On Dartmoor by Neil Grant
On Dartmoor by Neil Grant
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Q.-1.|State the theme of the play.
Ans.
Major themes of the play:
1. Fashionable or armchair idealism (Fake idealism / Impractical idealism):
On Dartmoor may appear to be a crime play, but actually it is a satire on a certain type of idealism which may be called fashionable or armchair idealism. Muriel Armstrong and Leonora Astley are two well-to-do bluestockings, who in order to while away their time have developed an interest in criminals. They call themselves “integral anarchist”, and they hate all institutions that deal with crime and criminals. They have intentionally rented a house in the neighborhood of a prison in the hope of helping escaped criminals.
When the play opens, Muriel is informed by the police about the escape of a criminal with instruction to inform them if the prisoner came that way. This incident leads to a very interesting dialogue between the friends, in the course of which we are acquainted with their ideas. The function of the exposition or the beginning is to impart information about the main characters and the situation from which the play is to develop. This, the exposition does in the play, and what happens subsequently seems quite natural to us.
As the friends are talking, the escaped prisoner enters their home. They are all sympathy and help. They feed him, give him whisky and money, and plan his escape. They seem to be having a time of their life. In their excitement, and in their ignorance of the real world, they do not notice the skill with which the escaped convict leads them on, and plays upon their sentiments. They fail to notice certain things, which to an experienced person may have revealed that the escaped convict was a fake. But modern thieves are also very clever. Living by their wits in a hostile world is not an easy job. The plan to deceive these girls has been thoroughly worked out and wins our approbation. The so-called Bill Syme is a very clever, intelligent and shrewd judge of human nature, and handles the two girls in a manner that is a treat.
The appearance of the detective with his over-officious behavior also fails to make them suspicious. The whole scene is a piece of fine craftsmanship. It is only when they discover the theft that their eyes are opened. Then their behaviour presents a strange contrast to their ideas with which we are made familiar in the opening. And when the real escaped convict, a miserable wretched man, appears, they fall on him like wild cats. Their idealism and “integral anarchism” evaporate at the first touch of reality.
The satire is not direct but is made evident with the help of contrasted situations. The dramatist seems to imply that impractical idealism cannot solve the problems of society. Most of the people who pose as idealists are the idle rich who dabble on these things to kill time and to get some excitement in their otherwise dull and uninteresting, fashionable lives. Such idealists, since they are divorced from reality, often come to grief.
2. Anarchism:
Anarchism, political theory holding all forms of government authority to be unnecessary and undesirable and advocating a society based on voluntary cooperation and free association of individuals and groups.
Muriel Armstrong and Leonora Astley call themselves “integral anarchist”, and they hate all institutions that deal with crime and criminals.
When the play opens, Muriel is informed by the police about the escape of a criminal with instruction to inform them if the prisoner came that way. As the play moves further, the escaped prisoner enters their home. They, Muriel and Leonora, provide shelter to him.(Escaped prisoner / Bill Syme / A thief) Not only that they treat him as if he is a guest. They feed him, give him whisky and money, and plan his escape. This is where we feel that the girls lack the knowledge of a real world. They do not notice the skill with which the escaped convict leads them on, and plays upon their sentiments.
While moving towards the end of the play, suddenly somebody knocks at the door. Who introduces himself as detective Albert Read. (Sergeant Read). He is the man who had telephoned the girls. As soon as he enters in their house, he starts interrogating the both girls. Where we can sense that he already knows about their backgrounds. While answering detective, Leonora sounds polite in her manners whereas Muriel tries to be aristocrat / authoritative in her tone. As he makes inquiry further, he goes upstairs and joins his partner Bill Syme there to ransack the house. The both girls think that Sergeant is looking for the escaped prisoner. Whereas the both fellows escape after stealing jewellery and etc,. At this point the both girls realized that they have been tricked by a couple of crooks. They feel regret about their past behavior.They used to believe that with their Idealism, they can change the world. Which fails at the end of the play. And when the real escaped convict, a miserable wretched man, appears, they fall on him like wild cats. Their idealism and “integral anarchism” evaporate at the first touch of reality.
3. Representation of police system:
When Bill Syme narrates his past story to both of them he provides the reason behind his punishment by telling the brutality of police.
As the play moves further, Albert Read (Sergeant Read / Fake police man) enters in their (Muriel and Leonora) house, he starts interrogating the both girls. When Albert is questioning both of them, he sounds brusque and official in his tone. While answering detective, Leonora sounds polite in her manners whereas Muriel tries to be aristocrat / authoritative in her tone.
Muriel also asks Albert for a search warrant, but despite Albert not having a search warrant, he continues his inquiry. When Albert realizes that there is someone in that room upstairs, he says authoritatively, “I'm going upstairs to have a look, search warrant or no search warrant. I forbid either of you two ladies to leave this room until I return. Do you understand?” Then Muriel says “By what right?” Albert answers severely “That right a magistrate may explain to you later.”
And that's how Neil Grant shows police system in his play.
