On the Face of It — Susan Hill
1. Background of the Play
Author: Susan Hill, a British novelist and playwright.
Play: On the Face of It
Genre: One-act play / drama.
The play deals with loneliness, disability, prejudice, appearance, and human relationships.
It focuses on the meeting between Derry, a young boy with a burnt face, and Mr Lamb, an old man with a tin leg.
Both characters are physically different and experience loneliness, but they respond to life in very different ways.
The play teaches us that a person should not be judged by physical appearance or disability.
Mr Lamb helps Derry change his negative attitude toward himself and the world.
2. Setting
The play is set mainly in Mr Lamb’s garden.
The garden is a beautiful, open place with flowers, trees, bees, weeds, and ripe apples.
It is an important contrast to Derry’s closed and isolated life.
The garden symbolizes freedom, acceptance, openness, and life.
Derry enters the garden secretly because he is afraid of people.
Mr Lamb welcomes him without judging his appearance.
The garden becomes the place where Derry begins to open up emotionally.
3. Characters
Derry
A fourteen-year-old boy whose face has been badly burnt by acid.
He believes that people are afraid or disgusted when they see him.
He is bitter, lonely, self-conscious, and withdrawn.
He avoids people because of their reactions to his face.
He has developed a negative attitude toward life.
His meeting with Mr Lamb changes his outlook.
By the end, he becomes more confident, hopeful, and willing to face the world.
Mr Lamb
An old man who has a tin leg because of the loss of his real leg in the war.
He lives alone in a garden.
He is cheerful, positive, friendly, and open-minded.
He does not care about what people think of his disability.
He keeps his gate open and welcomes everyone.
He believes that life should be enjoyed despite difficulties.
He acts as a mentor and guide to Derry.
Derry's Mother
She is protective of Derry.
She warns him against visiting Mr Lamb.
Her attitude reflects society's tendency to judge people based on rumours and appearances.
4. Tone and Mood
Tone
The tone changes throughout the play:
Sad and serious at the beginning because of Derry's loneliness.
Friendly and philosophical during Mr Lamb's conversation with Derry.
Hopeful and inspiring as Derry's attitude changes.
Tragic and emotional at the end when Mr Lamb dies.
Mood
The audience experiences:
Loneliness
Sympathy
Curiosity
Warmth
Hope
Suspense
Shock and sadness at the conclusion
5. Perspective
The play is presented through dramatic dialogue and action rather than through a narrator.
The audience learns about Derry's feelings mainly through his conversation with Mr Lamb.
Initially, we see the world largely from Derry's pessimistic perspective.
Mr Lamb provides a contrasting positive perspective.
The contrast between their attitudes helps Derry—and the audience—understand that life depends more on one's attitude than one's physical appearance.
6. Flowchart
Derry enters Mr Lamb's garden
↓
Mr Lamb welcomes him instead of rejecting him
↓
Derry reveals his insecurity about his burnt face
↓
Mr Lamb talks about his own disability and loneliness
↓
Mr Lamb teaches Derry to accept life positively
↓
Derry begins to change his attitude
↓
Derry decides to return to Mr Lamb
↓
Mr Lamb falls from the ladder and dies
↓
Derry returns, showing that he has overcome his fear and isolation
7. Summary in Points
Derry, a fourteen-year-old boy, enters Mr Lamb's garden without permission.
Derry has one side of his face badly burnt by acid.
He believes people avoid him because of his appearance.
Mr Lamb, an old man with a tin leg, discovers Derry in his garden.
Instead of becoming angry, Mr Lamb welcomes him.
Derry is surprised by Mr Lamb's friendly attitude.
Mr Lamb tells Derry that people should not be judged by their physical appearance.
He talks about his own tin leg and how he has learned to accept life.
Mr Lamb explains that he keeps his garden gate open because he does not want to shut people out.
He tells Derry that there are many things in life worth experiencing.
Derry tells Mr Lamb about the cruel reactions of people to his burnt face.
Mr Lamb encourages him not to let other people's opinions control his life.
Derry begins to feel more confident and decides that he wants to return to Mr Lamb.
Derry goes home and tells his mother that he wants to go back.
His mother tries to stop him because she has heard negative things about Mr Lamb.
Derry ignores her fears and returns to the garden.
He finds Mr Lamb lying on the ground after falling from a ladder.
Mr Lamb has died.
Despite the tragedy, Derry's return shows that he has undergone an important positive transformation.
8. Literary Analysis
The play explores the psychological effects of physical disability and social prejudice.
Derry and Mr Lamb are both physically disabled, but their attitudes toward life are completely different.
