Mrs. Jordan is surprised to discover that no doctor had been summoned to check her father. Mrs. Slater insists in a stubborn manner that she had been keen on Mr. Pringle and if he was out of station, they couldn’t be offensive to call someone else. Mrs. Slater reveals that her father had been happy in the morning and he had apparently gone to pay the premium of his insurance policy. He was generally going to “Ring-O-Bells’ frequently and the night before he had come drunk and had gone to bed without having dinner. Mrs. Jordan and Ben prefer to have tea before going and look up father. All four of them start discussing about the obituary and the kind of announcement in the newspaper to be inserted. Mrs. Jordan wants a long poem but Mrs. Slater protests by saying that father had willed his gold watch to her son jimmy. Mrs. Slater feels very offended and refuses to believe it.

Victoria his premium but had instead gone over to ‘The Ring of Bells’, the public house and managed by John Shorrock’s widow. Everyone starts blaming the old man for not playing his premium. Victoria is instructed to go over a grandpa’s room get the receipt of the premium. Mrs. Jordan is surprised to note a new bureau and she wishes to know the details because she doubts on Mrs. Slater’s version. Victoria enters, looking dazed. She gives the shocking news that grandpa was stirring and moving. After sometimes Mr. Abel Merry Weather enters and is surprised to see his other daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Jordan. He reveals that he was well and just had a slight headache he notices Henry wearing his new slippers and takes them. Mr. Abel wishes to know, why all were in mourning dresses. Mrs. Jordan makes up some story to pacify him. Abel Merry weather enjoys tea and has a generous slice of the apple-pie. He grumbles and scolds Mrs. Slater for taking away his bureau.

Mrs.Jordan gets agitated and accuses her sister of robbing her father. The husbands also join their wives in hurling accusations at each other Abel discovers about his death. He addresses his daughters directly and declares that he was going to change his will and all the money will go to the one, in whose house he dies. Both the daughters fight with each other to keep their father. Abel is candidly watching all the fun. At last he makes his announcement which shocks everyone. On Monday, he would go to the lawyer and alter his will, and then he would go to the insurance office and pay his premium. After that he would go to the church and get married to Mrs. Shorrock. Everyone is shocked. Abel reveals that he had at last found someone who was happy to keep him. He exits with an invitation of his marriage. He also thanks Mrs. Slater for shifting the bureau down-stairs for now it will be easy to cart away to “Ring-O-Bells’.