MP Board Class 12th English A Voyage Solutions Chapter 21 The Silver Box (John Galsworthy)

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MP Board Class 12th English A Voyage Solutions Chapter 21 The Silver Box (John Galsworthy)

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ACT – 1

A. Answer the following questions in one sentence each:

Question 1.
What was Mrs. Jones doing in Jack’s room when he got up?
Answer:
She was sweeping the floor.

Question 2.
Who was there in the room when Wheeler detected that the silver case was missing?
Answer:
Mis Jones was there in the room when Wheeler detected the missing of the silver case.

Question 3.
How old was Mr. Barthweek, the M.P.?
Answer:
He was a man between fifty and sixty

Question 4.
What sort of a person was Mrs Barthwick?
Answer:
She was a lady of nearly fifty well dressed, with greyish hair, good features and a decided manner.

Question 5.
What are Mr. and Mrs Barthwick doing at the beginning of the play?
Answer:
They were seated at the breakfast table.

Question 6.
What would the members of the Labour Party do, according to Mr. Barthwick, once
they came to power?
Answer:
According to Mr Barthwick, the Members of the Labour Party would deprive the upper classes of their rights and property once they caine to power.

Question 7.
What, according to Mr. Barthwick, is education doing for the lower classes?
Answer:
Education is simply ruining the lower classes.

Question 8.
After reading the letter from Moss and Sons, Mr. Barthwick says, The boy might have been prosecuted.” Why does he say so?
Answer:
Because his son has overdrawn from his account.

Question 9.
What, in the father’s opinion, would have ruined Jack’s life?
Answer:
The high position of Mr. Barthwick would have ruined Jack’s life.

Question 10.
Who was kept very short of money by his father?
Answer:
Jack was kept very short of money by his father.

Question 11.
Write about the appearance of the Unknown Lady in your own words.
Answer:
The Unknown Lady entered the house. She was a pale lady with dark eyes and pretty figure.

Question 12.
What makes the Unknown Lady meet young Jack so early in the morning?
Answer:
She met young Jack so early in the morning because her crimson silk purse had been stolen and she had seen Jack Barthwick stealing it.

Question 13.
What was the colour of the purse the Unknown Lady had kept in her reticule?
Answer:
The colour of the purse was crimson.

Question 14.
How much money was there in the purse of the Unknown Lady?
Answer:
There were seven pounds twelve pence in the purse of the Unknown Lady.

Question 15.
How did the Unknown Lady reach Jack’s house?
Answer:
She came to Jack’s house by a cab.

Question 16.
How much money did the senior Barthwick give to the Unknown Lady?
Answer:
The senior Barthwick gave eight pounds to the Unknown Lady.

B. Answer the following wings questions in about sixty words:

Question 1.
Describe the meeting between the Unknown Lady and Mrs Barthwick in your own words. What is the outcome of this meeting?
Or
What was the reaction of Mrs Barthwick after the meeting with the unknown lady? (M.P. Bourd 2012)
Answer:
A labour party candidate has won the by-election to the Parliament. This gives a shock to Mrs Barthwick. She blames the Uberals for encouraging the common people. She opposes any talk about reform or change in social policy She thinks that only the upper classes are patriotic while the socialists are selfish. The political discussion reveals the attitude of Mr and Mrs Barthwick who represent the upper classes.

Question 2.
Write a note on the dramatic significance of the Unknown Lady episode.
(M.P Board 2009.2015)
Answer:
The visit of the unknown lady serves a useful dramatic purpose. It throws light on Jack’s character. She reveals that Jack is a drunkard and a debauch. He associates with prostitutes. He is also a thief. In other words, he is as guilty as Jones. Thus, the lady’s visit is an important link in plot construction.

Question 3.
What transpires when Mr. Barthwick calls Mrs. Jones for a talk? (M.P. Board 2011)
Answer:
Mr. Barthwick feels ashamed of his son after hearing the unknown lady. He calls Jack danger to society He calls the young man criminal minded who deserves to get a good lesson. He tells the boy not c expect any help from him in future.

Question 4.
Do you feel that Mrs. Jones attempts to defend her husband during the Interview with
Mr. Barthwick?
Answer:
Mr. Barthwick interrogates Mrs. Jones about the theft of the silver box. This reveals several vital facts about her miserable life. She has got three school going children and she cannot support them. Her husband Is still jobless as well as troublesome. He extracts money from her for drinking. He is a groom by profession. She had an affair with him before their manage eight years ago. Her eldest son was born before marriage.

ACT II

A. Answer the following questions in one sentence each:

Question 1.
Describe in your words the room in which the Jones lived.
Answer:
The room in which the Jones lived was a base one with tattered oilcloth and damp, distempered walls. It has an air of tidy wretchedness.

Question 2.
How much rent was overdue on this couple?
Answer:
The couple had to pay fourteen shillings.

Question 3.
What did Jones propose to do with the money he had found in the crimson purse?
Answer:
He proposed to pay the rent with the money he had found in the crimson purse.

Question 4.
Why did Jones regret that he fathered the children?
Answer:
Because he fails to manage his family.

Question 5.
What did Jones propose to do with the silver box and the silk purse once he went
out of his room?
Answer:
Jones proposed to give it back.

Question 6.
Why did Mrs. Jones accuse her husband of spoiling her reputation?
Answer:
Because he has stolen the silver box and silk purse from her employer.

Question 7.
What excuse did Jones provide for picking up the Silver Box?
Answer:
He said that he was not a thief. Whatever he did was because of his drunken state.

Question 8.
Who is Snow? (MP. Board 2012)
Answer:
Snow is a detective.

Question 9.
What makes Snow come to the residence of Mrs. Jones?
Answer:
Snow comes to the residence of Mrs Jones with an intention to arrest her.

Question 10.
Why does Jones give a blow to Snow? (M.P. Board 2011)
Answer:
Because Jones knows that he was innocent.

Question 11.
How was Snow able to recognize that the Silver box belonged to the Barthwick family?
Answer:
The letters J.B. were carried on the silver box.

Question 12.
What did Jack say about the habits of the students of Oxford University?
Ans.
1-kr said that the students at Oxford University drank a bit hard.

Question 13.
Who was Roper?
Answer:
Roper was an advocate.

