Picture Credit: Goodreads
Modernization not only impacts the economy and markets but it has posed an impact on the lifestyle of the general society. It has altered the values and beliefs of all the people who form a part of the society.
One such gift of modernization is the introduction of the nuclear families amidst the joint family culture. This wasn't bad until this newness in the structure of the family system inculcated the sense of insensitivity, coldness, and detachment among family members. These attributes hit the elderly the most.
Let us have a look at an interesting incident in the life of Mr. Abel Merryweather to understand it in a hilarious yet mind-stirring way who is neither dear nor departed but yet is famous as ‘The Dear Departed’.
Introduction
Book’s Name - The Dear Departed
Author’s Name - Stanley Houghton
Genre - Drama
Language - English
Synopsis - Spoiler alert!
The plot starts with the scene where Mrs. Slater, one of the two daughters of Mr. Abel Merryweather discovers that her father is lying motionless in his bed. She declares him dead without a single sign of sorrow and rather is worried about the distribution of his belongings with her sister Mrs. Jordan.
Soon Mrs. Jordan arrives and asks about the exact happening of the event. They both do not have any emotional connection with each other either. They start to quarrel over the bureau, the closet, the watch and such other belongings of the old father depicted in a hilarious way by the author.
Soon the father comes in front of them, alive, as he wasn’t really dead but just dozed off due to excessive intake of alcohol. He understands the whole scenario as he sees everyone in mourning clothes.
All of them try to conceal the whole incident but clever Merryweather announces that he will pass his will to the one who will be there with him in his last times. Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan start opening the dark secrets about each other while arguing to take father with them in greed of his will.
Abel Merryweather is deeply ashamed and upset with his daughters and announces that he is going to marry Mrs. Shorrocks and will move in with her for the rest of his life. He asks both his daughters to attend the wedding and bless the bride and groom in a cheeky tone and teach both of them a lesson in a calm way.
About the Author
William Stanley Houghton (1881-1913) was a British Playwright born in Cheshire. He got his education from Manchester Grammar School and Bowdown College. Until 1912 he worked in his father’s office and was an amateur writer and actor.
Houghton was highly influenced by the works of Oscar Wilde, Ibsen, George Bernard Shaw and St. John Hankin. Yet his plays were different and portrayed universal behaviour of human nature. The University of Salford has preserved the photographs, unpublished plays and all the material related to the author.
‘The Intrigues’(1906) was the first production Athenaeum Society, Manchester. Further, ‘The Reckoning’, ‘The Dear Departed’, ‘The Reckoning’, ‘Independent Means’, ‘The Younger Generations’.
‘The Hindle Wakes’(1912) brought Stanley great success and remains to be remembered as one of the greatest achievements of his career.
About the Book
‘The Dear Departed’ is a comic drama which brutally highlights the degraded value of the modern nuclear family culture. It just takes you inside the plot making it impossible to remove your eyeballs away from the plot.
It is one of the most famous plays of Stanley Houghton which premiered at Gaiety Theatre, Manchester on 2 November, 1902 as first of the many to be produced at Gaiety Theatre, Britain’s first regional repertory theatre.
Psychological Analysis
The story brings out the universal behaviour of human nature and the sad reality of the modern nuclear families. It is a sarcastic comment on the stereotype thinking of the younger generations about their parents as a burden.
This act aptly highlights the insensitivity of some children towards their parents who consider their old parents not less than a piece of furniture which is just occupying some space. They just remember them driven by the need for their wealth.
This opens the insensitivity and coldness of the daughters towards their father layer by layer as the plot moves towards the end. When they discover their father’s demise , despite being upset, they are more worried about the distribution of his belongings and their mourning outfits portraying the materialistic nature of the daughters.
The irony about the whole plot is evident from the title itself because unlike the title Mr. Abel Merryweather is neither dear to his daughter nor departed and turns to be just unconscious due to excessive alcohol intake.
Famous Quotes
“After all I’ve done for him, having to put up with him in the house these three years. It’s nothing short of swindling.”
“Now, Amelia, you mustn’t give way. We’ve all gotta die sometime or other. It might have been worse.”
“I don’t call that delicate, stepping into a dead man’s shoes in such haste.”
The Bottom line
‘The Dear Departed’ is a light-hearted comedy play that bangs you with the harsh reality straight into your consciousness. This is really a giggly experience that makes you exclaim, feel amazed, tickle you and at the end teaches you some important lessons for life.
If comic drama is something you crave for and really want something that can make you laugh and leave you pondering , then I recommend you to try this book for once.
My ratings for the book - 5 on 5
You can buy a copy from Amazon right away - The Dear Departed
Written By - Palak Chauhan
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