Advertisements
Advertisements
प्रश्न
Sketch the character of:
i) Robert Baldwin
ii) John Gresham.
Advertisements
उत्तर
- 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. -
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.
APPEARS IN
संबंधित प्रश्न
Why did Aksionov’s wife stop him from going to the fair?
Why did Aksionov give up sending petitions?
What was Aksionov’s realization by the end of the story?
What impact did the book “The Lives of Saints” have on Aksionov?
Pick out the clues that convey that Makar Semyonich recognized Aksionov.
How did Aksionov react when his wife suspected him?
Describe the life of Aksionov in prison.
Discuss the meaning and importance of the saying “God sees the truth but waits”.
Using the mind map given below, write a brief summary of the story in your own words.
How did the presence of Richard Parker help Pi?
Describe the lifeboat.
If you were lost at sea for as long as Pi was, what is the one item you would want with you? Write a diary entry in which you identify the item and explain why it is the one thing you would want with you.
Sequence the following incidents logically to write the summary of the story ‘Life of Pi’.
- As he looked around, he was shocked to find Richard Parker on board.
- His search for water took him dangerously close to Richard Parker but nothing could stop him – neither Richard Parker nor the hyena.
- Pi left Richard Parker in a jungle and reunited with his family.
- Pi came back to life and his senses after drinking the elixir of life.
- He understood that it was Richard Parker who helped him survive for 227 days.
- He was pinned by weakness having had no food, water, or even sleep for nearly three days.
- Strangely his thirst overpowered his fear of Richard Parker and he went about exploring for freshwater.
- A little later, he succeeded in his search, when he found stacks of cans of drinking water.
- Pi was stranded in the Pacific on a lifeboat.
- Then, he realized that Parker who scared him earlier brought him peace, purpose, and wholeness.
What made Martha withdraw her money from the bank?
What does John consider ‘a technicality’?
Now match the idioms under column A with their meanings in column B:
| A. IDIOMS | B. MEANINGS |
| save one’s skin | a sudden unexpected event or news |
| make both ends meet | to be the most powerful |
| a bolt out of a clear sky | viewed with suspicion and distrust |
| go to grave | to protect oneself from difficulty |
| have the whip hand | manage one’s expenses within one’s income |
| under a cloud | to exit the world |
Let us try to picturise people in a few interesting professions (based on common perception there can be exceptions).
What was Ausable waiting for?
How had Max actually entered the room?
Who was Henry? Why had he visited Ausable’s room?
Sketch the character of Ausable.
The unexpected presence of a criminal wielding a gun triggers different reactions in the two men who entered the room. In this light, discuss the appropriacy of the title.
What was Margot waiting for? Why did William say that it was a joke?
Find out and encircle the following words in the word grid. (The words have been placed horizontally, vertically, diagonally and even back to front)
| fades | predict | discriminate | locks | reminded |
| experience | anticipated | unlock | recalls |
Now read the sentence below. Complete them appropriately with the word you identified from the grid.
The scientists______ that the Sun would come out on Venus that day after seven years.
Now read the sentence below. Complete them appropriately with the word you identified from the grid.
The children are getting ready for the ______event.
Now read the sentence below. Complete them appropriately with the word you identified from the grid.
William and other children have bullied her and ______her in a closet.
Complete the summary of the play, choosing the appropriate words from the list given below the passage.
Lord Weston was a (1)______ judge in England. Being pompous and vain, he told his secretary Roger that he had attained glory by hard work and (2)______. He expressed his displeasure over Roger’s request for a half-holiday. Suddenly, he discovered a piece of paper with the words (3)______ in his pocket, and he feared that the message was a warning conveyed by his enemies who had received legal punishments from him. As the message was sent on the 15th of March, (the day Julius Caesar was assassinated), he was (4)______ that someone affected by his fair judgement was plotting his murder. Sensing the definite attack, Lord Weston ordered his secretary to (5)______ all the doors and windows. But his wife remained (6)______ by the threat. So, Lord Weston was angered by her (7)______ reaction. He ordered Roger to send the cook and the (8)______ away. Both Weston and Roger took elaborate precautionary measures to thwart the (9)______ attempt. Finally, Weston was able to recollect that he had written the message “Remember Caesar” himself as a (10)______. Caesar was actually a gardener who had an appointment to visit Weston’s garden. The play revolves around Weston’s absent-mindedness which is the crux of the play.
| callous | unperturbed |
| well-known | gardener |
| reminder | zealous service |
| Remember Caesar | assassination |
| shut | convinced |
