Class 11th - Chapter-4:Birth by A.J. Cronin

Birth – A.J. Cronin

1. Background of the Story

1. The story Birth is written by A.J. Cronin, a famous Scottish novelist and physician.

2. It is taken from his novel The Citadel.

3. The story revolves around Andrew Manson, a young doctor who faces a difficult medical situation.

4. Andrew is called to attend the delivery of a young woman named Susan Morgan.

5. The baby is born lifeless, while the mother is also in a critical condition.

6. Andrew uses his medical knowledge, patience and determination to save both mother and child.

7. The story highlights the importance of medical responsibility, dedication, courage and hope.

Overview - Only For Reading

 "Birth" is an excerpt from A.J. Cronin’s novel "The Citadel". It draws from Cronin’s own experiences as a medical doctor in the 1920s. The story reflects the challenges and moral dilemmas faced by a young doctor in a small mining town in Wales. It explores themes of hope, perseverance, and the value of human life.

Setting of the Story

• Place: The story is set in the mining town of Blaenelly in Wales.

• Time: The events take place during a cold winter night.

• Social Setting: The story portrays the life of an ordinary working-class family living in a mining community.

• Physical Setting: Most of the important events take place in the Morgan family's house, where Susan gives birth to her first child.

• Atmosphere: The atmosphere is tense, serious and suspenseful during the delivery, but becomes joyful and hopeful when Andrew saves the baby.

Summary

1. Andrew Manson was a young doctor who had recently started practising in the Welsh mining town of Blaenelly.
2. One night, Joe Morgan came to call him for his wife's delivery.
3. Susan Morgan had been married for nearly twenty years and was expecting her first child.
4. Andrew reached the Morgan house and found Susan in a serious condition.
5. He had to attend to Susan while also dealing with the difficult delivery.
6. After a long and difficult labour, the baby was born apparently lifeless.
7. Andrew first concentrated on saving Susan, who was in a critical condition.
8. Once the mother was safe, he turned his attention to the baby.
9. He discovered that the baby showed no signs of life and appeared to be dead.
10. Andrew remembered a method of artificial respiration that could help revive the newborn.
11. He worked patiently and tirelessly to restore the baby's breathing.
12. After repeated efforts, the baby began to breathe and eventually cried.
13. Andrew successfully saved both the mother and the child.

14. The experience gave him a deep sense of professional satisfaction and happiness.

Tone - Serious, emotional, realistic, hopeful and inspiring. 
Mood - Suspenseful, tense, emotional and ultimately joyful.
Perspective - Third-person narration. The story is narrated by an outside narrator who describes Andrew's actions, thoughts and emotions.

Characters and Character Traits

Character	Character Traits
Andrew Manson	Dedicated, courageous, intelligent, compassionate and hardworking
Joe Morgan	Caring, worried, patient and hopeful husband
Susan Morgan	Patient, strong and hopeful mother
Christine	Loving, understanding and supportive
The Midwife	Experienced, helpful and responsible
Dr Edward Page	Senior doctor under whom Andrew works

Central Idea - The central idea of the story Birth is the importance of dedication, determination and responsibility in the medical profession. The story describes how Dr Andrew Manson saves a newborn baby who appears lifeless after delivery. Through his courage, medical knowledge and continuous efforts, he successfully brings the baby back to life. The story highlights the value of human life, professional commitment and hope.

Themes

1. Dedication and Responsibility: A doctor must remain committed to saving lives, even in difficult situations.

2. Hope and Determination: Continuous effort and hope can overcome difficult circumstances.

3. Medical Knowledge: Knowledge and practical skills play an important role in saving lives.

4. Humanity and Compassion: Andrew shows deep concern for both the mother and the newborn.

5. Value of Life: Every human life is precious and deserves care and protection.

6. Professional Commitment: A true doctor performs duties with sincerity and dedication.

7. Victory over Difficulties: The story shows how courage and determination can turn a hopeless situation into a happy one.

Message - The story conveys that dedication, courage, patience and  determination are essential qualities of a good doctor. It teaches us never to lose hope in difficult situations. It also highlights the importance of medical knowledge, responsibility and humanity in saving lives.

Important Literary Devices  (Only For Reading)

 

Literary Device	Explanation / Example
Imagery	Descriptions of the difficult delivery and Andrew's efforts create vivid pictures in the reader's mind.
Suspense	The condition of the newborn creates tension about whether the baby will survive.
Contrast	The story contrasts the baby's lifeless condition with its eventual revival.
Symbolism	The newborn baby's revival symbolises hope, new beginnings and the victory of life.
Irony	The baby appears dead after birth but is eventually brought back to life.
Dialogue	Conversations between Andrew, Joe Morgan and other characters make the story realistic.
Climax	The baby's first cry marks the most exciting and emotional moment of the story.

Title Justification and Relevance - The title Birth is appropriate because the entire story revolves around the birth of Susan Morgan's first child.

• It describes the difficult birth of a newborn baby.

• It highlights Andrew Manson's struggle to save the child.

• It presents the baby's revival after it appears lifeless.

• It symbolises hope, happiness and a new beginning.

• It highlights the importance of life and the medical profession.