Question 14.
What did Roper ask Jack to do when he testifies In the court of law?
Answer:
Roper advised Jack not to say anything at all in the Court.

B. Answer the following questions in about sixty words:

Question 1.
What is the dramatic significance of the conversation between Mrs Jones and her husband? (MY. Board 2022)
Answer:
The conversation between Mrs. Jones and her husband is quite significant as it reveals the character of Mrs. Jones and her husband Jone& Mrs. Jones is an honest lady as when saw sees that her husband is having somebody else’s purse with money in it she enquires if it had any visiting card of its owner so that it may be returned. Similarl,; she also wants to give back the silver box to her employer, Mr. Barthwick and tell him everything honestly.

However, Jones is a drunkard and money minded person. He plans to leave his home and family and go to Canada with the money he got from the purse. Not caring about his family . It is also revealed that he was a drunkard like Barthwick’s son and loses control over himself in drunk state. The similarity between Jack Barthwick and Jones is revealed.

Question 2.
What does Jones want to do with the money he has got? What does he want to do in his future life? (M.P. Board 2015)
Answer:
Jones has stolen a silk purse. It has seven pounds in it. He calls it a loss of property with no name on it. As Mrs. Jones is an honest lady. She doesn’t look happy at it but Jones has no sense of guilt. He says that he will go to Canada to change his luck, He would live a happy life with another lady. He would live with freedom.

Question 3.
Give an account of the way the Silver Box was recovered from the residence of Jones. (M.P. Board 2011)
Answer:
When Mrs Jones detects the stolen purse, she thinks to return it to her employer, So, when Jones is out she shakes out his coat. The silver box falls down from the coat pocket. She looks hard at it but Jones snatches it from her hands with a promise that he would throw it away into the river along with the purse.

On the other hand, when Barthwick finds the box missing, he asks Snow, a detective, to search It. Snow, out of doubt, comes to Jones house just at the time when Jones is trying to take the box from his wife who takes it to go to return it to Barthwick. Snow detects the letters J.B. carried on it and is sure it
was the stolen one from Barthwick’s house.

Question 4.
What transpires between Roper and Mr. Barthwick? (M.P. Board 2015)
Answer:
Roper, the advocate, is shown in the play as Barthwick tells him about the silver box which is stolen not by the charwomanbut her loafer husband. Jones also says that Jack let him walk into the house. Jones then took away both the things, the silver box and the purse. The news might appear in the papers the next day. Jones is likely to make full use of the purse against his family.

Jack confesses so man things one by one. His mother tells him to forget the truth that he has led Jones into the house, offered him whisky and left the key in the lock of the door. Roper advises Jack not to say anything at all in the court. He should simply sar that he slept on the sofa. In fact, he needn’t attend the court at all. jacks feels great relief. Barthwick wants that Roper should see to it that the purse theft case is not referred to at all. Roper promises to manage the whole case. He then takes a leave.

ACT – III

A. Answer the Following Questions in one sentence each:

Question 1.
Where were the two little girls found by the police? (MP. Board 2015)
Answer:
The two little girls were found wandering in the streets.

Question 2.
What sort of a woman was the mother of the two unfortunate girls?
Answer:
Their mother was an improper person to have anything to do with her daughters.

Question 3.
Who was Livens?
Answer:
He was quiet, with grizzled hair, and, had a muffler for a collar. He was the father of the two little girls.

Question 4.
What did Livens tell the magistrate when he was asked to take care of the two little girls?
Answer:
He told that he had got no home and had been living from hand to mouth.

Question 5.
What was the reason that made the magistrate refuse to give the custody of the girls to their mother?
Answer:
The girls’ mother was gone.

Question 6.
What comment did Mr. Barthwick make regarding the case of the two little girls?
(M.P Board 2009, 2015)
Answer:
warthwick commented, “Most distressing! The more I see of it, the more important this
question of the people seems to become.”

Question 7.
Barthwick says, “I shall make a point of taking up cudgels in the House.” What does he mean by it?
Answer:
He intends to discuss this point in the parliament.

Question 8.
What were the two charges made by the police against Jones? (M.P. Board 2011)
Answer:
The two charges were of the stealing of the silver box and assaulting the police.

Question 9.
What was the official name of detective Snow? (MP. Board 2009)
Answer:
Snow’s official name was Robert Allow.

Question 10.
What questions did Jones ask Jack when the case was in progress before the
magistrate?
Ans.
Jones asked Jack, “Don’t you remember you said you were a liberal, same as your father, and you asked me what I was?”

Question 11.
What reason did Jones provide for taking the silver box?
Answer:
He said that he took it out of mistake.

Question 12.
Why does Jones, towards the end of the play say. “Call this justice?” (MP. Board 2015)
Answer:
Because he argues his points to defend his wife and son perfectly and asks the court not to punish the innocents.

B. Answer the following questions in about sixty words:

Question 1.
Write in your own words the proceedings of the case of the two little girls in the court. (MP. Board 2012)
Answer:
The Silver Box is based on the theme of social, economic and legal evils. It focuses on the suffering of poor families as a sult of unemployment and poverty The introduction of the two little girls shows how children suffer the most when homes break. Livens cannot find a ob. So, his wife leaves him and her daughters. Livens then puts his daughters in his sister’s house but she too cannot feed them. Finally, they are sent to a home for destitute children. The episode is very relevant to the theme of the play.

Question 2.
How does the case against Jones proceed in the court of law? (M.P Board 2009)
Answer:
The second case listed for the day is that of James Jones and Jane Jones. Barthwick whispers to his solicitor, Roper, to avoid any reference to the purse. The two charges against the accused relate to the theft of the silver box and assault on the police. Jones denies that he stole the box. He admits that he attacked the police but he has to say many things why he does so.

Question 3.
In the court Jones says about Jack, “I’ve done no worse than wot’e’ as. Wot I want to know is wot’s goin’ to be done to ‘im.” What is the significance of these words?
Answer:
Jones pleads his case very sensibly and forcefully. He justifies his action of taking away the silk purse and the silver box just out of spite and revenge. Jack has also snatched the purse from some woman for some reason, Both committed the offences in a state of drunken fit. So, Jones doesn’t think that he is guiltier than Jack. His argument is Convincing.

