ON THE FACE OF IT( CLASS XII VISTAS)

On The Face Of It

By Susan Hill

Glossary

·         Crab apples – apples that are hard and sour; often used for making jam and jelly	·         Windfalls – fruit, specially apples that have been blown off the trees by wind
·         Scrump (colloquial) – steal fruits from orchard or garden	·         Weed – wild plant growing where it is not needed, especially among crops or garden plants
·         Grader – heavy machine for leveling road	·         Daft – silly or foolish
·         Dribble – to let saliva tickle from the mouth; drool	·         Thumping – falling on or hitting the surface hard
·         Swishes – moves quickly through the air	·

Justification of Title

According to the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary, “On the Face of it” is an informal expression used to say that something seems to be good, true etc. but this opinion may need to be changed when you know more about it.
This definition of the expression should leave us in no doubt about the appropriateness of the title. An individual may be quite different from what we think of him or what he or she may apparently appear to be at first glance. There is the imperative need for us to view others by removing our glasses of prejudice, hatred, hearsay and dislike.
On the face of it, Mr. Lamb appears to be mysterious, lonely, lame old fellow who lives in a neighbourhood house with a huge garden, but in reality he is very kind, generous, loving and altruistic. Similarly, although Derek has an ugly looking scary face, he is fine lad of fourteen with a deep longing for love. There is nothing wrong with Mr. Lamb and Derek. What is wrong is the way people in their lives and around them view and treat them.
On the face of it, there is so much of diversity, so many differences and divides between the people and other species of the world but underneath is a oneness, a sameness – all of them are created by God and all of them need to live and grow together with love and mutual acceptance/ As the play progresses the characters’ views about each other and our impression of them changes for the better.
Thus, Susan Hill has quite appropriately entitled her play “On the Face of it”

ON THE FACE OF if

Susan Hill

The play "on the face of it" deals with loss and sense of Isolation and how an Individual should deal with it. Derry a young lad of fourteen was sinking in the abyss of despair and frustration. He disliked every one. Mr. Lamb a physically challenged old man changed his pessimistic attitude-towards life.

Notes

v First Scene: Derry encounters Mr. Lamb

·        Derry a 14 years boy enters a garden thinking it an empty place

·        Finds an old man Mr. Lamb minding the apples

·        Derry feels embarrassed and wants to go back.

·        Mr. Lamb assures him that he does not mind strangers

·        The gates of garden are open for every one

v Derry-A complex ridden boy

·        Thinks people are afraid of him because of his burnt face because of acid

·        Does not like to mix with Mr. Lamb

·        Thinks even his mother kisses him only on the good side of his face.

·        Have bitterness for the world

·        Over obsessed with himself

v Mr. Lamb positive attitude

·        Tells Derry that he too is handicapped

·        loves all creatures made by God   

·        Nothing in this world is worthless

·        Even weeds have their own values

·        Advise Derry to think of the beautiful objects of the world

·        Never believe on your eyes believe on your ears

·        Avoid people's comments

·        Love all mankind because hatred corrodes us and hurts more than acids.

·        Considers Derry to be his friend

·        Thinks to be acquainted with one is not necessary

·        Thinks his bees humming

v Mr. Lamb tells a story to give Derry a lesson

·        A Timid man- Refused to come out in fear of fatal accident.

·        In his own room a picture fell of the wall on his head and he died

v Change in Derry's attitude

·        Takes interest in Mr. Lamb's talking

·        Likes Mr. Lamb's house without curtain

·        Likes to listen more to Mr. Lamb

·        Wants to help Mr. Lamb in his work

·        Accepts Mr. Lamb's Challenge that he would not come.

v Derry follower of Mr. Lamb

·        He is changed lad now

·        Runs home and tells his mother his decision

·        In spite of mother's protest he runs back

·        Mr. Lamb has fallen down along with the ladder

·        Does not respond to Derry's words

·        He is dead

·        He has trained and tutored one of the next generation to carry on his good work before passing off to the next world

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