Samacheer Kalvi 12th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 3 The Hour of Truth (Play)

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Tamilnadu Samacheer Kalvi 12th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 3 The Hour of Truth (Play)

Warm up

Question (a)
We judge people around us, based on their qualities and actions. We brand some people as good and some bad. What qualities, do you think, characterise a gentleman? Some of them may be merely external and some others internal

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Answer:

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Question (b)
When we see a few coins scattered on the ground, we would probably pick them up on the sly or walk away ignoring them. What if it was an envelope full of 2000 bills? How are people likely to react in such a situation?

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Answer:
Discuss with a partner and share your views:
People may react differently. Reader’s Digest conducted an honesty test on the busy roads of major cities of India. They had obviously left a costly mobile in the middle of the pavement. A candid camera was taking video footage. Many tried to pocket it. One poor man tried to contact a policeman on the beat and hand it over to him. Recently in Saravana Bhavan hotel in Chennai, an old lady had left behind a yellow bag. There were 25 lakhs in the bag.

The old lady had come to buy jewels for her grand daughter’s wedding. One of the waiters who attended the lady and her family members passed on the bag to the manager, who in turn gave it in-person to Inspector, Mambalam Police station. Fortunately, a tear-filled lady and worried family members also reached the spot. The Inspector sent for the honest waiter and through him gave the money to the old lady.

Whether it is big money or small coins, one should not covet others’ wealth. The person who lost must be feeling the pain of loss. We should never think of enjoying life at the cost of the pain of others.

Samacheer Kalvi 12th English The Hour of Truth (Play) Textual Questions

1. Rearrange the following sentences in a meaningful sequence and write the summary of the play.

(a) Baldwin who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the words ‘I don’t remember’ in court, during the trial.
(b) The family members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed Baldwin into accepting the money.
(c) Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’ had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.
(d) Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank.
(e) To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying painfully against him.
(f) Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham.
(g) Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the attitude of his family members.
(h) Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him.
(i) Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and integrity.
(j) The family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum offered by him.

Answer:

(f) Gresham and Baldwin had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin had even named his son after Gresham.
(d) Baldwin was an honest and upright man, working under John Gresham, in a bank.
(h) Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank and Baldwin was to testify against him.
(a) Baldwin who returned home after meeting Gresham, informed his family that Gresham had offered a hundred thousand, if he would utter the words ‘I don’t remember’ in court, during the trial.
(b) The family members tried to justify Gresham’s act and enticed Baldwin into accepting the money.
(j) The family members who were initially against Gresham, changed their mind on hearing the huge sum offered by him.
(g) Baldwin felt disgusted with himself and the attitude of his family members.
(e) To save Baldwin, Mr. Marshall, President of the Third National, visited him and informed him that Gresham had confessed his crime, in order to free him from betraying his trusted friend and testifying painfully against him.
(c) Thus ‘The Hour of Truth’ had dawned relieving Baldwin of the heavy burden and guilt.
(i) Mr. Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his Bank, to reward him for his honesty and integrity.

2. Answer the following questions in one or two sentences each.

Question (a)
Why did Baldwin meet Gresham?
Answer:
Baldwin met Gresham in order to discuss the misappropriation of money in the bank as he was the personal secretary of Gresham.

Question (b)
What made Martha withdraw her money from the bank?
Answer:
Martha had a doubt that the bank was crashing. So, she withdrew the money from the bank.

SamacheerKalvi.Guru

Question (c)
How is Martha’s strong conviction in Baldwin’s integrity revealed?
Answer:
Martha knew very well that her husband was so honourable and he was very loyal to his duty. In spite of her compulsion to accept the bribe, Baldwin was very honest and he did not obey her words. It shows Martha’s strong conviction about Baldwin’s integrity.

Question (d)
What had Donovan told John?
Answer:
Donovan had said that nobody had any idea as to what was ailing the bank. The wreck of the bank was too sudden. He had married on the strength of the cashier’s job in the bank. He said the crash would not have happened without the knowledge of Governor Baldwin.

Question (e)
John feels Gresham deserves punishment. Why?
Answer:
John felt Gresham to be deserved for punishment because Gresham had been arrested for misappropriation of money at the bank. Moreover, Gresham convinced his father by offering him a high bribe in spite of his honesty. This made John to feel Gresham deserved punishment.