C. Provide answers to the following questions in about 150-200 words:

Question 1.
Write a summary of Act I of the play The Silver Box in your own words.
Answer:
Jack Barthwick returns home after midnight in a drunken state. He is the son of John Barthwick, a wealthy member of the Parliament, belonging to Liberal Party. Jack is helped in opening the lock of the house by Jones who is about thirty years of age and shabbily dressed. He is poor and jobless Jack staggers into his dinning room, carrying a velvet bag of some lady. The bag contains a crimson silk purse. He drops the purse and takes a cigarette out of the silver box.

He wants to give some tip to Jones but he has just one shilling in his pocket. So, he offers a drink to Jones in lieu of cash. He introduces himself to Jones and tells that he had a quarrel with a street walker and he snatched away her bag. He talls to a sleep on the sofa. Jones gulps in several pegs of whisky and is over drunk. He suddenly picks up the silver box and the red silk purse. He leaves the room very pleased that he has out beaten Jack.

Mrs Joncs works as a charwoman in Barthwick’s house In the morning, Wheeler, the maidservant tells Mrs Jones about Mr Jones’ misdeed. Mrs Jones admits that her husband maltreats her. He returns home at 2 AM. the previous night and used violence on her. She, however, links his ill-temper to heavy drinking and unemployment. She is worried about how to feed and support her three children. Marlow, the manservant, as well as Wheeler advise Mrs Jones to approach the court.

Mrs Jones sweeps the dining prom. Jack wakes up and complains of severe headache. Marlow finds the silver box missing. He suspects Mrs Jones stealing it. Mr John Barthwick is a prosperous elderly man. He is quiet and serious. He reads out the news of the success of the labour party in a by-election to Parliament. His wife is greatly perturbed. She fears that the Labour Party is hell bent on depriving the upper classes of their rights and property. Education, she says, has increased discontent among the Lower classes and servants have become rile.

John receives a dishonoured cheque for 40. It was drawn by Jack. Bouncing of cheque can put Jack in routle. John rebukes his son when the latter cornes for breakfast. Just then a young lady calls at the house. She complains Jack had quarrelled with her and taken away her bag. this disclosure shocks Harthwick and he sends for Jack. She demands that her purse containing a Quarry eight pounds should be restored to her. Jack returns with the empty bag.

Question 2.
Write a summary of Act II of The Silver Box in your own words.
Answer:
Jack Barthwick returns home after midnight in a drunken state. He is the son of John Barthwick, a wealthy member of the Parliament, belonging to Liberal Party. Jack is helped in opening the lock of the house by Jones who is about thirty years of age and shabbily dressed. He is poor and jobless Jack staggers into his dinning room, carrying a velvet bag of some lady. The bag contains a crimson silk purse. He drops the purse and takes a cigarette out of the silver box.

Mrs Jones works as a charwoman in Barthwick’s house In the morning, Wheeler, the maidservant tells Mrs Jones about Mr Jones’ misdeed. Mrs Jones admits that her husband maltreats her. He returns home at 2 AM. the previous night and used violence on her. She, however, links his ill-temper to heavy drinking and unemployment. She is worried about how to feed and support her three children. Marlow, the manservant, as well as Wheeler advise Mrs Jones to approach the court.

Question 3.
Write a summary of Act Ill of the play The Silver Box.
Answer:
Jack Barthwick returns home after midnight in a drunken state. He is the son of John Barthwick, a wealthy member of the Parliament, belonging to Liberal Party. Jack is helped in opening the lock of the house by Jones who is about thirty years of age and shabbily dressed. He is poor and jobless Jack staggers into his dinning room, carrying a velvet bag of some lady. The bag contains a crimson silk purse. He drops the purse and takes a cigarette out of the silver box.

Question 4.
Write a critical appreciation of the play The Silver Box.
Answer:
The Silver Box, Galsworthy’s first dramatic work, is a three act play The author calls it a ‘social comedy’ but it is comic only in the satirical portraits of characters in the society and the law courts. There is a bogus liberal M.P.,John Barthwick who loves fine phrases and speaks as if he were addressing his voters. However, he turns the moment cool when his own interests are threatenj, Then, there is his foolish and self-centred wife who would side with her good-for-nothing son at all cost. She regards Jones as a dangerous fellow.

Their son, Jack, is thoroughly spoiled. He is debauched, a thief and a liar. For the Barthwick, life is a comedy because they wield power, position and contacts but they are the real criminals. For poor Mrs Jones and her children, the play is a ‘social tragedy’. Inspite of her complete innocence they become victims of a horrible miscarriage of justice.

She suffers bashing by her own husband. She is arrested for the crime committed by him. Her children go hungry Her employer accuses her of stealing the silver box. Towards the end, she is left alone without a job, only to starve. Strangely enough, the dramatist calls has play a comedy, perhaps because we are left at the end smiling ironically at the unfairness of the world.

The central theme of the play is the operation of law as it affects the rich and the poor, There are two sharply contrasted groups in the play. One consists of a bogus liberal M.P., his foolish wife and his spoilt son. He has got wealth, and positions and outward respectability. They guard their reputation, even by using unfair me

They can easily buy detectives, constables, and magistrates. The scales of justice are tilted in their favour. The other group consists of Jones, his wife and children. This family is poor, miserable, and defenceless. They are charged with theft and violence. Jones is found guilty of assaulting a public servant on dut)’ He can’t hire any advocate to defend him. He argues his own case but his voice is muffled and he is sent to prison with hard labour. Jack who is equally guilty of stealing a prostitute’s purse, gets a clean chit in the court. Thus, we find police, lawyers, law, in the play very weak. The law in our so-called civilized society has taken the place of ancient tyrants.

It crushes down the innocent. The Silver Box is a penetrating study of life in Edwardian England. It is as true and relevant today as it was centuries ago. The law remains the handmaid of the rich and the ruling class. The poor somehow manages to keep breathing.

Question 5.
Justify the title of the play The Silver Box. (M.P Board 2011)
Answer:
Galsworthy’s original title for The Silver Box was first given the title The Cigarette Box. Both essentialy meon the same thing an expensive cigarette case. It is the central thing in the plot. The entire story revolves around it. Jones, an out-of-work poor man, is tempted one night to take it away from wealthy Jack’s house. Mr. Barthwick first points his accusing finger at his charwoman. Mrs. Jones. She discovers it by chance at her house.

