"ON THE FACE OF IT" SUMMARY CLASS 12TH VISTAS

SUMMARY

There are two characters in the play- an old man named Mr. Lamb and a small boy of fourteen years called Derry. Both suffer from physical impairment. The old man had lost his one leg in a bomb explosion during the war. The boy got his face burnt from one side as a bottle of acid fell on him. One day derry gets inside Mr. Lamb's garden. They start talking to each other. It turns out to be a long, meaningful conversation, an exchange of two completely opposite views.

Mr. Lamb Tries to comfort Derry and tells him not to fear anything. He says that the gate remains always open and anybody can enter the garden. Derry says that he is not afraid rather people are afraid of him. They look at his burnt face and shrink back. They either ignore him or just pity him. Some make fun of him and others make uncharitable remarks about him. They call him ugly as a devil. Lamb tries to console him. He tells Derry that he does not get annoyed when children call him Lamey Lamb. After all, there is nothing wrong with it. If he does not have one leg, then Lamey Lamb fits on him. He asks Derry to face the harsh realities of life bravely instead of withdrawing himself into a shell.

Derry does not seem to be convinced by Mr. Lamb's observation on life. Lamb tries to make him understand that it is the inner beauty of a person that matters, not the outer beauty. Darry does not agree. He says that it is important to be handsome from outside also. Even his mother kisses him on other side of his face. When his mother avoids his ugly face then what about others? He regrets that he has to spend the whole of his life with his half face. Mr. Lamb encourages him by saying that he has got a full body. He can do anything like other people or maybe he can do better than others.

Mr. Lamb encourages Derry to look at the world around him and he will find so many interesting things to attract him. He can do so many good things to keep himself occupied. Lamb gives his own example. He does not feel lonely when he looks at the buzzing bees and flowers in the garden and listens to the sounds of birds and insects. He enjoys sitting in the sun and he grows fruits, weeds, and flowers. Derry finds a lot of truth, sense, and inspiration in Mr. Lamb's words, He says that he also wants a big house and a big lawn. Lamb asks him to stay with him. However, Derry wants to go back home as he knows his mother will be waiting. Before leaving, he promises Mr. Lamb to return to him.

At home, Derry tells his mother about his meeting with Mr. Lamb and his intention to go back to meet him. She strictly warns him against going to Mr. Lamb as she has heard many things about the old man. But Derry is determined to return to Mr. Lamb who has given him a new meaning of life. He rushes out of the house. In the meanwhile, Mr. Lamb climbs on the ladder to get the crab apples from the tree, but he falls down. Derry enters the garden panting and saying," You see, you see! I came back." Suddenly, he finds Mr. Lamb lying on the ground. He kneels and asks Mr. Lamb to get back, but Mr. Lamb is unmoved. Derry comes to know that he has lost his only friend in this world. Nevertheless, he knows now how to face the world with his disfigured face.

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