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A Matter of Husbands by Ferenc Molnar
Summary | Exercise (Questions & Answers)
Compulsory English Class 12
Neb English Notes
A Matter of Husbands by Ference Molnar
MAIN SUMMARY
A Matter of Husbands by Ference Molnar
When the play opens, we find the Earnest Young Woman who is sitting on a chair in a drawing room of the Famous Actress named Sara. The Earnest Young Woman seems quite upset and worried. She has a belief that her husband, Alfred, is having an affair with the Famous Actress. When the Famous Actress arrives in, she asks the Famous Actress to return her husband back. When the Famous Actress asks her the reason of her doubts, the Earnest Young Woman explains that she found a passionate letter and also saw some other signs that make her think that her husband is in love with the actress.
The Famous Actress listens all her matter calmly. Later, she begins to explain the situation in a way that completely changes the Earnest Young Woman's mind as well as perspective. The Famous Actress tells her that her husband is only trying to make her jealous to regain their love. She even claims that once Alfred asked her to write the passionate letter and left it on his desk in a hope that his wife would find and read it. The Famous Actress even shares a story about how she wrote similar type of letters for another man to help him win back his wife's love and affection.
She further provides some explainations that all the other signs - like ordering flowers and later canceling the order and keeping a lock of the Actress's hair - are just tricks especially to make the Earnest Young Woman feel jealous and love her husband more.
Later, the Famous Actress assures the Earnest Young Woman that any man associated to the theater would use such tricks. She admits that she also helped and played along with Alfred's plan not because there was an actual affair between them, but because she wanted to play a supportive role in the young couple's marriage. She also explains that men often try to create imaginary love stories with actresses and while the actresses are aware of the deception, their wives often believe the stories are real.
By the end of their conversation, the Earnest Young Woman is reassured and no longer suspicious of her husband. She feels quite relieved and even grateful to the Famous Actress for helping her understand the real story or the situation. The Famous Actress has successfully manipulated the situation, using her charm and wit to dissolve the Earnest Young Woman's doubts.
As the Earnest Young Woman gets ready to leave the drawing room, she seems much calmer and more secure in her marriage relationship. She is thoroughly convinced that her husband still loves her. Just after her departure, the Famous Actress calls out name of Alfred who has been hiding in the closet the entire time, listening to the conversation. This particular twist reveals that the Famous Actress may not have been entirely truthful, and there might be more to the story than she led the Earnest Young Woman to believe.
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ALL PLAYS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS' SOLUTION PACK
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
A Matter of Husbands by Ference Molnar
UNDERSTANDING THE TEXT
Answer the following questions.
a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress?
Answer:
The Earnest Young Woman asks for a favour to give her husband back the famous rown. She loves her husband extremely much. She has come to know about her husband's deception.
b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous Actress?
Answer:
According to the Earnest Young Woman, the following are indications that her husband has fallen in love with a famous actress:.
▪︎ Her husband has sent her (a famous actress) flowers. She learned about it from a florist.
▪︎ She finds her husband's love letter on the table that he has forgotten. The letter contains her husband's apology and thousands of kisses for not being able to call her a famous actress.
c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How?
Answer:
Yes, Earnest Young Woman is convinced by the argument of a famous actress. We find Earnest Young Woman quite satisfied and happy at the end of the play. She seems fully convinced, and she kisses the Famous Actress for being so happy. She thinks that she has gotten her husband back.
d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding himself as they are talking about him?
Answer:
The earnest young woman's husband is hiding himself inside the closet as they are talking about him. When Earnest Young Woman moves out of the drawing room, a famous actor calls out by his name, Alfred, and he comes out of the closet.
e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at acting?
Answer:
I feel that the Famous Actress is really good at acting when she calls out the name of Alfred, and Alfred comes out of her closet at the end of the play. This suspense at the end of the play makes me feel that she is really good at acting. She seems quite confident in her words and gestures while convincing the earnest young woman. She convinces not only the Earnest Young Woman but also the audience very precisely. Her last word, "Alfred," and the entry of Alfred from her closet surprise the audience.
f. How do we come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love?
Answer:
We come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love through the last act of Famous Actress when she calls Earnest Young Woman's husband's name Alfred, and Alfred comes out of her closet.
g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.
Answer:
When the play begins, the Earnest Young Woman enters the famous actress's drawing room and asks her to give her husband back. Earnest Young Woman blames her, saying that her husband has been in love with her (a famous actress). According to her, her husband has sent her flowers and even written an apology letter. A Famous Actress starts weaving a fake story about her husband, saying that he is attempting to trick her to get more affection from her. Earnest Young Woman believes in the fake story made up by the actress and realizes her stupidity. When Earnest Young Woman departs, the Famous Actress asks Alfred to come out of the closet.
REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT
a. Sketch the character of Famous Actress.