She insists on returning it to its owner. There is a scuffle. Jones wants to throw it into the river. At this crucial moment, a detective, Mr Snow enters the room and recovers the stolen box. He draws Mrs Jones on charge of theft to the police station. Jones attacks the policeman on duty He, too, is arrested. Both are produced in the court. The dishonest Magistrate, the constable and the advocate, Roper. shield Jack. Jones is convicted., though not on charge of stealing the box but of assaulting a public servant on duty. Thus, we see the cigarette box dominates the events from cover to cover.

All conflicts and suffering arise from it. The word ‘silver’ gives to the title the colour of a class struggle between the rich and the poor. Silver is the symbol of riches. Hence the title The Silver Box is more appropriate and effective than The Cigarette Box.

Question 6.
Write a character sketch of Mr. Barthwick. M.P. Board 2012, 2016)
Answer:
Galsworthy’s characters are neither glorious heroes nor outright villains- They are true to life. Most of them are ordinary men and women who meet with us everyday. Jack belongs to the aristocratic class, although he himself is a spoilt and dissolute youngman. His father John Barthwick is a Member of the British Parliament. He is rich and influential. Jack has all the advantages of his father’s status and purse. He becomes easy-going and pleasure-loving. He is pampered further by his mother. He is studying at Oxford where boys drink freely and mix with street women and he admits this fact with shameless pride.

Jack spends money recklessly. So, he is always hard up and penniless. He issues a cheque which is dishonoured by the bank. He runs the risk of prosecution for cheating or deception. He has ‘just one shilling in his pocket when he seeks Jones’ help. So, he allows Jones to drink, smoke and even take away whatever he likes. He quarrels with his father about money. He demands more money to spend recklessly on his pleasure hunting. He snatches away the handbag of a lady in a drunken fit of anger. The lady complains to his father who agrees to pay her eight pounds.

Jack has no moral scruples. He mixes with women of loose character. He quarrels with one and snatches away her velvet handbag, containing all her money in a purse. In the court, he tells lies on the inducement by his defence council. Roper. The refuses to recognise Jones and pretends forgetfulness.

Jack happens to be guilty of the same offence as Jones. Both have the same weaknesses for wine and women. Both steal and are made to stand in the witness box. However, Jack is shielded by his father and the advocate. He goes scot-free while Jones gets one month’s rigorous imprisonment. however, Jack is not a downright wicked villain. He is not a deliberate thief. He is a product of an unjust system and economic order. He is pampered chiefly by his mother.

Question 7.
Write a character.sketch of Jones.
Answer:
The Silver Box is a modern and magnificent play. It has a galaxy of characters most of whom have their failings and vices. The only noble character who wins our sympathy and pity is Mrs. Jones. She is a good woman who wishes to bring up her children properly. She is honest, sincere, and dutiful to the core, She claims no privileges and asks no favours.

Yet, she suffers the most. She suffers the drunken brute of a husband at home. She is falsely accused of stealing a silver box by her employer. When Jones is hauled upon charges of theft and violence, poor Mrs Jones is left jobless to starve. Mrs Jones is slim with dark eyes and oval face. Her voice is soft, smooth and even. She is gentle and modest. She doesn’t have the aggressive nature of her husband. Her Lamb-lc
docility annoys her husband. He calls her milky maid who hasn’t even the spirit of a louse.

She accepts her lot without complaint or murmur. lier self-effacement gives a peculiar grace to her personality. Mrs. Jones is born under an unlucky star. She is a victim of malicious fate as well associety. First, she, suffers the tyranny of her husband who beats her cruelly in a state of drunkenness? He accuses of her being unfaithful and even threatens to cut her throat but she bears Lt calnily as a good and faithful wife. She tries to spot his good points.

She cannot take a firm decision to leave him. She tries to explain that his violence and cruelty are due to his heavy drinking and unemployment. She says: “Of course, I know he has a very hard life. And he is fond of the children and it’s very hard for him to see them going without food’. She affirms that Jones is kind and generous when he is sober. She tries her best to save her man from the grip of law.

Mrs Jones is completely innocent of theft. Yet she loses her reputation as well as job. She and her children are left to starve. The court verdict hits her the hardest in three ways. Her husband is sent to jail. She loses her job in Barthwick’s house. She loses her reputation as she is throw out of her lodging. The machinery of law crushes her. Her undeserved suffering is indeed tragic. She is simple. honest, and truthful. She condemns Jones’ action of stealing somebody else’s purse.

She reveals frankly that she had ,in affair with Jones before she married him and that it caused a scandal and costed Jones his job. On the whole, Mrs Jones appeals powerfully to our sense of sympathy and pity.

Question 8.
“The play is an attack on the hypocrisy of the British higher class. Discuss. (Mp Board 2011, 2012)
Answer:
The Silver Box presents, in fact, the on.going class war in the whole world. The society is broadly divided into the upper class and the lower class, the rich and the poor, the rulers and the ruled. John Barthwick represents the upper middle class. He is a liberal Member of Parliament. He has lofty principles about social reforms. He wants all parties to have their representatives in the Parliament. He professes sympathy for the poor. He seems to be deeply moved during the case hearing of Livens. He decides to raise the issue of the downtrodden in the house.

However, Barthwick’s sympathy for the poor is only skin-deep. He thinks that the poor are committing the folly of distrusting the rich and they themselves are largely responsible for their misery. “If they would only trust us (the upper class) they get on so much better.” He doesn’t realise that the poor are victims of social apathy and ruthless laws.

Barthwick is a bogus liberal. His hypocrisy and selfishness are clearly exposed. He is mortally afraid of a public scandal. He helps Jack Out of trouble twice in order to save his own good name from damage. He seeks the help of Snow aid Roper to drop the charge of theft againstJones. “Better to have lost a dozen cigarette boxes, and said nothing about it.” He decides to make enquiries about the stolen box because it is a question of his principle but he makes Jack tell a lie in the court. At the end when Mrs. Jones turns to him with an appeal, he turns his back upon her and goes away like a coward. The author’s estimate of Barthwick is very fair.

