The Hundred Dresses - I Summary Class 10 English

"The Hundred Dresses" is a heartwarming lesson written by Eleanor Estes. It is a part of the class 10th English book. The story takes place in a small town and revolves around a young girl named Wanda Petronski. Wanda is a Polish immigrant and stands out among her classmates due to her simple, faded blue dress and old, worn-out shoes. Wanda often comes to school in the same dress every day, and her classmates begin to tease and make fun of her. They make fun of her for wearing the same dress every day. Peggy and Maddie, two girls in Wanda's class, join in the teasing, not realizing their words' impact on Wanda's feelings. When they come to know the actual situation of Wanda. Peggy and Maddie learn a valuable lesson about empathy and respecting everyone regardless of financial condition. They also discover that Wanda has withdrawn from school, leaving them filled with remorse for their hurtful behavior. This story sets the stage for understanding the impact of bullying and its profound consequences. It highlights the consequences of judging others based on appearances and reminds readers of the power of compassion. Let us read the summary of the story for a better understanding.

"The Hundred Dresses" is a heartwarming lesson written by Eleanor Estes. It is a part of the class 10th English book. The story takes place in a small town and revolves around a young girl named Wanda Petronski. Wanda is a Polish immigrant and stands out among her classmates due to her simple, faded blue dress and old, worn-out shoes. Wanda often comes to school in the same dress every day, and her classmates begin to tease and make fun of her. They make fun of her for wearing the same dress every day. Peggy and Maddie, two girls in Wanda's class, join in the teasing, not realizing their words' impact on Wanda's feelings. When they come to know the actual situation of Wanda. Peggy and Maddie learn a valuable lesson about empathy and respecting everyone regardless of financial condition. They also discover that Wanda has withdrawn from school, leaving them filled with remorse for their hurtful behavior. This story sets the stage for understanding the impact of bullying and its profound consequences. It highlights the consequences of judging others based on appearances and reminds readers of the power of compassion. Let us read the summary of the story for a better understanding.

Summary

The story begins on Monday when Wanda Petronski is absent from class. There is thought related to backbenchers that they are not interested in studies, always have fun, do not care what is going on in the class, are lost in their funny wiggles, mock teachers, and many more illogical activities. She had her seat at the corner of the room. At that place, mischievous boys used to sit. where there was most rough and irritating sound was observed. The loudest laughter was heard when something funny was said. Most of the class's mud and dirt were found there only. Wanda can also be defined in the same way as the backbenchers. She did not sit there because she was naughty and noisy. Rather she was a very silent girl who rarely reacted to the class comments. She never laughed too hard. Sometimes when she laughs, she twists her mouth into a crooked smile. A crooked smile is a sort of uneven smile which is bigger from one side and shorter from the other. It can be said to be a forceful smile.

She came from Boggins Heights, and her feet were usually dirty and covered by mud. She would be coming from the place or following a way that does not have a proper road facility. This shows that Wanda belongs to a place that is not yet developed. Therefore, her feet were always covered with mud. She wears the same dress every day for the school. All these reasons show that she belongs to a poor and financially disturbed family. She was not treated well in the class due to these factors. Her classmates bullied her; she had no friends and was always a necessary part of the prank.

Nobody used to talk to or welcome her, so why would she sit with these students? So, she chose to sit on the back side of the class. She would feel alone and isolated there and can carefully focus on her studies without any distractions.

She was good in academics. Groups of students would be talking or laughing at her on their way to school. A group of girls waits for Wanda so that they can make fun of her. On Tuesday, also Wanda did not go to school. On Wednesday, Peggy and Maddie noticed she was not sitting at the last desk. Peggy was the most famous girl in the school. Everyone wants to talk to her. She was beautiful, had curly hair, and had many pretty dresses. Maddie was her closest friend. They noticed Wanda's absence because they believed their late was none other than Wanda. They both waited for her to play a prank on her, but she did not come and indirectly wasted her time. They usually wait for her outside the school to make fun of her. This is why Peggy and Maddie noticed her absence from the class.

Wanda Petronski had a very unusual name, which is why most children in room number thirteen make fun of her. Most of the children did not have names like Wanda Petronski. There was also one name that sounded quite funny. It was Willie Bounce. This name was not as much funny and weird as Wanda Petronski had. This is why Wanda was treated oddly. The second reason why children mocked her as she had no friends; she always wore the same dress every day, which was faded and blue. The dress did not fit her size and was lost in size. The dress was neat and clean, but it looked like it had never got enough maintenance. She had no friends, but so many girls talked to her. This sentence is written in sarcastic terms. This means there was an absence of a friendship bond between her and the other girls. Girls usually talk to her to make fun of her and play pranks. Sometimes when she carefully and peacefully watched little girls playing hopscotch on the school's hard and rough ground, a group of girls surrounded her to make fun of her and disturb her vibe. She watched the game alone as she did not have friends.

The fun was started and led by the most popular girl in the school, Peggy. She talks to her in a very humble manner which is full of taunts. She asks her different and awkward questions like, "How many dresses did you say you had hanging up in the closet?" This scene is responsible for the story's title, "The Hundred Dresses. " Wanda replied to them that she had a hundred dresses. They asked which color and material. She replied that she would have all colored dresses that are lined up. The dresses consist of velvet and silk material too. After this, the girls allowed her to leave. And then, before she had gone very far, they could not help bursting into shrieks and peals of laughter (a continuous series of laughing sounds that is too hard and loud.) They were laughing, imagining that a girl with only one faded blue and not ironed dress claimed to have a hundred dresses of different colors and materials.