Question (f)
What was Baldwin’s advice to Gresham?
Answer:
Baldwin advised Gresham to close the bank and make up for the losses.

Question (g)
What did Gresham want Baldwin to do?
Answer:
When John Gresham tried to offer money, he understood that it was impossible to persuade Baldwin to accept the bribe.

Question (h)
Explain the significance of the words ‘I don’t remember’.
Answer:
‘I don’t remember’ were the three words which Gresham wanted Baldwin to say when technical questions on misappropriation of funds are asked in the court. Gresham offered one hundred thousand dollars in hot cash to say them. But Baldwin did not want to do that dishonest and dishonourable thing.

Question (i)
Why does John turn wild on hearing that Gresham had offered his father money?
Answer:
After hearing that Gresham had offered his father money, John said that as he was named after Baldwin’s friend Gresham, he will be put to shame for bearing the name of a criminal. Though John accused Baldwin of betraying his dear friend Gresham, later he regretted it.

Question (j)
When would Baldwin part company with Gresham?
Answer:
Baldwin has always been loyal to Gresham. But when John Gresham ceases to be an honest man, John Gresham and Baldwin would part company.

Question (k)
What does John consider ‘a technicality’?
Answer:
Baldwin had worked with Gresham for many years and spend the best part of his life with him. Gresham knew well that Baldwin was very honest and loyal. When Gresham tried to cease to be an honest man, Baldwin parted the company of Gresham.

Question (l)
Why was John filled with shame?
Answer:
John was filled with shame because as he is named after Baldwin’s best friend Gresham, he will be put to shame for bearing the name of a criminal. This emotional blackmail is made to ask Baldwin to let Gresham off the hook.

Question (m)
How much did Gresham offer to pay Baldwin for saving his skin and how did he justify that?
Answer:
Gresham offered to pay Baldwin a hundred thousand dollars for saving his skin and he justified that it was not wrong to tell lie for the sake of his friend by answering ‘I don’t remember’ in the court.

Question (n)
What was Mr. Marshall’s offer to Baldwin?
Answer:
Mr. Marshall offered Baldwin a job in the Third National Bank.

SamacheerKalvi.Guru

Question (o)
How was Baldwin’s honesty rewarded?
Answer:
Mr.Marshall informed Baldwin that Gresham had admitted his guilt, as he knew that Baldwin, being a honest and upright man would never give false testimony. Mr.Marshall also offered Baldwin a job in his bank. Thus Baldwin’s honesty was rewarded.

3. Based on your understanding of the play, complete the Graphic Organiser given below.

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Answer:

Samacheer Kalvi 12th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 3 The Hour of Truth (Play) img-5

4. Answer in a paragraph of about 150 words each.

Question (a)
Trace the bond of friendship between Baldwin and Gresham. Explain why Baldwin wished to attribute some credit to his friend.
Answer:
Baldwin and Gresham-friends-30 years-Baldwin-work bank-personal secretary-loyal to Gresham- honest like him-but-misappropriated-arrested by the police-convince Baldwin-offering-hundred thousand dollars-Baldwin-did, not accept-very sad-testimonial against hs friend-voluntarily confess his crime.

Baldwin and Gresham had been thick friends for over 30 years and Baldwin named his son after Gresham out of his friendship. Baldwin had been working under Gresham in his bank as a personal secretary. He was very loyal! and upright to Gresham. Baldwin believed that Gresham had also been very honest like him but he misappropriated the money of depositors in the bank. So, Gresham had been arrested by the police and Baldwin was to testify against him as Ire was the personal secretary to him. Meanwhile, Mr.Gresham tried to convince Baldwin by offering him a huge bribe of a hundred thousand dollars, but Baldwin did not accept it.

Gresham insisted him to say I don’t remember’ when the trial came in court. This made Baldwin get angry with him and he parted his company from Gresham. However, Baldwin felt very sad about the situation of standing as a testimonial against his friend. He wished him to be free rather than to go to jail. Moreover, Gresham had admitted his guilt as he knew that Baldwin, being an honest and upright man, would never give false testimony. So he respected his friendship as Gresham had voluntarily confessed his crime.