Question 9.
What shortcomings of the British judicial system emerge out of the play?
Answer:
The Silver Box may be regarded as a problematic play. It is a social tragedy. The victims are poor Jones, his wife and children. The victimiser in the case is not so much the wealthy liberal, Mr. Barthwick as law itself. Galsworthy indicts the established institution of law courts which is held in the highest esteem for its fairness. The ground reality is that the scales of justice are tilted in favour of men of position and wealth. The principle of equality before law is a paper tiger, a legal fiction.

Jack and Jones are equally wicked. Both are equally guilty of misconduct, moral degradation and stealing but the law treats them differently. Jack is able to get the support and protection provided by his father, the advocate, and the constable. His offence of stealing is ignored and the Magistrate acquits him. However poor Jones who pleads his case himself, is silenced and sent to prison. The clear message conveyed by the play is that Justice is not blind, she is just ashamed to watch.

Question 10.
Discuss the play’s relevance in the present day circumstances.
Answer:
The Silver Box was written ninety years ago. It presented a picture of the English society when industrial revolution had set in. The society was dominated by a handful of aristocrats who also wielded political power. They guarded their privileges and property most ruthlessly. They looked down upon the working class, Mrs. Barthwick expressed her fear of the servants and the labour class in plain words. She pointed out that the servants had become secretive and unreliable. The lower classes had no patriotic feeling, no moral character.

What they wanted was to grab the wealth of the upper classes. Barthwick also agrees with her that the upper classes should join hands to fight socialism, Besides pointing to the class war, the play also ridicules the judiciary and the law which favoured the rich and crushed the poor. The social picture of England, in the beginning of the twenty century was not changed.

The class conflicts were still plaguing the society in every country The play is very relevant even in present day circumstances. Capitalism versus communism or socialism is the hottest topic even today In Indian society a handful of business houses are the real rulers and master of the masses. They run the administration through their handpicked political leaders and top officers. Millions of people live in slums and on footpaths in sub-human conditions. Crimes are increasing. The evil of drinking is spreading fast. Galsworthy made a perfect prophecy in his plays.

Question 11.
“Drinking affects the high and the low alike.” Illustrate the proposition on the basis of your study of the play.
Answer:
The Silver Box deals with the family drama of two persons John Barthwick and James Jones. The former is a wealthy M.P. He has liberal views in theory but he can go to any length to save his family’s reputation and his private property. He is not a socialist who demands economic equality and an end to class distinction. He has a pampered son, Jack, studying at Oxford. Jack is given to drinking,. womanising and spending lavishly

He has no respect for anybody, not even for his father. He has no moral scruples? Mrs Barthwick harps on the respectability of the family, the innocence of her son, and the evil designs of the lower classes. Jones represents the dispossessed class, the poor working class. His family consists of his wife and three children. He is out-of-work. He is willing to work but he cannot get work.

Mrs Jones works as a charwoman in the house of Barthwick where she is accused of stealing the silver There is a lot of similarity between Jack and Jones. Both are reckless in their conduct. Both drink too much and both after other women. Both are guilty of robbing or stealing. Jack snatches away the purse of a prostitute. Jones steals away that silk purse along with a silver box. Both are characterless.

If Barthwick shows concern for his own reputation, Jones becomes violent to protect the honour and good name of hi respectable wife. He frees her from the false charge of theft. Barthwick is a bogus liberal, a hypocrite. He doesn’t hesitate to destroy a weak family. His son, Jack, tells lies and robs a woman of her purse. Mrs Jones. on the other hand, is very honest, sincere and submissive. Thus, Jones family is in a way better than Barthwick’s family.

The Silver Box Summary in English

Jack Barthwick returns home after midnight in an intoxicated state. He is the son of John Barthwick, a wealthy member of parliament belonging to the Liberal Party. Jack is helped by Jones in unlocking the house, who is almost thirty years old and dressed in shabby clothes. The poor and unemployed Jack staggers into his dining room with a woman's velvet bag. The bag contains a crimson silk purse. He drops the purse and takes out a cigarette from the silver box.

He wants to tip Jones something but has only one shilling in his pocket. Therefore, he offers Jones a drink in exchange for cash. He introduces himself to Jones and reveals that he had a fight with a street walker and snatched his bag. He longs to sleep on the couch. Jones sips in several pegs of whiskey and is more drunk. He suddenly picks up the silver box and the red silk purse. He leaves the room overjoyed that he has beaten Jack.

Mrs. Jones works as a lady at Barthwick's house. In the morning, Wheeler, the maid, tells Mrs. Jones of Mrs. Jones' misdeeds. Mrs Jones admits that her husband abuses her. He returns home at 2 pm. last night and used violence at that. However, she links her anger to heavy drinking and unemployment. She is worried about how to feed her three children. Marlowe, the manservant, as well as Wheeler advise Mrs Jones to go to court.

Mrs Jones sweeps the dining prom. Jack wakes up and complains of a severe headache. Marlowe finds that the silver box is missing. She suspects that Mrs. Jones is stealing it. Mr. John Barthwick is a prosperous old man. He is calm and serious. He reads the news of the Labor Party's success in the Parliament by-elections. His wife is very upset. He fears that the Labor Party is bent upon depriving the upper classes of their rights and property. She says that education has increased discontent among the lower classes and the bureaucrats have become angry.

John receives a dishonored check for 40. It was taken out by Jack. Jack's troubles may increase if the check bounces. John reprimands his son when the latter has breakfast. Then a girl's phone rang in the house. She complained that Jack quarreled with her and snatched her bag. This revelation shocked Harthwick and he sent off Jack. She demands that her purse containing eight pounds of mine be returned to her. Jack returns with an empty bag.

She threatens to file a theft complaint against Jack. Barthwick pays her eight pounds and settles Dame. After she leaves, John reprimands Jack and calls him a nuisance to society. Jack ruthlessly replies that he (his foal) has helped him simply because he is afraid of a scam. John feels uncomfortable. Marlow reports the loss of the silver box. Mr. Barthwick is shocked by the theft and decides to investigate the matter.