Thus, the title is simple, meaningful and perfectly reflects the central subject of the story. Flowchart of the Story

Andrew Manson – A Young Doctor ↓ Works as an Assistant to Dr Edward Page ↓ Joe Morgan Calls Him for His Wife's Delivery ↓ Andrew Reaches the Morgan House ↓ Susan Morgan Experiences a Difficult Delivery ↓ A Baby Boy Is Born Apparently Lifeless ↓ Andrew Saves the Mother First ↓ He Turns His Attention to the Newborn Baby ↓ Uses Hot and Cold Water and Artificial Respiration ↓ The Baby Slowly Begins to Breathe ↓ The Baby Cries and Comes Back to Life ↓ Conclusion: Andrew Successfully Saves Both Mother and Child.

Important Terms and Their Meanings (Only For Reading)

Term	Meaning
Midwife	A person trained to assist women during childbirth
Delivery	The process of giving birth to a baby
Stillborn	A baby born without signs of life
Resuscitation	The process of bringing someone back to life or restoring breathing
Artificial Respiration	A method of helping someone breathe
Obstetrics	The branch of medicine dealing with pregnancy and childbirth
Haemorrhage	Excessive bleeding
Exhaustion	Extreme physical or mental tiredness
Determination	The quality of not giving up
Compassion	Sympathy and concern for others

Additional Important Points (Only For Reading)

1. Andrew's Professional Dedication: Andrew does not give up despite the difficult medical situation.

2. Saving the Mother: He first attends to Susan's critical condition and ensures her safety.

3. Saving the Baby: He uses his medical knowledge and artificial respiration to revive the apparently lifeless newborn.

4. Scientific Knowledge: Andrew uses the method of alternating hot and cold water to stimulate the baby's breathing.

5. Emotional Victory: The baby's first cry gives Andrew immense happiness and satisfaction.

6. Humanity: Andrew proves that a good doctor needs not only medical knowledge but also compassion and patience.

7. Professional Satisfaction: Saving two lives gives Andrew a deep sense of achievement.

Important Facts to Remember

·       Author: A.J. Cronin
·       Full Name: Archibald Joseph Cronin
·       Nationality: Scottish
·       Profession: Physician and novelist
·       Source: The Citadel
·       Main Character: Andrew Manson
·       Patient: Susan Morgan
·       Husband: Joe Morgan
·       Senior Doctor: Dr Edward Page
·       Main Event: Revival of a newborn baby
·       Main Theme: Dedication, determination and the value of human life
·       Main Lesson: Never give up hope in difficult situations.

 Important Personalities (ONLY FOR READING)

Personality	Character Traits / Role
Andrew Manson	Young doctor who saves the mother and newborn baby
Joe Morgan	Husband who anxiously waits for his first child
Susan Morgan	Mother who gives birth to the baby
Christine	Andrew's beloved
The Midwife	Assists during the delivery
Dr Edward Page	Senior doctor under whom Andrew works

 Question and Answers

Question 1: “I have done something; oh, God! I’ve done something real at last.” Why does Andrew say this? What does it mean?

Answer: The young doctor Andrew Manson had done a commendable work. His exclamation is justified. He had not only helped the middle-aged lady in the safe delivery of a male child but also restored them to perfect health. Susan Morgan’s strength was ebbing after the delivery. She was almost pulse less. Andrew gave her an injection and worked severely to strengthen her heart.

The major achievement of Andrew was to resuscitate the stillborn child. First, he laid the child of a blanket and began the special method of respiration. Then he tried the hot and cold water treatment dipping the baby alternately. He laboured in vain for half an hour. He then made another last effort. He rubbed the child with a rough towel. He went on pressing and releasing the baby’s little chest with both his hands. At last the baby responded. His chest heaved. Andrew redoubled his efforts. The child was gasping now. A bubble of mucus came from his tiny nostril. The pale skin turned pink. His limbs became hard. Then came the child’s cry.

Question 3: What impression do you form of Andrew Manson on the basis of the story ‘Birth’?

Answer: Andrew Manson is a young man who has recently qualified as a doctor and started his medical practice as an assistant to Dr Edward Page in the small Welsh mining town of Blaenelly. He is in love with Christine and thinks of marriage as an idyllic state. His heart is overflowing with love. His steady mind and reason help him see the marriages of many persons as dismal failures.

Andrew is mature enough to keep his private and professional lives apart. Once confronted with his responsibility, he discharges his obligations to the utmost capacity. He is duty conscious. He believes in practical approach. He is pragmatic and is not afraid to try unique methods.
Andrew has a tender heart. He is aware of the feelings of others. He knows how deeply Susan loved her coming baby. He has polite manners and reassuring tone. On the whole, Andrew impresses us as a dedicated doctor.

Question 4: Compare and contrast Andrew’s emotional, mental and physical state at the beginning of the story and at the end.

Answer: At the beginning of the story Andrew is physically tired and emotionally upset. He has just returned from a disappointing evening with Christine, the girl he loved. His thoughts are heavy and muddled. The episode he had witnessed at Cardiff station still filled his mind with sadness. Though he thought of marriage as a blissful state, he couldn’t help remembering the miserable failure of many marriages.

 At the end of the story, Andrew is physically exhausted but emotionally cheerful and mentally alert. His mind is filled with joy and self-satisfaction. He has performed an unusual feat, no less than a miracle. He calls upon God as witness that he has done something real at last. This sense of achievement helps him to overcome physical fatigue. His sense of duty towards his patients helps him to attend them whole-heartedly. He forgets his personal feelings and thinks only of reviving the patients.