Tell It Not In Gath
The play, Tell It Not In Gath is written by Joe Corrie . It is an Irony on the tinsel nature of bourgeois values. The play tries to unveil the hypocritical facade of moral superiority adopted by the pillars of society.
The Reverend Arthur Welsey is holding a meeting with some os his chief parishioners to discuss the rampant betting now going on a amongst the mining families in the area. Sam Garden , who is the local Church warden and grocer suggests Arthur puts in an official complaint butbAethur believes Sam should take care of this matter.
About Author :
Joe Corrie was born on May 13,1894 in Slamannan, Stirlingshire. And died on November 13,1968 in Edinburgh.
He was a Scottish miner, poet and playwright best known for his radical, working class plays.His family moved to Cardenden in the fife coalfied when Corrie was still an infant and he started work at the pits in 1908.
His Work:
1. The Image O'God and other poems (1927)
2. Rebel poems (1932)
3. Scottish pride and other poems (1955)
Questions:
Question: 1 : Discuss the title of the play. It is appropriate?
Answer:
"Tell It Not In Gath" Is appropriate title for this play.
At the beginning of the play, we see Arthur and Marjory(Mrs Welsey) have a verbal spat.But they pretend to be happy when the council members come. Besides, miss Oliver, miss Crundle , Joseph Devinish,Sam Marden being council members, they have their own personal business which is not known to the people of the Gath.
Although a member of the council , Miss Crundle have own a Profiteering Red Hotel Lion business and also runs an illegal business in her hotel. Devinish goes to church every Sunday and sings in the choir, but he get little profit from It and he is a black- marketer.
As the play progresses, Marjory enters with gusto. She reveals that Sam Marden has won twenty thousand pounds on football coupon. Marden is shocked as he is caught red-handed in front of all the members. However, he changes his behavior as he is now a rich person. And Arthur and Marden have a discussion and Marden revels the secret of all the community members of the Gath.
And Marjory arrives at the end of the play. She informs her husband that actually Marden does not get a single money. He didn't win that football coupon.Actually I won that football coupon. I won 20,000 pounds for a shilling only.And finally Arthur relents and kisses Marjory. But to tell Gath about this or not.....? So this title is appropriate for this play.
Question: 2
Write a note on the themes of the play.
Answer:
The themes of the play are as follows:
Public life and private life:
At the beginning of the play, Arthur is seen reading a book and Marjory is knitting. Arthur tells Marjory that there is a meeting held at the rectory. Sam Marden got a call while you were out. Marjory said that you kept the meeting here without asking me. Marjiry criticize Arthur bitterly about his profession. Here the author shows the private life of both.
When miss Oliver, miss Crundle, Sam Marden and Joseph Devinish artive at the house, Marjory and Arthur forget their quarrel and greet them pretending to be happy. Hear the author shows the public life of both of them.
Situation of a married woman:
From the setting of the play, we get an idea of the situation of a married woman. On the back wall are portraits of the Reverend Arthur Welsey 's parents. His mother looks as though she has lived her whole life as a victim of poverty due to church life and the same is happening to Marjory.
At the beginning of the play, Arthur Welsey is seen reading a book and Marjory is knitting, Indicating that the Men should do the academic work and the women should do domestic work.
As the play progresses, Arthur tells Marjory about the council meeting. The meeting is held at Marjory's house without being asked and so she argues with Arthur. So Arthur is told her," I this you flouting my wishes again, Marjory? "- From this It can be said that a woman should sacrifice her on happiness and honor to maintain the desire and honor of the man.
Marjory is fed up with her life of drudgery as they cannot afford a servant. She thinks that his Church was in the way of their happiness. Even the miners earn more than her husband. Their wives are not " enslaved to their work." Her Desire is "to get free of the church and be a thousand miles from her." The same was true of her husband, if he could " be honest about it."
Who is more evil? Common people or Rich people. (Coal miners or Community members. )
According to me, rich people areore evil than common people. Because common people run their house by working hard and play games like gambling for their entertainment with their earned money. When rich people open factories but the common people who were in It. They get success only from common people. But they plan to take action against the common people. The do not see that it is because of them that they have reached this place. While the common people gamble,the rich people organize a meeting to make a case against the common people. And in the Coal miners are spoiling the atmosphere by playing gambling.
