KANHA MAKHAN MILLENIUM SCHOOL

OMAXE, VRINDAVAN

"The Dear Departed"

Key points

1. Decline of Family Values: The play satirizes the erosion of family bonds and the
increasing importance of material possessions over genuine human connection.
2. Hypocrisy and Greed: The characters' actions expose the hypocrisy and greed prevalent
in society, as they prioritize inheritance and personal gain over mourning their father's death.

3. Satire on Materialism: The play humorously criticizes the materialistic tendencies of the
characters, highlighting the superficiality of their concerns.
4. Irony and Dramatic Effect: The use of irony, dramatic irony, and witty dialogue creates a
humorous and thought-provoking experience for the audience.
5. Social Commentary: The play serves as a social commentary on the changing values and
priorities of modern society, where material possessions often outweigh emotional bonds.
Character Sketches
Mrs. Amelia Slater
Dominating and Assertive: She's the driving force behind the family's materialistic
pursuits.
Materialistic: She's more interested in inheriting her father's possessions than mourning
his loss.
Hypocritical: She pretends to mourn her father while scheming to gain his belongings.
Sharp-tongued: She's quick-witted and uses her words to manipulate situations.
Mr. Henry Slater
Submissive: He's a henpecked husband who lacks a strong personality.
Indecisive: He's easily swayed by his wife's opinions.
Weak-willed: He's unable to stand up to his wife's demands.
Mrs. Elizabeth Jordan
Stout and Complacent: She's a self-satisfied and arrogant woman.
Materialistic: She's equally greedy as her sister and desires her father's possessions.
Critical: She's constantly criticizing her sister and her family.
Sharp-tongued: She's quick to argue and bicker.
Mr. Ben Jordan
Practical: He's a realist who understands the inevitability of death.
Hypocritical: Despite his practical nature, he participates in the family's materialistic
pursuits.
Weak-willed: He's easily influenced by his wife.
Abel Merry weather
* Wise and Perceptive: He's a wise old man who sees through the hypocrisy of his
daughters.
* Humorous: He enjoys a good laugh and has a quick wit.
* Disillusioned: He's disappointed by his daughters' greed and selfishness.
Victoria Slater:
* Innocent and Pure: She's a young girl who loves her grandfather and is untouched
by the greed of the adults.
* Observant: She notices the hypocrisy of her parents and aunts.
 * Hopeful: She represents the future and the possibility of change.
These characters, with their contrasting personalities and motivations, contribute to
the satirical and humorous tone of the play.

Satirical play
1. Ridicule of Middle-Class Values:
* Greed and Materialism: The characters are more concerned with inheriting their father's
possessions than mourning his death. They argue over trivial matters like who gets the best
armchair or the grandfather clock.
* Hypocrisy: The characters pretend to be grieving and mourning their father, but their true
intentions are revealed through their actions and conversations.
* Lack of Empathy: The characters are insensitive to each other's feelings and are only
concerned with their own interests.
2. Exaggeration and Caricature:
* Stereotypical Characters: The characters are exaggerated versions of real-life people,
such as the materialistic and self-centered Mrs. Slater and the gullible and easily
manipulated Henry.
* Farcical Situations: The play is filled with absurd and humorous situations, such as the
characters' constant bickering and their attempts to outsmart each other.
3. Irony and Sarcasm:
* Situational Irony: The characters' plans and intentions often backfire, leading to humorous
and ironic situations. For example, their attempts to hide their true feelings about their
father's death are exposed.
* Verbal Irony: The characters often say one thing but mean another, using sarcasm to
highlight their hypocrisy and insincerity.
4. Social Commentary:
* Criticism of Materialism: The play criticizes the excessive focus on material possessions
and the neglect of human values.
* Satire of Family Relationships: The play satirizes the dysfunctional dynamics within
families, where self-interest and greed overshadow love and compassion.
By using these satirical elements, Houghton effectively exposes the flaws and hypocrisies of
middle-class society, encouraging the audience to reflect on their own values and behaviors.

