Question

Sketch the character of:

i) Robert Baldwin

ii) John Gresham.

Answer 1

1. Robert Baldwin:
   Robert Baldwin is the central character around whom the whole one-act play revolves. He is a middle-class father who values honesty and loyalty to the organization for more than 35 year-long friendship. He rises in the esteem of the readers and theatre-goers on realizing that he wants to leave a legacy of honesty to his children and not the ill-gotten hundred thousand dollars which could give his family a life of comfort they did want to lead. Baldwin is really hurt by the three-sided attack (i.e.) a war of words waged against his honesty by Martha, Evie, and John. Even before the trial begins against Gresham, Baldwin is made to feel like a traitor. His family members accuse him of letting down the honor of a close family friend who had made a very generous offer. The mental agony experienced by Baldwin is a hundred times more at home. He is elated initially as he had successfully forced Gresham with a whip in hand (i.e.) honesty to ‘ close the bank and make up the loss to the customers. But when he discloses the offer of one hundred thousand dollars, as a private fortune without causing loss of a cent to depositors, he is made to experience hell by the emotional blackmail of his family members who knew very well how those three words “I don’t remember” would choke him. Baldwin holds on to honesty even at the prospect of losing both 35-year-old friendship and one hundred thousand dollars he had never had in his life.

2. John Gresham:
   John Gresham is a worldly-wise founder of a private bank. He values friendship and appoints his boyhood chum Robert Baldwin as the Governor in his bank. He is clever and is very, successful in running his bank profitably. In the meantime, he uses the deposits accrued in a 1 way that enhances his own private fortune of course without costing anything to the depositors, It is in fact a breach of trust. Nobody has had an inkling that any malpractice is going on. Even Donovan the cashier claims that the closure of the bank came as a rude shock to him as he had married on the strength of the job and salary from the bank.

   Martha claims she withdrew her money without telling Baldwin who is very loyal to Gresham. He would never have approved of it. After being found out and when the trial against him on misappropriation of funds is in “progress he offers a bit of one hundred thousand dollars from his private fortune. He knows’ that only Baldwin alone could help the law to nail him. But if he says, “I don’t remember” again using the goodwill regained in the lawsuit. But he understands the body language of, Baldwin. He realizes it would be a painful thing for Baldwin to testify against him. He might be bad as a banker, but he values the feelings of Baldwin and his honesty. He confesses to avid embarrassment to Baldwin and informs ‘Third National’ chairman that Baldwin has not for technical questions, he would be let off the hook. If acquitted, he could make money budged even after the offer of one hundred thousand dollars.