Answer:
The Famous Actress in this play is young and beautiful. She is quite a good actress who works in theatre. She is quite good at acting. She seems so innocent in her outer appearance. But she is quite deceptive and wicked inwardly. Here in this play, she has been suspected and blamed by the earnest young woman. She has a good quality of speech. She defends herself quite tactfully. She convinces the Earnest Young Woman with her reasoning. The way she tells stories to prevent a woman from believing that her husband is having an affair with her is cunning and deceitful. She also leads an immoral life, which is seen at the end of the story, where it is revealed that Alfred, the husband of an earnest young woman, was actually in her house.
b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress.
Answer:
In this play, "A Matter of Husband," we find two major female characters. These two characters are quite different in their appearances and natures.
Here, the ordinary woman is a wife, whereas the Famous Actress is a single woman. The play presents the conversation between these two women. Through their conversation, we get to know that the ordinary woman is a simple-minded and timid person who has easily been deceived by the false story of the actress.
In the beginning, the ordinary woman enters the actress's drawing room full of tears, blaming her husband for having an affair with the actress. She has evidence against the actress. When she blames the actress, the actress convinces her with her fake story. The actress tells her a fake story related to her husband's intentions behind his acts. According to her, an ordinary woman's husband wants to make her jealous so that he can regain her love.
The ordinary woman believes her words without any doubt. She becomes extremely happy, and she even kisses the actress at last.
At the end of the play, when the actress calls out Alfred's name, Alfred comes out of her closet. This final act shows that the actress is such a cunning woman, whereas the ordinary woman is timid. We find the actress brilliant at her acting and speech. She seems full of confidence while sharing her opinions. She doesn't hesitate to weave her fake story. On the other hand, the ordinary woman seems so hesitant. She has a fear of losing her husband. The play presents her as a simple wife who loves her husband so much. However, the actress is presented as an immoral woman who has an illegal relationship with an ordinary woman's husband, Alfred.
c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?
Answer:
No, I don't agree with her argument. These are very rare cases. Her statement is so fake, which has less connection with the reality of men associated with the theatre. According to her, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Here, we find that she gets blamed for cheating by Earnest Young Woman all of a sudden. To escape herself from that blame, she weaves a false story regarding entire men who are associated with the theatre. Not every man associated with the theatre has a timid, simple-minded, and gullible wife. In the case of Alfred, we find a simple-minded wife. The Famous Actress is such a cunning woman who has an immoral relationship with Earnest Young Woman's husband, Alfred. Both Famous Actresses and Alfred are cheating Earnest Young Woman in the real sense. To convince Earnest Young Woman and save herself from the blame, she makes a so-called statement.
d. How does Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman?
Answer:
Famous Actress makes a fool of Earnest Young Woman by putting forward a fake story regarding men and actresses associated with the theatre. When the Famous Actress is blamed by Earnest Young Woman, she states that there was a misunderstanding between her and her husband. She convinces the Earnest Young Woman that her husband is playing with her to make her jealous and get her love back. After hearing her opinions, the Earnest Young Woman innocently realises her mistake and apologises to her. She even kisses the Famous Actress at last, being convinced and satisfied.
e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house as a part of the setting play in A Matter for Husband?
Answer:
The play "A Matter of Husbands" by Ferenc Molnar sheds light on the basic function of actors: to make the audience believe in the illusion. Here, we find the whole play presented on the stage of the theatre house, where two major characters have a conversation. As a part of the setting, the theatre house has provided a fine environment to present the basic function of actors, i.e., making the audience believe in the illusion. The setting of the theatre house has made it possible to create an illusion among the audience about the excellent roles of the actors. Here, the theatre house has provided both characters with a fine environment to have their private conversations, which shouldn't be done publicly. The theatre house as a part of the setting has played a tremendous role in the presentation of the thematic concern.
REFERENCE BEYOND THE CONTEXT
a. Write a paragraph describing your favourite actor/actress.
Answer:
My Favourite Actor
My favourite actor is Akshay Kumar. Akshay Kumar, whose real name is Rajiv Hari Om Bhatia, is a well-known film actor as well as a producer and martial arts expert. People also fondly call him 'Akki'. Akshay Kumar has worked in more than 125 films. He has been nominated several times for his films in the Filmfare Awards, out of which he has won this award twice. He has been working in the Hindi film industry for a long time and is also known for his disciplined nature and routine. Known as 'Khiladiyon Ke Khiladi', Akshay does most of the stunts in his films himself. Akshay Kumar was born in Amritsar, Punjab. His father, Hari Om Bhatia, was a military officer. His mother's name is Aruna Bhatia. Akshay also has a sister named Alka Bhatia. He did his schooling at Don Bosco School and his further studies at Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Mumbai. After earning a black belt in Taekwondo in India, Akshay studied martial arts in Bangkok, Thailand. After returning from there, Akshay got his photoshoot done, after which he was signed for the film 'Deedar'.
b. John Cassavetes says, “I’m very worried about the depiction of women on the screen. It’s gotten worse than ever and it’s related to their being either high- or low-class concubines . . . . There’s nothing to do with the dreams of women, or of woman as the dream, nothing to do with the quirky part of her, the wonder of her.” How do you assess Famous Actress in the light of Cassavetes’ argument about the portrayal of women?
Answer:
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IMPORTANT QUESTIONS FOR EXAM FROM ALL THREE ONE ACT PLAYS
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