READING WITH
INSIGHT PAGE
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1. This play is written in the 1950s, is it
a humorous and satirical depiction of the status of the mother in the family?
(i) What are the issues it raises?
Answer:
Many significant themes are raised in the play. The first and most important is
a solid understanding of the job and obligations of a housewife. Those who work
eight hours a day, forty hours a week regard the housewife as an underpaid
domestic servant who must obey their commands. They don't ask for her help or
appreciate her for it. The second issue is the mother's or wife's thankfulness
and exchange of affection. Every night, the husband, son, and daughter leave
the lady of the home alone and go out to have fun in their various ways. They
are unconcerned about her and have become oblivious and greedy. They are also
spoiled by their mother's excessive affection, attention, and promptness in
serving them.
(ii) Do you think it caricatures these
issues or do you think that the problems it raises are genuine? How does the play
resolve the issues? Do you agree with the resolution?
Answer:
The issues raised by the play are significant. Of course, the treatment is
amusing. The playwright resolves the challenges in an innovative way. He
enlists the aid of the East's magic. The incantation of a magical spell aids in
the personality exchange. Mrs Pearson, who has the powerful and evil
personality of Mrs Fitzgerald, now treats the daughter, son, and husband
harshly. Her harsh demeanour and commanding tone give them the impression that
she is a formidable opponent. The spoiled members are brought back to reality
by a severe dose of reality exposure. They agree to stay and help with the
supper preparations while the housewife has a conversation with her husband.
Although the solutions to the problems appear far-fetched and unnatural,
extreme measures must be used in catastrophe management.
2. If you were to write about these
issues today what are some of the incidents, issues and problems that you would
think of as relevant?
Answer:
Unfair treatment of the female genitalia at home, at work, on public
transportation, and elsewhere will come in handy. The challenges of social
inequality that women confront in practice can be highlighted through examples
of exploitation of female workers with lower earnings, harassment by seniors,
indecent remarks, eve-teasing, and molestation. Despite the idea of women's
empowerment, women still suffer the same difficulties in the twenty-first
century. Poor housewives are subjected to physical and mental suffering at the
hands of domineering husbands who flaunt their manhood by inflicting physical
abuse, barbs, and taunts on defenceless women.
Rapes and sexual harassment cases that make the
front pages of daily newspapers can also be used to highlight the problems of
women's insecurity in modern society.
3. Is drama a good medium for conveying
social messages? Discuss
Answer:
Yes, theatre is an excellent vehicle for delivering a social message. Direct
moralising is frequently despised and ignored. Drama is a form of storytelling
that depicts a slice of life through individuals in various settings. The
audience's attention is drawn to their actions and emotions. The majority of
them are emotionally invested in the protagonists. The theme's development usually
leaves a message—sometimes evident and explicit, but more often indirect and
implicit. The societal message of these plays appears to be derived from the
characters' interactions and personality features.The triumph of evil over
virtue is frequently depicted in an oblique manner. Many plays nowadays are
centred on issues that raise social consciousness, such as the dangers of
drinking and smoking, pollution, child labour, the declining gender ratio, and
the need to empower women.
4. Read the play out in parts. Enact the
play on suitable occasions.
Answer:
Do it yourself
5. Discuss in groups plays or films with
a strong message of social reform that you have watched.
Answer: For class discussion in groups. There might be a wide range of answers. The following is an example of such a response: 'SWADESH' is the most current film I've seen recently. It has a strong social change message. It portrays the story of an Indian scientist working for NASA in America who returns to India to visit his ancestral home. He is in excruciating pain because of the peasants' poor living conditions and lack of basic amenities. He quits his job in America and comes to his home nation of Swadesh to start his task of rural development. He sends a message to the villages that self-help is the best help and that we cannot rely on the government for everything. Because there is no electricity in this rural village, it is completely dark after sunset. The scientist is able to produce hydroelectricity and light the hamlet dwellings with the help of a few peasants. The water can also be utilised to irrigate crops. As a result, the peasants' economic and social situation drastically changes.
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