The play written by Susan Hill focuses on people’s outlooks and perceptions of life. The Play brings to light how society generally treats differently-abled people. The pain caused by physical impairment is much less than the sense of alienation felt by disabled people. The Play gives us an insight into how appearance can be deceptive. The Play also deals with the sense of loss, rejection and isolation.
The two main characters of the Play suffer from physical disabilities but their attitudes differ. Derry has a burnt face and he thinks people are scared of his ugly appearance. he becomes hostile, defiant and introverted. Mr. Lamb has a tin leg but he has a positive approach towards life. He does not mind people calling him names instead he welcomes everyone to his garden and likes to spend time in their company.
SUMMARY
The Play is set in Mr. Lamb’s garden. Derry, a fourteen-year-old boy trespasses into the garden, only to be spotted by Mr. Lamb who instructs him to be cautious of the crab apples strewn over the long grass lest he falls. The Play thus develops through the conversation that breaks out between the two. Derry, a victim of an acid burn, has developed an inferiority complex due to his looks. He hates when people pass cruel remarks on him. He feels people are scared of him because of his ugly look, thus he avoids their company. He shares with Mr. Lamb that the acid has not only burnt his face but has also taken away his confidence and personality.
Mr. Lamb through his interaction with Derry instills enthusiasm and positivity in him. He narrates his own life story. One of his legs is blown off in war and he has a tin leg that sometimes hurt. People call him ‘Lamey lamb’ but that does not upset him. Instead, he keeps the gates of his garden open and welcomes all. He makes jelly and toffees for children. He advises that a tin leg or a burnt face are not the only things in life to be taken notice of. There are many things around us that deserve our attention. The sun, flowers, buzzing and humming of bees, crab apples and many more blessings deserve our attention and appreciation. He reminds him that all parts of his body are intact and fit and if he works hard he is capable of even outshining others. A burnt face cannot define and shape his destiny, only his positive attitude can help him overcome his disability. Mr. Lamb’s words leave a positive impression on him and help him to overcome his inferiority complex. He leaves the garden promising Mr. Lamb to come back after informing his mother. Mr. lamb does not believe him as people who generally promise never come back. Derry’s mother tries to stop him from going back to Mr. Lamb but he is determined. When Derry reaches the garden, Mr. Lamb who is on a ladder trying to pluck crab apples, slips and falls dead. But Derry’s brief conversation with Mr. Lamb proves rewarding. His coming back to Mr. Lamb proves the deep impact left on him by Mr. Lamb. His attitude towards life is positive and productive. He will never get back to his old seclusion. His burnt face will no more overshadow his self-confidence and self-respect.
Derry -Before Meeting Mr. Lamb
- Conscious of his burnt face.
- suffered from an inferiority complex.
- indulge in self-pity.
- developed a negative attitude towards life, people and things.
- alienated from the mainstream.
- felt offended by the people’s remarks and developed hatred for others.
- had no self-confidence and considered himself unfit for anything worthwhile.
Derry – After meeting Mr. Lamb.
- influenced by his positive outlook and attitude.
- learns life has better things to offer and appreciate.
- learns the insignificance of the ‘burnt face’ , a mere physical handicaps can not hinder one to live life to the fullest
- to accept life as it comes.
- not to let people’s negative remarks to define you
- learns his strength and gains the confidence to face the world.
- Mr. lamb gives him a direction and purpose in life.
Short Answer Type Questions
Q1. Who was Derry and what problems did he have?
Ans: Derry was a young fourteen year old boy who trespassed into Mr. Lamb’s garden. One side of his face was burnt by acid due to which he had developed an inferiority complex. He felt people were scared of his ugly look thus he alienated himself from the mainstream. He was indulged in self-pity and had become withdrawn and defiant.
Q2. How did Derry get his face burnt?
Ans: One side of Derry’s face was distorted. Mr. Lamb guessed that it got burnt in a fire. Derry corrected and told him that he got acid all down that side of his face. He felt that the acid had not only disfigured his face but also consumed his personality.
Q3. Why does Mr. Lamb have a tin leg?
