ON THE FACE OF IT

• The play depicts beautifully yet grimly the sad world of the physically
impaired.
• It is not the actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical impairment
that trouble a disabled man but the attitude of the people around him.
• Two physically impaired people, Mr. Lamb with a tin leg and Derry with a
burnt face, strike a band of friendship.
• Derry is described as a young boy shy, withdrawn and defiant.
• People tell him inspiring stories to console him, no one will ever kiss him
except his mother that too on the other side of his face
• Mentions about a woman telling that only a mother can love such a face.
• Mr. Lamb revives the almost dead feelings of Derry towards life.
• He motivates him to think positively about life, changes his mind set about
people and things.
• How a man locked himself as he was scared‐a picture fell off the wall and
got killed.
• Everything appears to be the same but is different‐ Ex. of bees and weeds
• The gate of the garden is always open.
• Derry is inspired and promises to come back.
The play depicts beautifully yet grimly the sad world of the physically
impaired. It is not the actual pain or inconvenience caused by a physical
impairment that trouble a disabled man but the attitude of the people
around him. Two physically impaired people, Mr. Lamb with a tin leg and
Derry with a burnt face, strike a band of friendship. Derry is described as a
young boy shy, withdrawn and defiant. People tell him inspiring stories to
console him, no one will ever kiss him except his mother that too on the
other side of his face Mentions about a woman telling that only a mother can
love such a face. Mr. Lamb revives the almost dead feelings of Derry towards
life. He motivates him to think positively about life, changes his mind set
about people and things. How a man locked himself as he was scared‐a
picture fell off the wall and got killed. Everything appears to be the same but
is different‐ Ex. of bees. And weeds The gate of the garden is always open.
Derry is inspired and promises to come back Derry’s mother stops him but
he is adamant saying if he does not go now it would be never. When he
comes back he sees lamb lying on the ground It is ironical that when he
searches a new foothold to live happily, he finds Mr.
Lamb dead. In this way the play depicts the heart rendering life of physically
disabled people with their loneliness, aloofness and alienation. But at the
same time it is almost a true account of the people who don’t let a person
live happily.
Q. 1. Both Derry and Mr Lamb suffer physical disabilities but their attitude
towards life and people is totally different. Highlight their contrasting
traits in your own words.
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Derry's main problem is his burnt face. One side of his face was eaten
up by acid. He suffers from a tremendous sense of inferiority complex. He is
always conscious that his face is "bad", "terrible" and "the ugliest thing".
People are "afraid" of him. He tries to escape people. He allows himself to be
alienated from the world. On the other hand, Mr Lamb doesn't allow his
physical disability to come in his way. He accepts life as it comes. He has a
positive attitude towards life, things and people. He doesn't find solace in
escapism. Children tease him by calling "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't mind
it. One of his legs was blown off in the war. But he is full of life and enjoys it
at his best. He enjoys sitting in the sun, reading books and growing weeds
and flowers.
Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He doesn't trust people. He thinks that no
one will ever love and kiss him except his own mother. He can't stand people
staring at him or passing uncharitable remarks. He is touchy and hyper-
sensitive. Mr Lamb is open-minded and open-hearted. All are welcome. He
loves everybody and everything. He teaches Derry how to handle people and
things.
Q. 2. How did Mr. Lamb's meeting with Derry become a turning point
in Derry's life ? Ans. The play 'On the Face of It' features an old man and a
small boy. The man is Mr Lamb and the boy Derry who meets him in the
former's garden. Derry is withdrawn and defiant. He does not like being with
people. Once he got acid all down on one side of his face. The acid burnt it
all away. This creates a complex in his mind. He considers his face as the
most terrible thing in the world. When he looks in the mirror and sees it, he is
afraid of himself. He thinks that people are afraid of him. He doesn't like
being near them. No one will ever kiss him. Only his mother kisses him and
that too on the other side of his face. People look at his face and pass
uncharitable remarks. Mr Lamb is a physically challenged man. He has got a
tin leg. The real one got blown off, years back. Children tease him calling
"Lamey — Lamb". But Mr Lamb never minds such things. He has a positive
attitude towards life. He likes to talk and have company. He is open and
never shuts himself in.
Mr Lamb's meeting with Derry brings a turning point in Derry's life. He gives
confidence to Derry. He persuades him that he can get better than rest of
the people. He should stop hating people. Hatred burns oneself away inside.
Derry should take life as it is. This leaves a deep impression on Derry. He
comes back to Mr Lamb only to find him dead. But Mr Lamb brings a change
in Derry's life. He develops confidence to face the world in a more positive
way.
Q. 3. Derry is a victim of his own complex. He develops a negative attitude
towards life and people.Do you find some change in him in the end ?
(V. Imp.)
Ans. Derry is a victim of his own inferiority complex. This complex is born
out of a distorted understanding of himself and the world. One side of his
face was badly burnt by acid. When he sees his face in the mirror he gets
afraid of himself. Derry develops a negative attitude towards life. He doesn't
fit anywhere. He is withdrawn and defiant. He avoids people. He can never
think that anybody can love and kiss him except his mother.
Derry's deep complex leads him to total alienation. He is unlike Mr Lamb. Mr
Lamb has a tin leg. But he never allows his disability to sour the joys of his
life. Derry makes himself quite pitiable and miserable. His hyper-sensitivity is
like an open wound. He can't stand people staring at him. Cruel and
uncharitable remarks upset the balance of his mind. Children call Mr Lamb :
"Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't rnind it. Derry has developed a perverted
thinking. He mistrusts the world and its people. We find a change in Derry in
the end. Mr Lamb's ideas leave their imprints on him. He is free from that
diseased complex now.
Q. 4. Generally persons suffering from a physical impairment feel a sense of
alienation and withdraw themselves from the world. But Mr Lamb never
allows his physical disability to sour and spoil the pace and pleasures of his
life. Justify the statement by giving examples from the text. (Imp.)
Ans. Physical impairment causes a deep mental agony. It gives birth to a
deep inferiority complex. The person gets alienated from the mainstream of
life. He finds solace in withdrawal and self-pity. But Mr Lamb is an exception.
He has a tin leg. One of his legs was blown off in the war. He never allows his
physical disability to sour and spoil the pace and pleasures of his life. He
accepts life as it comes. He tries to find and give a definite meaning to it. He
always lives for others and among others. Nor does he become an object of
self-pity. He always keeps open his heart for others. Everyone is welcome.
He loves everybody and everything.
Mr Lamb is full of life. He enjoys sitting in the sun and reading books. He
grows plants, flowers and fruit trees. He collects honey and makes jelly from
apples. Children sometimes call him "Lamey-Lamb" but he doesn't mind it.
On the other hand, he plays with them. He gives apples and toffees to them.
He gives a new direction and meaning to Berry's life before his death.