She was asked about the pairs of shoes she had. To this, she replies that; she had sixty pair of shoes, all different colors, " each piece of all kinds. Many girls talked to her when it was said she did not have friends. these are the conversation the author is talking about. Peggy was not a rude and heartless girl; she was so kind-hearted. She used to protect small children from bullying. Even though she cried for hours, she saw an animal mistreated. She was a nice girl; the question arises is why she made fun of Wanda. She believes that making fun of Wanda is not cruel. It is because if Wanda does not have a hundred dresses, then why would she claim it? Why did Wanda say that she had different hundred dresses of different colors? Why did she lie to them? Because of all these reasons, Peggy can prove that she is not a cruel girl and that making fun of Wanda was not a bad deed. Maddie is the best friend of Peggy. She was a poor girl and usually wore somebody else's discarded clothes. Wanda and Maddie were poor, so Maddie should understand the pain of pranks and bullying.

When Peggy asked Wanda those questions politely and mockingly, Maddie felt embarrassed. She did not have enough courage to stop Peggy from doing so. So, to distract her attention, Maddie started looking at the marbles kept in her palm. She rolled them around and said nothing herself. She felt sorry for Wanda but never said it to Peggy as she was also poor. Maddie would never have known or talked to Wanda if Peggy had not initiated the drama. Maddie was also a poor girl. She could feel the situation Wanda was going through. She wishes Peggy would not make fun of Wanda Petronski as she fears of herself that Maddie could be her next aim to have a prank with. Maddie does not have enough courage to tell Peggy that what she is doing is wrong and that she should not behave like this with Wanda. So, she thinks of writing a note or a letter to Peggy to tell her to stop doing this shit.

She also thinks of insisting to Peggy that she would never again ask those questions to Wanda. She started writing the note for a moment, but the next she experienced a bad feeling. She Suddenly shakes hard, especially due to an unpleasant experience and thought. This happens because she thinks of herself standing alone on the school ground and being mocked by the group of girls led by Peggy. The same questions could be asked to her which were asked to Wanda. One of them is, "From where have you brought this wonderful dress?" And Maddie would have to answer that this dress used to belong to Peggy only. Peggy discarded the dress, and Maddie's mother added extra trimmings so it could not be easily identified. Maddie fears being the replacement of Wanda, so she stays quiet and tears that are writing notes into several pieces. After this, Maddie thought that Peggy was the most popular girl in the school; she had great fame, so she could not do anything wrong that would destroy her fame. Maddie remembered Wanda describing her two dresses of the hundred. One was pale blue with colored cuttings, and another was brilliant jungle green with a red sash.

There was a drawing competition and a coloring contest in the class in which the girls had to draw different dresses, and the boys were asked to draw motorboats. Maddie started feeling excited about who won the drawing and coloring context competition. She was sure the winner would be none other than Peggy because she drew better than anyone else in the classroom. Not only Maddie everyone in the class thinks so. The next day the teacher would declare the contest winner, so no one wished to miss school. When they entered the classroom, they got shocked and opened their mouths in astonishment. There were drawings everywhere in the classroom, each made with patience and effort. A special quality of drawing paper was used to make this wonderful art piece. The number of drawings must be a hundred; all lined up together.

Everyone was admiring the drawings and excitedly waiting for the winner's name. Miss Mason announced the winner. Jack Beggles won the context for the boys who drew a design for an outboard motor. His design was hung in room twelve with the other boys participating in the context. Most participating girls have drawn only a few drawings, but a girl has made several beautiful drawings, and that girl belongs to room number thirteen. All designs were beautiful and different. Everyone should be proud of her- said Miss Mason. Judges said that the drawings' designs were beautiful and unique, and anyone could win the contest. The winner declared was the silent and unique girl Wanda Petronski. Even the boys who were not seen would take an interest in the dresses and were now admiring her designs. Maddie and Peggy looked at the green and pale blue dress Wanda told them about. This part of the story ends here. The rest of the story is in "The Hundred Dresses, part 2. "

The Message of the Story

Bullying is wrong and can have adverse effects on the person who is suffering.

Character Sketch

1. Wanda Petronski: Wanda Petronski is the central character of the story. She is a silent creative girl. She is skilled at drawing and dreams of designing beautiful dresses. She is an introvert and loves to live in isolation. She belongs to a low-income family who cannot afford different dresses. That is why she wears the same dress everyday to the school. She serves as a target of bullying for other girls, especially Peggy and Maddie. She won the drawing context of the school by drawing a hundred dresses design. Each design is different and beautiful.
2. Peggy: Peggy is a beautiful young girl who plays a significant role in the story. She is the most famous and attractive girl in the school. She has a strong personality and often takes command in most situations. Peggy was not a rude and heartless girl; she was so kind-hearted. She used to protect small children from bullying. Even though she cried for hours, she saw an animal mistreated. Peggy is described as the outwardly confident girl in the story.
3. Maddie: Maddie is the friend of Peggy. She does not have enough courage to tell Peggy directly that what she is doing is wrong and that she should not behave like this with Wanda. Maddie was also a poor girl. She could feel the situation Wanda was going through. She wishes Peggy would not make fun of Wanda Petronski as she fears of herself that Maddie could be her next aim to have a prank with.