He cross-examines Mrs Tone to get information about her past and present circumstances. She reveals that her first child was born before Jones married her. This led to a scandal and Jones was fired by his employer. He mistreats her but she is not evil. She also lives for 6 shillings a week. His rent is due.

He himself gets half the crown for the whole day's work. She says that she does not know about the silver box. At Jones' house, Mrs. Seddon, the landlady, comes to collect rent. Jones gives her a pound and she leaves. Then, he takes out the crimson purse. He says that by chance he was found lying unattended on the road and was over seven pounds. He has no sense of guilt. He plans to go to Canada to change his fortunes. Mrs Jones shook her coat and the silver box fell down, the same box she was questioned about.

Jones says he took it while intoxicated. He promises to throw it in the river. He hates to be called a thief but Mrs Jones is not satisfied with this explanation. He accused her of ruining his reputation. Jones calls himself no worse than Jack. As the row continues, a detective in plainclothes Robert Snow arrives. He puts his hand on the box and announces Mrs Jones has been arrested. Jones confesses that he stole the box, not his wife.

As Snow pulls Mrs Jones to the door and whistles to call the other policemen, Jones blows her up. John builds snow corns and a silver box for Barthwick to see. He informs that Jones has been detained for assaulting him in the discharge of his duty, he also reports that Comey lets him enter the house and offers him a drink. Jones is likely to make the same statement before a police magistrate. Snow ends with the information that he has also recovered a red silk purse along with money from Jones' pocket.

Mr. Barthwick now wants the whole matter to be put to rest. He expresses sympathy for the poor and tells Snow to drop the proceedings against Jones. Snow makes it clear that Jones would need to be prosecuted for assaulting a public servant. He advises John to hire a lawyer to defend his son. He takes the silver box as it has to be produced in the court. John Barthwick is very worried. He fears bad publicity in the press. His reputation is at stake. Mrs. Barthwick was shocked to hear the details from Jack herself. "Better than having lost a dozen cigarette cans, and said nothing about it," John says in desperation. Roper, the lawyer, arrives.

John informs her that Charwoman is innocent, her husband had taken the purse and box when Jack had let her into the house himself. He reveals his fear that the newspapers will defame him if Jones makes a fuss about the purse. Mom asks Jack to tell the truth and says that she never let Jones into the house. Roper advises that Jack should not say anything about the events of the previous night. Jack is taught to say that he doesn't remember anything.

After this Jones and his wife are produced in court. Mrs Barthwick again reminds her lawyer to keep the Red Purse out of the case. The hearing begins. The first witness, Marlowe, tells of the theft of the silver box. Detective Robert Snow tells how he got the box from Jones' house. He also reports that Jones used violence against him. Jones states in self-defense that he committed the violence because Snow insisted on taking his wife into custody. Jones says she had never been brought to police court before. He admitted that he took the silver box while intoxicated.

Jack is called into the witness box. He swears that he will tell the truth but he pretends to remember nothing, that he does not know Jones and has never met him before. When Iones tries to remind him of the incident, Roper intervenes to say that Jones' questions are not relevant. Jones asks the magistrate to question Jack why he took the woman's purse.

Roper intervenes again and requests the magistrate to let Jack leave the witness box. Thus, the theft of the purse by Jack, a key issue in the case, is side tracked. The magistrate acquits Mrs Jones and sets her free. He finds Jones guilty of misconduct attacking a public servant on duty, he declares that people like Jones are a nuisance to the community.

Jack remembers that his father used the same words for him. Jones is sentenced to a month's imprisonment with hard labor: "Call it justice? What's his news? He got intoxicated! They put up their complaint that Jack is equally guilty and punished." Deserves to but his cries go unheard. Court adjourns for lunch. Roper asks reporter not to write anything hurtful about the Barthwick family. Jack proudly walks off the court. Mr. Barthwick Mrs Jones' appeal for employment was eventually ignored.

The Silver Box Summary in Hindi

आधी रात को नशे में धुत होकर जैक बार्थबिक अपने घर लौटता है। वह जॉन बार्थविक के पुत्र हैं, जो संसद के एक धनी सदस्य और लिबरल पार्टी के हैं। जैक को एक आदमी, जोन्स, जो लगभग तीस साल का है और गंदे कपड़े पहने हुए, अपना दरवाजा खोलने में मदद करता है। वह गरीब और बेरोजगार है। जैक अपने भोजन कक्ष में ठोकर खाता है, हाथ में लाल रेशमी पर्स के साथ एक महिला का बैग पकड़े हुए, वह पर्स को जमीन पर गिरा देता है और चांदी के बक्से से एक सिगरेट निकालता है। वह जोन्स को कुछ इनाम देना चाहता है लेकिन उसकी जेब में केवल एक शिलिंग है। इसलिए वह नकद के बदले जोन्स को व्हिस्की का एक पेग देता है। वह जोन्स से अपना परिचय देता है और उसे बताता है कि मेरा एक पति के साथ झगड़ा हुआ था। इसलिए मैंने उसका बैग छीन लिया। वह सोफे पर सो जाता है। जोन्स अपने गले से कई खूंटे निकालता है और नशे में धुत हो जाता है। वह आमतौर पर चांदी का डिब्बा और लाल रेशम का पर्स उठाता है। वह बहुत खुश होकर घर से बाहर चला जाता है कि उसने जैक को बेवकूफ बनाया है।

श्रीमती जोन्स बार्थविक परिवार में एक नौकरानी के रूप में काम करती हैं। सुबह में, एक अन्य नौकर, व्हीलर, जोन्स को अपने पति के कार्यों के बारे में बताता है। श्रीमती जोन्स स्वीकार करती हैं कि उनके पति उनके साथ बुरा व्यवहार करते हैं। बीती रात दो बजे वह घर लौटा और उसके साथ मारपीट की। लेकिन उनके गुस्से की वजह उनका शराब पीना और बेरोजगारी बताया जा रहा है. उसे इस बात की चिंता सता रही है कि वह अपने तीन बच्चों का पेट कैसे भरेगी। मार्लो के नौकर और व्हीलर की नौकरानी ने उसे अदालत जाने की सलाह दी।