"Justice, policy, to the poor,
Forgiveness to the great;
A tiger killed a man,
What justice in that..? "
Question: 3
Money is a dominant Motive in human affairs. prove it.
Answer:
There are many example in the play that shows that money is a dominant Motive in human affairs.
At the beginning of the play, Marjory tells Arrhur that she is not happy In this Church. And also said Arthur's profession, she says that,husband who works in coal maine earns more than you.
As the play progresses, Marjory arrives at the.meeting and says that John, the
Sexton has said that Sam Marden has won twenty thousand pounds in foot ball coupon. Hence Marden gets into tha air and his speaking style also changes. He becomes more arrogant and tells Arthur that you need a church " all badly." I agree with that, but it will be years and years before you raise the money to build it, for you ain't livin' in a generous village. But I'll make it easier for you. If you do not mind, by writin' out a cheque for a thousand pounds. Now, wot do you think of that, eh? A thousand pounds. But on one condition, and that the matter is reported in the press. Sam Marden wants to leave Little Padley with the folk blessing 'im for 'is generosity.
In this way when money comes to a person, he forget to know his nature and the respect of others and start wandering around in suspicion of money.
And at the end of the play Marjory tells Arthur that She won twenty thousand pounds for a shilling only , not Sam Marden. Arthur wants to file a case against the gambling coal miners but after listening to his wife and brainstorming, he is happy and agree with her. And he thinks whether to say this in Gath or not.
Hence, it can be said that when money comes, a man gives up his integrity and gives more importance to money.
Question: 4
Write a character sketch of Arthur Welsey.
Answer:
The Reverend Arthur Welsey is a sixty years old priest.Who seems unhappy and discontented throughout the play. His wife name is Marjory.Usually he behaves like a hero of the play. His job is to preach people.
Arthur some how fails to reach spiritual growth and now he feels that he is also failing as a preacher of the church. Besides, in my opinion, Arthur also failed to be a good husband. Because his wife says to him that the income of rhe husband who works in coal mine is more than your income.They do not keep their wife as a slave.
When Marjory tells Arthur that you can afford a servant for your work and not for my housewotk. Then Arthur says that what will the society say? That the owner of the rectory doing work himself. But he doesn't think about his wife's happiness.
Also he agrees to sue the gambler but is unwilling to sue himself and says, " I have been devoting a good deal of my time trying to make friends with these new people of the mining industry in the hope that I may persuade them to come to my church. If I complain to the police about their - er - gambling activity, will they respect me for it? You must remember that they will be no less queer to me than they would be to you. "
Arthur is very concerned about his honor and respect.At the end of the play ,Marjory inform Arthur that in actually Marden does not get a single penny , because football coupon won by Marjory herself. And at the end, Arthur puts a smile on his fave and shows his love for Marjory by kissing her.
Question: 5
Who is the most honest character in the play, according to you? Give reason for your answer.
Answer:
According to me , Marjory (mrs.Welsey) is the most honest character I the play. And her honestly is rooted in her loyalty to her husband.
She is the wife of Arthur Welsey . She is some years younger than her husband. Normally we find her knitting. According to me , she is a obedient wife of hee husband. To maintain her husband's honor and respect, ahe keepsthefire lit in the small room and stay room during the meeting even though it is very cold. She is bitter about her husband's business but obeys him.
At the end of the play, Marjory reveals to her husband that she had put money in betting and as a result of is she wins twenty thousand pounds for a shilling only. This act of her shows that she is more practical than her husband. So Marjory is the most honest character in the play.
Question: 6
If you are given the chance to develop this play further, what scenes will you add?
Answer:
If I am given a chance to develop this play further, I will add the following scenes:
Marjory tells Arthur about the money ahe won. Then Marjory and Arthur leave Gath.Even The people of Gath do not know where these two have gone. Again Marjory y bets and win 25,000 pounds.After winning the money Marjory tells Arthur that if we use this money which I won to build a school to teach coal miners.At least if the wives of miners do not live like me ,they can lead a happy life.
Marjory and Arthur build a school in Gath. Devinish was chosen ass the music teacher there. But Arthur and Marjory do not let know the people of Gath that they built the school. By starting school and getting an education, coal miners stops gambling and starts living a happy life. People of Gath think that who built this school. ....?
Thank you
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