Class XII-Prose Section The Silver Box
ACT III OF THE SILVER BOX
Word Meaning Urdu Word Meaning Urdu
Distinguished Eminent Particularly Chiefly
Contemporaries Age group Strife Trouble
Dissolute Immoral Surmounted Over come
Canopied Covered Ferocious Fierce
Unicorn Animal Grizzled Dirty
Enclosure Area Owing Due
Dispose Arrange Ushered Accompany
Disillusioned Disheartened Defiantly Disobediently
Pawned Gambled Execution Implementation
Cudgel Bat Demeanor Manner
Wispy Weak Sullenly Grimly
Haggard Damaged Parleys Meeting
Partaken Share Earnestly Sincerely
Protruded Stick out Smothered Suffocate
Liquor Liquid Muttering Talking softly
Prey Victim Pleaded Begged
Q1. What purpose, in your opinion, is served by beginning this act of the play with the
case of the Livens girls, which has nothing to do with the main story?
Ans. The Livens girls has no direct connection with the main story, but they give a
start to the happing in the court. This case also puts light on the English legal system
that poor had to face difficulty and problems for the sake of justice.
Q2. Why are Mr.Barthwick and his son so anxious that as little as possible should be
said in court about the purse and the money that Jones had in his possession?
Ans. They were so anxious because they were afraid with people and Magistrate that
either they would know that Jack was guilty of a similar offence for which Jones was
being tried.
Q3. What function is Mr. Roper discharging in the Magistrate’s court?
Ans. Mr. Roper is playing a role of lawyer in the Magistrate’s court. He wants to hush
up Jack’s crime before it comes to know to the public.
Q4. What facts does Marlowe’s evidence establish?
Ans. Marlowe’s evidence proved that the silver box was stolen from the house of
Mr.Barthwick
Q5. From the Constable’s evidence we learn that Mrs. Jones was the first to be
charged with the theft. Why was this so?
Ans. She was the first to be charged with the theft, because as a charwoman she used
to come in the house.
Q6. What led the Constable to arrest and charge Jones as well?
Ans. The Jones assaulted on Constable while he was performing his duties, and he
admitted that he had taken the box form the Barthwick’s house.
Q7. Briefly give the probable reasons for the Magistrate’s decision to discharge Mrs.
Jones.
Ans. The Magistrate released Mrs. Jones, because her husband admitted that he had
stolen the silver box as well as the police could not prove that she was culprit.
Q8. Briefly discuss whether the Magistrate gives Jones a fair trial.
Ans. The Magistrate does not give a fair trial to Jones, because he was in the favour
of John Barthwick and wanted to hush up the crime of Jack. He punished Jones,
because he assaulted on constable and behaved roughly.
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Class XII-Prose Section The Silver Box
IMPORTANT LINES
REFERENCE
These lines have been taken from the play “ACT III OF THE
SILVER BOX” written by “JOHN GALSWORTHY.”
CONTEXT
In this play “Galsworthy” points out the defects of his society.
Two similar cases of theft were brought before the Magistrate, but one of them was
the case of high-class liberal member’s so, being powerful and rich, he hush up his
son’s crime while being poor and helpless other had to bear punishment and his wife
had to lose her job. This is a bitter and critical play on the British society.
1. I found these two little girls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . they had no
home.
EXPLANATION
In these lines, the Relieving Officer tells to Magistrate about
two girls whom he finds in the Blue Street, Fulham. He says that these two girls were
wandering and crying out side public house. He says that when he asked them about
their address then he was told that they had no home and they are helpless. He further
says that they are in rags and they had no permanent home for living.
2. The wife has broken up the . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .common lodging-
house
EXPLANATION
In these lines, the Relieving Officer defines about the parents of
two miserable girls saying about their mother he says that she had broken up the home
and gone away. He further says about their father that their father is jobless and now-
a-days he is living in the common lodging-house so, these two girls are on the mercy
of their fate.
3. I can only say that if I could . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . but what can I
do.
EXPLANATION
In these lines, Livens, the father of the two girls ensures to
Magistrate that he could cater (provide food) them if he would get any chance of job
or if he would have any resource of income. He says that he had no source of income
and he is living in a miserable condition, he could not afford even a single time food
so, he could not afford their expenses.
4. It is not the consequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . have lost your
work.
EXPLANATION
In these lines, Magistrate says to Mrs. Jones, the wife of Mr.
Jones, the criminal that it is not the punishment for the Jones, but it is the punishment
for her that she had to bear difficulties, he says that she has been brought here in the
court twice and she has also lost her job. He (Magistrate) feels sorry for her as she is
not the real culprit but was suspected. So she had bee brought in the court.
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