VICTORIA as a character

"Victoria, a young girl of ten, stands out in "The Dear Departed" as a beacon of innocence
and genuine emotion amidst the self-serving characters. Unlike her family members who are
more preoccupied with material gains and social status, Victoria genuinely mourns her
grandfather's supposed death. She is deeply saddened by the loss and expresses genuine
grief, unlike the feigned sorrow of the adults.
Victoria's character serves as a stark contrast to the materialistic and hypocritical behavior of
the other characters. She is a symbol of youthful innocence and sincerity, highlighting the
stark reality of the situation. Her presence in the play adds a layer of depth and irony, as her
genuine emotions expose the shallowness of the adults' actions.
Through Victoria, the play subtly criticizes the superficiality and self-centeredness of middle-
class society. Her character serves as a reminder of the importance of human connection,
empathy, and genuine emotions.
"The Dear Departed" is a sharp satire that brilliantly exposes the shallowness and
materialism of the characters, highlighting a societal trend where material possessions often
take precedence over familial bonds and human compassion.
The play's central theme is the stark contrast between the outward show of grief and the
underlying greed and self-interest of the characters. The Slater and Jordan families, upon
hearing of their father's supposed demise, immediately shift their focus to the division of his
belongings rather than genuinely mourning his loss. Their behavior is a poignant
commentary on how materialistic values can erode traditional family values and the respect
for elders.
The play's humor derives from the absurdity of their actions, as they squabble over
possessions while the "dear departed" is still breathing. This satirical approach effectively
underscores the hypocrisy and superficiality of their mourning.
Moreover, the character of Abel Merryweather serves as a stark contrast to the materialistic
family members. His genuine love for his granddaughter, Victoria, and his eventual decision
to remarry for love highlight the importance of human connection and emotional depth, which
are sorely lacking in the other characters.
In conclusion, "The Dear Departed" is a timeless satire that continues to resonate with
audiences today. It serves as a cautionary tale about the dangers of materialism and the
importance of cherishing human relationships over material possessions.

The "bureau" in the play "The Dear Departed" refers to a piece of furniture, a chest of
drawers. It's a valuable item that the family members are eager to claim after their father's
supposed death.
The play doesn't specify a specific "Bureau Miss" character who talks to Henry. The
characters involved in the discussion about the bureau are primarily Mrs. Slater, Mr. Slater
(Henry), and possibly Mrs. Jordan. They are all eager to claim the bureau for themselves or
their families.
The focus of the play is on the family's greed and their lack of genuine mourning for their
father. The bureau serves as a symbol of their materialistic nature and their desire for
possessions over genuine human connection.

Q1 why does Mrs Slater plan to outshine the Jordans?

Ans:.Mrs. Slater plans to outshine the Jordans by wearing a mourning dress, believing that
they wouldn't have thought of such a gesture. This reveals several aspects of her character:
Materialistic: She prioritizes appearances and social status. The mourning dress is not a
genuine expression of grief but a tool to elevate her social standing.
Competitive: She views her relationship with the Jordans as a competition, constantly
striving to outdo them.
Shallow: Her focus on superficial aspects like clothing highlights her lack of depth and
genuine emotion.
Self-centered: She is more concerned with how she appears to others than with the actual
mourning process.
This behavior underscores the play's theme of materialism and the superficiality of the
characters' grief.

Q2.What does Mrs Jordan describe as ‘a fatal mistake ‘ ? What is the irony in the comment
she makes on Mrs Slater’s defence?
Ans: Mrs. Jordan describes Mrs. Slater's decision not to call another doctor when their father
was ill as a "fatal mistake." She believes that if another doctor had been called, their father
might have been saved.
The irony in Mrs. Jordan's comment lies in the fact that she herself is also guilty of
neglecting their father. She could have arrived earlier to check on him, but she prioritized
other matters. Additionally, both sisters are more concerned with the division of their father's
belongings than with his well-being.
So, while Mrs. Jordan criticizes Mrs. Slater for her "fatal mistake," she is also guilty of similar
negligence and hypocrisy.

Q3. Ben appreciates grandfather saying ‘it's a good thing he did ‘later he calls him a
‘drunken old beggar ‘why does he change his opinion about grandfather?
And: Ben initially appreciates grandfather's decision to pay his insurance premium, thinking it
would benefit the family financially. However, when he learns that grandfather has instead
chosen to spend the money on a new will and a potential marriage, his opinion changes
drastically. He becomes disillusioned and calls his grandfather a "drunken old beggar."
This shift in opinion reveals the materialistic and self-centered nature of Ben's character. He
values his grandfather only for his potential financial worth, and when that prospect
diminishes, so does his respect for the old man.

Q4. What change does grandfather make in his new will ?What effect does it have on his
daughters?
Ans: In his new will, the grandfather makes a significant change: he decides to leave all his
possessions to Mrs. Shorrocks, a woman he plans to marry. This unexpected move
completely disrupts his daughters' plans to inherit his wealth.
This change has a profound effect on his daughters. They are shocked and dismayed, as
their hopes of financial gain are dashed. Their greed and materialism are exposed, as their
primary concern is the loss of potential inheritance rather than genuine concern for their
father's well-being.
This plot twist serves to satirize the characters' materialistic nature and their lack of genuine
affection for their father. It highlights the importance of human connection and the dangers of
prioritizing material possessions over family and love.

Q5. What are the three things that grandfather plans to do on Monday next?
Ans: The grandfather in "The Dear Departed" plans to do three things on the following
Monday:
I)Change his will: He intends to consult a lawyer to alter his will in favor of Mrs. John
Shorrocks, the woman he plans to marry.
ii) Pay his insurance premium: He plans to fulfill his insurance premium payment.
iii) Get married: He plans to marry Mrs. John Shorrocks at St. Philip's Church.