The Dear Departed Summary Class 10 English

The Dear Departed is an important chapter given in Class 10 English. The chapter also holds significance from the examination point of view. It is a drama penned by Stanley Houghton. In this drama, the writer has employed numerous devices and equipment to slam and denounce human behavior and approach. The writer also has employed wits, an amalgamation of irony, sarcasm, and humor, to disapprove of human behavior. Besides, the personalities in the story are devoid of depth and development, making it simple for the reader to grasp and recognize their actions easily. Haughton has craftily used irony and sarcasm in the entire poem.

The heading of the tale is ironic and satirical. It shows the departed Abel Merryweather was not one bit dear and worthwhile to them. All the sister was concerned about was the income or the resources he occupied.

The Summary of The Dear Departed

"The Dear Departed" shows the fake relationship that exists among the family. The tale depicts that the contemporary world is run by avarice and narcissism. It demonstrates how their two daughters are only concerned about their father's wealth. The play is satirical as it shows the bonds present in the family.

Mrs. Slater told her daughter not to venture out in the street to play when her grandfather had departed. She asked her to wear something else before her aunt, Elizabeth, and Uncle Ben came to the home in mourning attire. She intimated that they were about to come here and would discuss the grandfather and all the commotion.

She also tells her husband that he should look more impressive than his sister Elizabeth and her husband Ben in the mourning dress. Henry is not fully confident about whether they will pay a visit. But Slater argued she would pay a visit once after her portion from their father's wealth.

She tells Henry to put on their grandfather's new slippers so that it should appear as if Henry is the master of the slippers and, therefore, we should not have to share with them. She also narrated how she wished to get the bureau under his control after his father's demise. When Henry says that Elizabeth wouldn't allow this easily, Mrs. Slater suggests they could replace the bureau with the old chest of drawers without anyone else knowing. Therefore, the old chair would land in Elizabeth's share of possession. She also instructed Henry to lift the clock with their grandfather's bureau. She also told her daughter Victoria to shut the entrance and intimate him immediately if her aunt visits. Victoria did not tolerate such kind of treatment from her mother.

Before Elizabeth and Ben arrived home, Mrs. Slater had kept things are done, like bringing the clock and moving the bureau from its original place. Mrs. Jordan and her husband visited. Mrs. Jordan promptly said that, at last, the grandfather had been ceased. She also claimed that they couldn't arrive early to home as they were waiting for their mourning dresses. She inquired her sister about the Doctor's opinion about his grandfather.

Mrs. Slater informed that Doctor was out of the station. When Mrs. Jordan said that the demise of the grandfather was a fatal mistake, an accusation was made by Mrs. Jordan that the grandfather ceased due to Mrs. Slater's fault. Mrs. Slater disapproves, gets stuck into a fight, and begins with an argument about how Grandfather should have been taken care of. Mrs. Slater informed me that Grandfather was jolly in the morning. After paying the insurance, he visited to pay his insurance bill and also visited o 'Ring-O'-Bells'.

Mrs. Slater also added that she had given food to consume. She then put down the plate on the bureau. Then she correctly abruptly by saying 'on the chest of drawers.' She taunted her that she could have paid a visit to his father instead of directly heading towards the tea.

Mrs. Slater and Mrs. Jordan discussed announcing it to the media. Mrs. Jordan came up with a suggestion of reciting a poem, but Mrs. Slater pointed out that this exercise would be costly. Then they decided to share jewelry and other resources. Mrs. Jordan said her father committed to transferring his gold watch to Jimmy. This surprised Mrs. Slater, and Ben became more conscious of the father's insurance return. Victoria states that Grandpa did not go to pay his insurance due. Mrs. Slater was intrigued and assumed Father must have gone to Ring O Bell instead of the Insurance office.

At this point, Ben addressed him as a "Drunken old Beggar." Mrs. Slater turned annoyed after that and said that she had cared him for three years. Mrs. Jordan was also enraged and implicated him by adding that she had given shelter to him for five years. Mrs. Slater also tries verifying that insurance bills are in the bureau. Then both the sister began quarreling on the issue of the bureau.

After that point, Victoria made a shocking announcement that Grandpa was slowly getting up. Everyone was shocked, stunned, and stumped by listening to this news as they had supposed Father had ceased. Father Able inquired about their children for an unannounced visit to the home. He was fuming as nobody replied to his query. Mrs. Jordan inquired if he was all right. Abel witnessed Henry wearing his slipper, and he was infuriated by this scene. He also inquired why they were wearing mourning attire. Victoria seems to be glad that her grandfather is alive.

Grandpa once again reiterated his question about who was dead and why they wore mourning outfits. Mrs. Slater lied to Grandpa and said that Ben's brother had ceased, and she offered a cake pie. Grandpa informed everyone that he was exhausted and had been asleep since the morning. His sight fell on the bureau, and he asked why it had been shifted to the bedroom. He also witnessed the clock. His daughters began with an argument, and he was observing them confusingly. Mrs. Jordan told them they believed you are ceased and implicated Mrs. Slater in occupying all your resources without your knowledge.

Now Abel fully understood the whole situation. He also understood that his resources are being shared between their daughters. Henry inquired about his will paper. He replied that it was lying in the bureau. Mrs. Slater pleaded with his father to be not more stringent on her. Grandpa informed everyone that he would develop a new will for them whoever took care of him best until his demise.

Now both his daughter put forth a desire to live with his father. But Mrs. Slater was quick to counter this proposal by saying that Father has already spent most of his time with Mrs. Jordan. Abel told them they had misbehaved with him, and ill-treatment had been given to him already, which was not a matter of pride for them. Ben advised him to live with one of his daughters.

But Able had other plans going into his mind. He informed them that he would do three things:

1. He will visit the lawyer and make appropriate alterations to the will
2. Pay his insurance due
3. He will tie the knot with Mrs. John Shorrocks. She is the master of "Ring O Bells."

He thanked him, shifting down the bureau to the downstairs, and it would become comfortable for him to carry from there.

About the Author: Stanley Houghton

He was an early 20th-century playwright. He was born in Ashton upon Mersey, Sale. He pertains to the 'Manchester School,' a group of playwrights supported by Annie Horniman, owner of Manchester's Gaiety Theatre - the first repertory theater beyond London with its ensemble of performers. The Gaiety had rotating programs of new plays, contemporary and classics scripted by local writers.

Houghton is very popular for the "Hindle Wakes." It is a comedy based on the theme of youth's right to personal liberty and a scathing assault on the double standard of morality. It was penned down in 1910 and performed for the first time in 1912. The author landed in controversy because of the portrayal of a mill girl who shocks the older generation by selecting independence rather than marrying the mill owner's son, who had made her pregnant.