Question (b)
How did Martha and John react when they came to know that Baldwin had rejected the generous offer made by Gresham?
Answer:
Martha and John cherished a grudge against Gresham for having underpaid Baldwin for about two decades. They openly said that he deserved punishment. Initially, Gresham condemned the bribe claimed as a difference in the salary paid. Had he been made a similar offer he claimed he would have asked him to go to the devil. Baldwin said that having been a friend he couldn’t use such abusive language. Casually John asked how much he offered. Baldwin said that it was one hundred thousand dollars. Suddenly Martha and John changed their attitude towards Gresham. John viewed a shame if Gresham got indicted because he shared his name. Martha also desperately tried to convince him not to testify against Gresham. John even suggested that he could say those three words “I don’t remember” as the depositor would not lose a cent. Baldwin felt miserable because the family members who he wanted to feel proud of his uprightness wanted him to crossover to the side of corrupt practices because of the generous offer made by Gresham.

SamacheerKalvi.Guru

Question (c)
Is Baldwin really honest or does he maintain his honesty fearing criticism? Why do you say so?
Answer:
Percival-play-The hour of Truth-psychological study-influence of money on people-plot-angle tempted- Robert Baldwin-shows-forgot-moral value end-realizes-isolation-punishment-positive note-Baldwin-works- hard-arrest-Gresham Robert Baldwin-honesty-rewarded end-honest men.

Percival Wilde’s play “The Hour of Truth” is an intense psychological study. It studies the corrupting influence of money on people. The plot of the play explores greed from different angles. Almost all individuals in this play are tempted by money except Robert Baldwin. It shows how easily people forget their moral values and principles. But at the end of the story, the reader realizes that money only brings isolation, punishment, deception, frustration, and endless shame. The story brings a positive note when the bad people get punished and the good people get rewarded.

Though Mr. Baldwin works hard for a living, his salary is not enough to support his family. When Gresham was arrested for the misappropriation of money in the bank, we lose confidence in his character, and teaches the readers how badly money influences people. After the arrest, Mr.Gresham begs Mr.Baldwin to say three words at the time of his trial ”I don’t remember”. As a reward, he offered him one hundred thousand dollars.

At this offer, we see how his virtuous family members changed their opinion and insisted Baldwin to accept the offer. It is at this time we can see the moral level of Mr.Baldwin who rejects the offer. Robert Baldwin’s honesty and integrity are rewarded in the end. It shows that Mr.Baldwin is really an honest man.

SamacheerKalvi.Guru

Question (d)
Sketch the character of:
(i) Robert Baldwin
(ii) John Gresham.
Answer:
(i) Robert Baldwin:
Robert Baldwin is the central character around whom the whole one-act play revolves. He is a middle-class father who values honesty and loyalty to the organization more than 35-year long friendship. He rises in the esteem of the readers and theatre-goers on realizing that he wants to leave a legacy of honesty to his children and not the ill-gotten hundred thousand dollars which could give his family a life of comfort they did want to lead. Baldwin is really hurt by the three-sided attack (i.e.) a war of words waged against his honesty by Martha, Evie, and John. Even before the trial begins against Gresham, Baldwin is made to feel like a traitor.

His family members accuse him of letting down the honour of a close family friend who had made a very generous offer. The mental agony experienced by Baldwin is a hundred times more at home. He is elated initially as he had successfully forced Gresham with a whip in hand (i.e.) honesty to ‘ close the bank and make up the loss to the customers. But when he discloses the offer of one hundred thousand dollars, as a private fortune without causing loss of a cent to depositors, he is made to experience hell by the emotional blackmail of his family members who knew very well how those three words “I don’t remember” would choke him. Baldwin holds on to honesty even at the prospect of losing both 35-year-old friendship and one hundred thousand dollars he had never had in his life.

(ii) John Gresham:
John Gresham is a worldly-wise founder of a private bank. He values friendship and appoints his boyhood chum Robert Baldwin as the Governor in his bank. He is clever and is very, successful in running his bank profitably. In the meantime, he uses the deposits accrued in a 1 way that enhances his own private fortune of course without costing anything to the depositors, It is in fact a breach of trust. Nobody has had an inkling that any malpractice is going on. Even Donovan the cashier claims that the closure of the bank came as a rude shock to him as he had married on the strength of the job and salary from the bank.