श्रीमती जोन्स कमरे में झाडू लगाती हैं। जैक जाग जाता है और गंभीर सिरदर्द की शिकायत करता है। मार्लो को पता चलता है कि सिल्वर सिगरेट केस गायब है। वह श्रीमती जोन्स पर शक करता है। श्री जॉन बार्थविक एक धनी, बूढ़े व्यक्ति हैं। वह एक शांत और गंभीर व्यक्ति हैं। वह उपचुनाव में लेबर पार्टी के उम्मीदवार की जीत की खबर पढ़ता है। उसकी पत्नी चिंतित हो जाती है। उन्हें डर है कि लेबर पार्टी उच्च वर्गों के अधिकारों और संपत्ति को हथियाने के लिए तैयार है। वह कहती हैं कि शिक्षा ने निम्न वर्गों में असंतोष बढ़ा दिया है और नौकर अब अश्लील हो गए हैं। जॉन के पास 40 पाउंड का चेक वापस आता है जिसे बैंक ने भुनाया नहीं है। उस चेक को जैक ने काटा था।

चेक का भुगतान न करना एक अपराध है और जैक को मुश्किल में डाल सकता है। जब जॉन नाश्ते के लिए आता है तो जॉन अपने बेटे को डॉट करता है। तभी घर में एक लड़की आती है। उसकी शिकायत है कि जैक ने उससे झगड़ा किया और उसका बैग छीन लिया। यह सुनकर, बार्थविक आहत होता है और जैक को दंगा भेजता है। महिला चाहती है कि उसका पर्स, जिसमें करीब आठ पिंड की राशि रखी गई थी, उसे वापस कर दिया जाए। जैक खाली बैग ले जाता है। लड़की जैक के खिलाफ शिकायत दर्ज कराने की धमकी देती है। बार्थविक ने उसे आठ पाउंड देकर मामला छुपाया। उसके जाने के बाद, जॉन जैक को फटकार लगाता है और उसे समाज के लिए सिरदर्द बताता है। जैक अपशब्द कहता है कि तुमने मेरी मदद सिर्फ इसलिए की क्योंकि तुम्हें बदनामी का डर था। जॉन उदास हो जाता है।

मार्लो चांदी के मामले के नुकसान की खबर लाता है। श्री बार्थविक चोरी की खबर सुनकर चौंक गए। उन्होंने मामले की गहराई से जांच करने का फैसला किया। वह श्रीमती जोन्स से उनके पिछले जीवन और वर्तमान स्थिति के बारे में जानने के लिए पूछताछ करता है। वह बताती है कि जोन्स से शादी करने से पहले उसका पहला बच्चा पैदा हुआ था। इससे बदनामी हुई और जोन्स को अपनी नौकरी गंवानी पड़ी। वह उसके साथ बुरा व्यवहार करता है, लेकिन शैतान नहीं है। वह प्रति सप्ताह 6 शिलिंग किराए पर एक कमरे में रह रही है। उनका किराया अभी बढ़ा है। वह खुद दिन भर काम करके आधा ताज खुद कमाती हैं। वह कहती है कि उसे चांदी के डिब्बे के बारे में कोई जानकारी नहीं है।

मिस सेडान जोंस के घर किराया लेने आती है। जोन्स उसे एक पाउंड देता है और उसे विदा करता है। फिर वह लाल पर्स निकाल लेता है। वह कहता है कि उसने अचानक मुझे सड़क पर पड़ा हुआ पाया। इसमें सात पाउंड भी हैं। उसके मन में अपराधी होने का भय नहीं रहता। वह कनाडा जाने और अपनी किस्मत आजमाने की योजना बना रहा है। श्रीमती जोन्स ने अपना कोट साफ किया, चांदी का डिब्बा फर्श पर गिर गया। यह वही बक्सा है जिसके बारे में उनसे पूछताछ की जा रही थी। जोन्स बताता है कि उसने नशे में बक्सा उठाया और उसे नदी में फेंकने का वादा किया। वह चोर कहलाने से नफरत करता है। लेकिन श्रीमती जोन्स उनके स्पष्टीकरण से संतुष्ट नहीं हैं। उसने आरोप लगाया कि जोन्स ने छवि को बर्बाद कर दिया है, जोन्स ने कहा कि वह जैक से बेहतर नहीं है।

जबकि लड़ाई जारी है, स्नो, एक जासूस, सादे कपड़ों में आता है। वह बॉक्स को पकड़ लेता है और श्रीमती जोन्स को हिरासत में लेना चाहता है। जोन्स स्वीकार करता है कि उसने बॉक्स चुराया है, उसकी पत्नी नहीं। जब स्नो श्रीमती जोन्स को दरवाजे तक ले जाती है और अन्य सैनिकों को बुलाने के लिए सीटी बजाती है, तो जोन्स उसे पीटता है।

स्नो फिर जॉन बार्थविक के पास जाता है और उसे चांदी का डिब्बा दिखाता है। वह रिपोर्ट करता है कि जोन्स को हिरासत में ले लिया गया है क्योंकि उसने उसे पीटा था। उन्होंने यह भी खुलासा किया कि जैक ने खुद जोन्स को घर में प्रवेश करने की अनुमति दी थी और उन्हें शराब पिलाई थी। यह बहुत संभव है कि जोन्स पुलिस जज के सामने यही बयान दें। स्नो अंत में रिपोर्ट करता है कि जोन्स की जेब से पैसे सहित एक लाल रेशम का पर्स भी जब्त कर लिया गया है।

श्री बार्थनिक अब चाहते हैं कि पूरे मामले को विराम दिया जाए। वह गरीबों के लिए अपनी सहानुभूति व्यक्त करता है और स्नो को जोन्स पर मुकदमा नहीं चलाने के लिए कहता है। स्नो स्पष्ट करता है कि जोन्स पर एक लोक सेवक पर हमला करने का आरोप है और वह अदालती कार्रवाई के अधीन है। वह जॉन को अपने बेटे की रक्षा के लिए एक वकील नियुक्त करने की सलाह देता है। वह चांदी का मामला अपने साथ ले जाता है क्योंकि उसे अदालत में पेश करना होता है।

जॉन बार्थविक भयभीत है। उन्हें अखबारों में बदनामी का डर सता रहा है. उनकी छवि दांव पर है। जैक के मुंह से पूरी घटना सुनकर मां को गहरा धक्का लगा है। जॉन का कहना है कि सिगरेट के एक दर्जन मामलों को खोना बेहतर था जिसके बारे में एक शब्द भी नहीं बोला जाता है।