Derry represents insecurity and isolation, while Mr Lamb represents acceptance and optimism.
Their conversation becomes a process of emotional healing for Derry.
The garden is symbolic: it is open and welcoming, just as Mr Lamb's personality is.
Derry's decision to return to Mr Lamb demonstrates his transformation.
The unexpected death of Mr Lamb creates a tragic ending, but his influence continues through Derry.
The play suggests that true disability can be a negative state of mind rather than a physical condition.
Susan Hill uses simple dialogue and symbolism to communicate a powerful message about acceptance and human dignity.
9. Central Idea - The central idea of On the Face of It is that people should not allow physical appearance, disability, or the opinions of others to determine their view of themselves or their lives.
Derry considers himself different and unwanted because of his burnt face. Mr Lamb, despite having a tin leg, accepts himself and enjoys life. Through their interaction, Derry learns to overcome his fear and isolation.
10. Themes
1. Appearance vs Reality - People often judge others by their physical appearance, but appearance does not reveal a person's true character.
2. Loneliness and Isolation - Both Derry and Mr Lamb are lonely, although they deal with loneliness differently.
3. Disability and Social Prejudice - The play shows that society often treats people with physical disabilities differently.
4. Positive Attitude Towards Life - Mr Lamb demonstrates that difficulties should not prevent a person from enjoying life.
5. Human Connection - The conversation between Derry and Mr Lamb shows how a genuine human relationship can transform someone's life.
6. Self-Acceptance - Derry must learn to accept himself rather than constantly worrying about how others see him.
7. Fear and Courage - Derry initially hides from society, but eventually finds the courage to return to Mr Lamb.
11. Message - The play gives a powerful message:
Do not judge people by their appearance.
Physical disability does not make a person inferior.
We should accept ourselves and others as they are.
Other people's negative opinions should not control our lives.
Isolation increases suffering, while human connection can bring hope.
A positive attitude can help us overcome difficult circumstances.
We should keep ourselves open to people and experiences instead of shutting ourselves away.
12. Literary Devices
1. Symbolism
Garden: Represents life, freedom, openness, and acceptance.
Open gate: Symbolizes Mr Lamb's willingness to accept everyone.
Tin leg: Represents physical disability but also Mr Lamb's ability to live confidently despite it.
Bees: Symbolize activity, life, and the importance of accepting the natural world.
Weeds: Suggest that everything has a place and value.
2. Contrast - The author contrasts:
Derry's pessimism with Mr Lamb's optimism.
Derry's isolation with Mr Lamb's openness.
Derry's fear of people with Mr Lamb's acceptance of people.
Physical disability with inner strength.
3. Metaphor - Mr Lamb uses comparisons and figurative expressions to explain his philosophy of life and human relationships.
4. Irony - There is irony in the fact that:
Mr Lamb, who is physically disabled, has a much more positive outlook than Derry.
Derry initially thinks Mr Lamb's garden is a place to escape from people, but it becomes the place where he learns to reconnect with life.
Derry returns to Mr Lamb to begin a new relationship, only to discover that Mr Lamb has died.
5. Imagery - Descriptions of:
Flowers
Trees
Bees
Apples
Weeds
The garden create vivid images and reinforce the theme of life and natural beauty.
6. Dialogue - The entire play relies heavily on dialogue. The conversation between Derry and Mr Lamb reveals:
Their personalities
Their fears
Their experiences
Their philosophies of life
Derry's transformation
7. Allusion - Mr Lamb refers to stories and experiences from everyday life to communicate philosophical ideas about people, nature, and acceptance.
Title Justification — On the Face of It
The title “On the Face of It” is appropriate because the play deals with the difference between appearance and reality.
At first glance, Derry appears to be a lonely and unhappy boy because his face is badly burnt.
Mr Lamb appears physically disabled because he has a tin leg.
People judge both characters based on their physical appearance.
However, their inner personalities are very different from what their appearance suggests.
Derry is sensitive and insecure, while Mr Lamb is positive, cheerful, and accepting of life.
The phrase also suggests that things may appear different “on the face of it” but may be completely different when understood deeply.
The play teaches us that we should look beyond physical appearance and understand the person within.
Thus, the title is highly appropriate because the play challenges the habit of judging people merely “on the face of it.”
Title Justification — On the Face of It
The title is appropriate because the play shows that things are not always what they appear to be. Derry and Mr Lamb are judged by their physical disabilities, but their inner qualities are much more important than their appearance. The title emphasizes the theme of appearance versus reality and teaches us not to judge people merely by their looks.
13. Motifs (Only For Reading)
Comments
Post a Comment