Unit No. 11: The Dear Departed by Stanley Houghton (Class 9)
Questions and Their Answers (For All Students in General)
Q.No.1: How are family relationships portrayed in “The Dear Departed”?
Answer: The play highlights that greed and hypocrisy dominate the family relations. These relations lack the true spirit of affection. They fight over inheritance.
Q.No.2: Describe the character of Mrs. Slater regarding her plan to outshine the Jordans.
Answer: Mrs. Slater’s plan to outshine the Jordans shows that she is greedy, selfish, and dishonest. She is fake and just pretends to care.
Q.No.3: What is the central conflict in “The Dear Departed”?
Answer: In the play, the central conflict is greed versus family values. Greed and hypocrisy dominate family relations. They lack the true spirit of affection. They fight over inheritance.
Q.No.4: How do the characters react when they find out Abel is still alive?
Answer: When the characters find out that Abel is still alive, it shocks them. Their plans fail badly. everyone clearly sees their hypocrisy.
Q.No.5: What is the significance of the title “The Dear Departed”?
Answer: The title is out and out ironic. “Dear” means love, but there is an absence of it. “Departed” means dead, but Abel is alive.
Q.No.6: How does Stanley Houghton use dialogues to reveal characters and advance the plot?
Answer: Houghton’s use of dialogues is highly remarkable. They expose the intentions, selfishness, and nature of the characters.
Q.No.7: What is the message in this play?
Answer: The play teaches us love, respect, and true family values over wealth. It teaches us to shun materialism.
Q.No.8: What is the effect of the new will of the grandfather on his daughters?
Answer: The new will of the grandfather shocks his daughters. Their plans and greed fail. They are sorry, but it is too late.