4. Class conflict:
When Bill Syme asks the both girls, anyone else is at home besides them, they both reply “We have a cook, a very narrow minded woman, who reads The Morning Post, and there's a maid who has no views on any object except pictures and boys, but who suffers from incipient hysteria.
These characters never appear onto the stage. Whatever is said about them is how rich ladies treat their maid servants. The treatment of a maid is more like an object rather than a human being. May be these rich ladies have prejudices against these maid servants. Both Muriel and Leonora sounds arrogant when they talk about maid servants.
And that's how Neil Grant shows the problems of idle rich and grief of commons.
5. Who is more knowledgeable: The girls or crooks:
When the play opens, Muriel is informed by the police about the escape of a criminal with instruction to inform them if the prisoner came that way.
As the friends are talking, the escaped prisoner enters their home. They are all sympathy and help. They feed him, give him whisky and money, and plan his escape. They seem to be having a time of their life. In their excitement, and in their ignorance of the real world, they do not notice the skill with which the escaped convict leads them on, and plays upon their sentiments. They fail to notice certain things, which to an experienced person may have revealed that the escaped convict was a fake. But modern thieves are also very clever. Living by their wits in a hostile world is not an easy job. The plan to deceive these girls has been thoroughly worked out and wins our approbation. The so-called Bill Syme is a very clever, intelligent and shrewd judge of human nature, and handles the two girls in a manner that is a treat.
The appearance of the detective with his over-officious behavior also fails to make them suspicious. The whole scene is a piece of fine craftsmanship. It is only when they discover the theft that their eyes are opened. Then their behaviour presents a strange contrast to their ideas with which we are made familiar in the opening.
This is shows that the crooks are more knowledgeable than the girls.
Along with that there are also minor themes, like...
- Political conflict between Europe and Russia
- Over fastidious nature
- Ignorance of a real world
- Behavior towards sycophants
- How an officious look plays vital role
- Problems of idle rich
- Grief of commons
- Satire on aristocrats
- The barbaric nature of civilized
- The representation of human beings as sadist
- Farcical nature
Q.-2.|Bring out the satire in the play.
Ans.
On Dartmoor may appear to be a crime play, but actually it is a satire on a certain type of idealism which may be called fashionable or armchair idealism. Muriel Armstrong and Leonora Astley are two well-to-do bluestockings, who in order to while away their time have developed an interest in criminals. They call themselves “integral anarchist”, and they hate all institutions that deal with crime and criminals. They have intentionally rented a house in the neighborhood of a prison in the hope of helping escaped criminals.
When the play opens, Muriel is informed by the police about the escape of a criminal with instruction to inform them if the prisoner came that way. This incident leads to a very interesting dialogue between the friends, in the course of which we are acquainted with their ideas. The function of the exposition or the beginning is to impart information about the main characters and the situation from which the play is to develop. This, the exposition does in the play, and what happens subsequently seems quite natural to us.
As the friends are talking, the escaped prisoner enters their home. They are all sympathy and help. They feed him, give him whisky and money, and plan his escape. They seem to be having a time of their life. In their excitement, and in their ignorance of the real world, they do not notice the skill with which the escaped convict leads them on, and plays upon their sentiments. They fail to notice certain things, which to an experienced person may have revealed that the escaped convict was a fake. But modern thieves are also very clever. Living by their wits in a hostile world is not an easy job. The plan to deceive these girls has been thoroughly worked out and wins our approbation. The so-called Bill Syme is a very clever, intelligent and shrewd judge of human nature, and handles the two girls in a manner that is a treat.
The appearance of the detective with his over-officious behavior also fails to make them suspicious. The whole scene is a piece of fine craftsmanship. It is only when they discover the theft that their eyes are opened. Then their behaviour presents a strange contrast to their ideas with which we are made familiar in the opening. And when the real escaped convict, a miserable wretched man, appears, they fall on him like wild cats. Their idealism and “integral anarchism” evaporate at the first touch of reality.
The satire is not direct but is made evident with the help of contrasted situations. The dramatist seems to imply that impractical idealism cannot solve the problems of society. Most of the people who pose as idealists are the idle rich who dabble on these things to kill time and to get some excitement in their otherwise dull and uninteresting, fashionable lives. Such idealists, since they are divorced from reality, often come to grief.
When they all are laughing heartily but suddenly they hear the noise of car outside. Bill Syme is frightenned now. ( Pretends ! ) The both girls hide him upstairs, remove the footprints and wipe everything. Leonora pretends to be reading on something. They sit down in their old positions. Even Muriel considers PM's speech as a rotten speech. ( As per the newspaper she is reading, PM has commented upon women's clothes ! ) Not only that she criticises England's poor performance in Ashes Tournament. ( Cricket Match between England and Australia) Here writer is criticizing the idle/ leisure people as they have nothing important to do. But they remain ready to suggest solutions for each problems. But the solution for a problem should be practical. Which they can't provide.
At some points writer is also satiring on political conflict between Europe and Russia.
Q.-3.|Do you find anything farcical in the play? If so, point it out and show its farcical nature.
Ans.
There are many farcical elements in the play.