वकील रोपड़ पहुंचे। जॉन उसे बताता है कि नौकरानी श्रीमती जोन्स निर्दोष है, कि उसके पति ने पर्स और बॉक्स ले लिया था जब जैक ने खुद उसे घर में आमंत्रित किया था। वह अपने डर को व्यक्त करता है कि अगर जोन्स पर्स मामले को उठाता है तो समाचार पत्र उसे बदनाम कर देंगे। माँ जैक को सच बताने के लिए कहती है कि तुमने जोन्स को घर के अंदर आमंत्रित नहीं किया। रोपर जैक को सलाह देता है कि वह पिछली रात की घटना का उल्लेख न करे। जैक को यह कहना सिखाया जाता है कि उसे कुछ भी याद नहीं है।

एक हफ्ते बाद पुलिस कोर्ट में मजिस्ट्रेट पहले दो बेघर छोटी बच्चियों के मामले की सुनवाई करता है. घूमते हुए पाया गया। उनके पिता बताते हैं कि वह बेरोजगार हैं और अपनी बेटियों की परवरिश नहीं कर सकते। उसकी पत्नी उसे छोड़कर दूसरे पुरुष के साथ भाग गई है। लड़कियों को एक हफ्ते तक पुलिस सुरक्षा में रखा जाता है।

फिर जोन्स और उसकी पत्नी को अदालत में पेश किया जाता है। श्री बार्थविक फिर से अपने वकील, रोपर को याद दिलाते हैं कि इस मामले में लाल पर्स का उल्लेख नहीं करना चाहिए। ट्रायल शुरू होता है। पहला गवाह, मार्लो, चांदी के बक्से के नुकसान का विवरण देता है। जासूस रॉबर्ट स्नो बताते हैं कि उसे दिव्या जोन्स के घर पर यह कैसे मिला। उन्होंने यह भी खुलासा किया कि जोन्स ने उनके साथ मारपीट की। जोन्स आत्मरक्षा में कहता है कि उसे गोली मारनी पड़ी क्योंकि स्नो अपनी पत्नी को हिरासत में लेने पर जोर दे रहा था। जोन्स का कहना है कि उन्हें आज से पहले कभी पुलिस अदालत में पेश नहीं होना पड़ा। उसने स्वीकार किया कि उसने नशे की हालत में चांदी का डिब्बा उठाया था।

जैक को कोर्ट रूम में बुलाया जाता है। वह कसम खाता है कि वह सच बताएगा, लेकिन वह झूठ बोलता है कि उसे कुछ भी याद नहीं है, कि वह जोन्स को नहीं जानता और कभी उससे नहीं मिला। जब जोन्स उसे घटना की याद दिलाता है, रोपर हस्तक्षेप करता है कि जोन्स के प्रश्न असंगत हैं। जोन्स मजिस्ट्रेट से कहता है कि वह जैक से पूछे कि उसने महिला का पर्स क्यों चुराया। रोपर फिर से बोलता है और मजिस्ट्रेट से जैक को कोर्ट रूम से बाहर जाने की अनुमति देने के लिए कहता है। इस प्रकार जैक द्वारा पर्स की चोरी के महत्वपूर्ण मामले को छोड़ दिया जाता है।

मैजिस्ट्रेट श्रीमती जोन्स को बरी करता है। वह ड्यूटी पर एक सरकारी कर्मचारी पर हमला करने के लिए जोन्स को दोषी ठहराता है। उनका कहना है कि उनके जैसे लोग समाज के लिए खतरनाक हैं। जैक को वही शब्द याद हैं जो उसके पिता ने उससे कहे थे। जोन्स को एक महीने का कठोर कारावास मिलता है। जोन्स खुद को घोर अन्याय का शिकार बताते हैं। वह चिल्लाता है और कहता है - क्या इसे न्याय कहते हैं? उस जैक का क्या हुआ? वह भी नशे में था! उसने पर्स चुरा लिया!" वह शिकायत करती है कि जैक समान रूप से दोषी है और उसे दंडित किया जाना चाहिए, लेकिन उसकी आवाज अनसुनी हो जाती है। दोपहर के भोजन के लिए कोर्ट बंद हो जाता है। रोपर प्रेस रिपोर्टर से बार्थविक परिवार के खिलाफ कुछ भी नहीं लिखने का अनुरोध करता है। जैक गर्व से अदालत से बाहर चला जाता है श्री वार्थविक श्रीमती जोन्स के बहाल किए जाने के अनुरोध की उपेक्षा करते हैं।

The Silver Box Word Meaning

We think the data given here clears all your questions from Chapter 21 Silver Box and assures you to attempt all the questions in the exam. So, practice as much as possible from the MP Board Board Solutions for Class 12th English Chapter 21 and score well. Need any information regarding this then ask us through comments and we will give the best possible answer soon.

Final Words

तो दोस्तों आपको हमारी पोस्ट कैसी लगी! शेयरिंग बटन पोस्ट के नीचे इसे अपने दोस्तों के साथ शेयर करना न भूलें। इसके अलावा अगर बीच में कोई परेशानी हो तो कमेंट बॉक्स में पूछने में संकोच न करें। आपकी सहायता कर हमें खुशी होगी। हम इससे जुड़े और भी पोस्ट लिखते रहेंगे। तो अपने मोबाइल या कंप्यूटर पर हमारे ब्लॉग "various info: Education and Tech" को बुकमार्क (Ctrl + D) करना न भूलें और अपने ईमेल में सभी पोस्ट प्राप्त करने के लिए हमें अभी सब्सक्राइब करें।

अगर आपको यह पोस्ट अच्छी लगी हो तो इसे अपने दोस्तों के साथ शेयर करना ना भूलें। आप इसे व्हाट्सएप, फेसबुक या ट्विटर जैसी सोशल नेटवर्किंग साइटों पर साझा करके अधिक लोगों तक पहुंचने में हमारी सहायता कर सकते हैं। शुक्रिया!

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MP Board Class 12th English A Voyage Solutions Chapter 21 The Silver Box (John Galsworthy)