Ans: Mr. Lamb has a tin leg because his real leg was blown off in the war. But Mr. Lamb is not adversely affected by his handicap. He is called ‘Lamey- Lamb’ by people but that does not upset him. He accepts life as it comes. He likes being in people’s company and has a positive attitude.
Q4.What is common between Derry and Mr. Lamb?
Ans: Both Derry and Mr. Lamb are victims of physical impairment. Mr. Lamd has a tin leg as his real leg got blown off in the war and Derry’s face is distorted by acid. Due to their physical impairment, both suffer from a sense of alienation. The callousness of society affected both of them but Mr. Lamb has an optimistic outlook whereas Derry is pessimistic and withdrawn.
Q5. ” It ate my face. It ate me up” who said this and why?
Ans: Derry said these words as one side of his face was disfigured with acid. He felt he looked ugly and that people were scared of him. He became withdrawn and developed an inferiority complex. He had low self-esteem and kept himself away from others. He developed pessimism and grew defiant. He felt the acid had not disfigured his face but his personality and future too were distorted.
Q6. What draws Derry towards Mr. Lamb?
Ans: Derry is drawn towards Mr. Lamb’s optimistic approach exhibited towards life. He likes the way Mr. lamb accepts life as it comes. His disability does not come on his way to enjoying the blessings of life. He enjoys people’s company, does not mind their remarks, keeps his gate open for all, makes toffees and jelly for children, enjoys reading, sunlight, and rain, grows a garden of weeds, appreciates the buzzing and humming of bees. His attitude towards life is positive and productive. Derry gets deeply impressed by him and overcomes his inferiority complex.
Q7. Why does Mr. lamb Keep the gate of his house open?
Ans: Mr. lamb suffered from loneliness, he lived all alone in his house and longed for company. his tin leg restricted him to move out freely and mingle with people. So, he kept the gate of his garden open so that children and people might visit his garden and give him company. He offered toffees and jellies to children to attract them to visit him frequently. He welcomed everyone with open arms and a warm heart.
Q8. Do you think Derry’s mother is overprotective of him?
Ans: Derry’s mother is overprotective and does not understand her son. she contributes to his isolation by keeping him away from people because of his deformity and treats him with a sense of pity that robs him of dignity. By treating him like a perpetually helpless victim she instills low esteem in him. in the Play, she forbids Derry from returning to Mr.Lamb as she had heard rumours about but Derry tells her not to believe in what people say about others asserting himself in a positive way.
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS:
Q1. How did Derry Mr. Lamb differ from others he had encountered?
Ans: People avoided Derry because of his disfigured face. Derry felt most of the people were afraid of him. His own parents were too worried about him and his future. Most of them either avoided him, expressed pity, or passed cruel remarks. Mr. Lamb treated him differently and provided him with a new approach to life. He told him to watch, listen and think about things around him to appreciate the blessings. He should not hate others as unlike acid hatred burns from inside hence is worst. He asked him not to take people’s remarks seriously and not believe everything they said. He encouraged him to see the brighter side of life. He reminded him that only his face was burnt whereas all other parts of his body are fit and intact so if he chose he could easily succeed in life in fact if he worked harder he could do far better than others. All these factors draw Derry towards Mr. Lamb.
Q2. Derry is the victim of his own complex. Do you find any changes in him in the end?
Ans: Derry is a victim of his own complex born out of his own understanding of himself and the world. He feels people are scared of his distorted face. He finds his burnt face ugly and thinks himself unfit for doing anything worthwhile. He is withdrawn and defiant. he develops a negative attitude towards people and life. His inferiority complex leads him to total alienation. However, his attitude undergoes a drastic change when he meets Mr. Lamb.
He is deeply impressed by Mr. Lamb who has not allowed his disability to sour the joys of life. he believes in counting the blessings rather than lamenting over losses. He does not allow people’s remarks to disturb his peace of mind. He does not mind them calling him ‘Lamey-Lamb’. He keeps the gate of his open and enjoys people’s company. He accepts life as it comes. He makes Derry understand a burnt face is insignificant and that by working hard he can do even better than others. He instills confidence in Derry and helps him to see the brighter side of life. Mr. Lamb’s optimistic approach leaves an imprint on Derry and helps him overcome his complex.