First is, when Leonora realizes that someone is in the garden, Muriel tells her that I can not see anything, you are dreaming. Which makes the readers laugh.
Second is, when both the girls realize that there is really someone in the garden, they both get scared and start shaking. Even their voice becomes quavering. Which we find ridiculous.
Third is, when Bill Syme calls Leonora's father a barbarian and sadist, she also favors him and she also let Bill Syme to wear his father's old suit. Which is ridiculous.
Fourth is, when Muriel runs to telephone to call police but she realize that the crooks also cut the wire of telephone. And the police call that came in the beginning was also done by those thieves. At this point the both girls realized that they have been tricked by a couple of crooks. Which is very ridiculous.
Fifth is, when the both girls are crying and at the same time again somebody knocks at the door - a real convict / escaped prisoner. Who introduces himself as Fred Lee. Who pleads for help and shelter but both ladies (Agitated) start beating him in despair and frustration. The convict keeps pleading for help. Nobody comes. Moreover, they ignore the escaped prisoner and Muriel pounds him and binds him. Which we find farcical.
And that's how write shows the farcical nature of the both girls.
Q.-4.| Describe the trick played upon the two ladies by the two thieves.
Ans.
When the play opens, Muriel is informed by the police about the escape of a criminal with instruction to inform them if the prisoner came that way.
As the play moves further, the escaped prisoner enters their home. They, Muriel and Leonora, provide shelter to him.
( Escaped Prisoner / Bill Syme / A thief ) Not only that they treat him as if he is a guest. Now they all seem happy. This is where we feel that the girls lack the knowledge of a real world. They are driven by the fake appraisal and sentiments used by the escaped prisoner. In their excitement, and in their ignorance of the real world, they fail to realize that the escaped prisoner is a crook.
At the initial part of the play, we observe that the both girls appear to be intellectual and smart. But what we see next is totally opposite of it. In a way at some point of time, Bill Syme looks more intellectual than the both girls. It means both ladies are suffering from 'Idealism.' The escaped prisoner, Bill Syme, knows how to judge a person. The both girls, serve drink and food to him. Meanwhile Bill Syme narrates his past story to both of them. And provides the reason behind his punishment by telling the brutality of Police. ( This is where he succeeds in his cruel aim as the both girls consider themselves as an Integral Anarchists, it means they hate all types of rules and regulations. ( They feel that their should not be anyone to rule over them.) While citing the reason behind his crime he says that "I caught her with that feller " ( What he is trying to say is that his wife had an affair with somebody else. ) That's why he killed her with a Hammer. Even Bill Syme provides the name of a judge. Who is the grandfather of Leonora. They all critically abuse the judge and consider him as a barbarian and sadist. In addition, Bill Syme feels that it is better to live in France or Italy. (As per both ladies, the crime is a primitive act ! )
What we see now is the escaped prisoner ask the both girls whether there is anyone at home or not. But fortunately there's no one at present. He gets money from the both girls ( They consider themselves as if they are expiators ! ) as he is wishing to go Plymouth. Which is his future escape plan. The escaped prisoner /Bill Syme praises Russia. In a way that's what the both girls were waiting to hear. Meantime, both ladies ask Bill to change his convict dress and provide the old suit of her grandfather.
What happens next is they all are laughing heartily but suddenly they hear the noise of car outside. Bill Syme is frightenned now. ( Pretends ! ) The both girls hide him upstairs, remove the footprints and wipe everything. Leonora pretends to be reading on something. They sit down in their old positions. Even Muriel considers PM's speech as a rotten speech. ( As per the newspaper she is reading, PM has commented upon women's clothes ! ) Not only that she criticises England's poor performance in Ashes Tournament. ( Cricket Match between England and Australia) Here writer is criticizing the idle/ leisure people as they have nothing important to do. But they remain ready to suggest solutions for each problems. But the solution for a problem should be practical. Which they can't provide.
While moving towards the end of the play, suddenly somebody knocks at the door. Who introduces himself as detective Albert Read. (Sergeant Read). He is the man who had telephoned the girls. As soon as he enters in their house, he starts interrogating the both girls. Where we can sense that he already knows about their backgrounds. While answering detective, Leonora sounds polite in her manners whereas Muriel tries to be aristocrat / authoritative in her tone. As he makes inquiry further, he goes upstairs and joins his partner Bill Syme there to ransack the house. The both girls think that Sergeant is looking for the escaped prisoner. Whereas the both fellows escape after stealing jewellery and etc,. At this point the both girls realized that they have been tricked by a couple of crooks.
After that Muriel runs to telephone to call police but she realizes that the crooks also cut the wire of telephone. And the police call that came in the beginning was also done by those thieves.
The plan to deceive these girls has been thoroughly worked out and wins our approval. The so-called Bill Syme is a very clever, intelligent and shrewd judge of human nature, and handles the two girls in a manner that is a treat.
The appearance of the detective with his over-official behavior also fails to make them suspicious. The whole scene is a piece of fine craftsmanship.
● References
2. Msks: One Act Plays