Martha claims she withdrew her money without telling Baldwin who is very loyal to Gresham. He would never have approved of it. After being found out and when the trial against him on misappropriation of funds is in “progress he offers a bit of one hundred thousand dollars from his private fortune. He knows’ that only Baldwin alone could help the law to nail him. But if he says, “I don’t remember” again using the goodwill regained in the lawsuit. But he understands the body language of Baldwin. He realizes it would be a painful thing for Baldwin to testify against him. He might be bad as a banker, but he values the feelings of Baldwin and his honesty. He confesses to avid embarrassment to Baldwin and informs ‘Third National’ chairman that Baldwin has not for technical questions, he would be let off the hook. If acquitted, he could make money budged even after the offer of one hundred thousand dollars.

SamacheerKalvi.Guru

Question (e)
Who do you think exhibits true friendship-Baldwin or Gresham? Justify your answer.
Answer:
The play-The hour of truth-concerned-shows-true friendship-between Baldwin and Gresham-thick friends-30 years-boyhood honesty-Gresham-misuses-money-depositors-bank didn’t accept-understands- Baldwin-friendship’s-exhibited-Mr. Gresham is rather than-Baldwin.

As far as the play “The Hour of Truth” is concerned, from the beginning till the end of the story, it shows the true friendship between Baldwin and Gresham. They had been thick friends for more than 30 years, even from their boyhood. Being an honest man by nature Baldwin doesn’t take any risk to exhibit his honesty. Moreover, as a protagonist, Baldwin seems to be a good person to the readers.

It is only because of his uprightness, he stands as a witness against his friend Gresham. But on the other hand, Gresham always misuses the money of the depositors in his bank. He seems to be out of an honest man but he respects the friendship of Baldwin. When Baldwin comes to know that Gresham ceases to be an honest man, he is ready to part from him.

In order to tempt Baldwin, Gresham offers him a huge bribe of a hundred thousand dollars, but he didn’t accept it. At this point, Gresham understands that it is impossible to persuade Baldwin to accept the bribe. That is why Gresham has admitted his guilt, as he knew that Baldwin, being an honest and upright man, would never give false testimony. Therefore, it is so clear that true friendship is exhibited by Mr. Gresham rather than Baldwin.

Additional Questions

Question (a)
Explain the significance of the words ‘I don’t remember’.
Answer:
‘I don’t remember’ were the three words which Gresham wanted Baldwin to say when technical questions on misappropriation of funds are asked in the court. Gresham offered one hundred thousand dollars in hot cash to say them. But Baldwin did not want to do that dishonest and dishonourable thing. But having been honest earning just 60 dollars a week Baldwin felt like choking. His children and wife persuaded him. Gresham understood Baldwin would not say those words though Baldwin didn’t say it openly. John told Baldwin it was a compliment that cost him a hundred thousand dollars. But Baldwin felt it was a compliment worth a hundred thousand dollars.

5. IDIOMS

Now match the idioms under column A with their meanings in column B:

A. IDIOMS B. MEANINGS
save one’s skin a sudden unexpected event or news
make both ends meet to be the most powerful
a bolt out of a clear sky viewed with suspicion and distrust
go to grave to protect oneself from difficulty
have the whip hand manage one’s expenses within one’s income
under a cloud to exit the world

Answer:

A. IDIOMS B. MEANINGS
save one’s skin to protect oneself from difficulty
make both ends meet manage one’s expenses within one’s income
a bolt out of a clear sky a sudden unexpected event or news
go to grave to exit the world
have the whip hand to be the most powerful
under a cloud viewed with suspicion and distrust

Speaking Activity

(a) Imagine you are Baldwin and your partner is Gresham. Try your best to persuade your partner to confess the truth. Build a conversation describing how both of you would react in such a situation. Work in pairs.

Gresham: Baldwin, why do you look cross?
Baldwin: Ask your conscience.
Gresham: Well, my conscience is clear. What is wrong with you?
Baldwin: I found out that you are siphoning small negligible changes to your own account. Now it amounts to a few hundred thousand dollars as none of the depositors have noticed the disappearance of small changes.
Gresham: Well, none of the depositors would lose a cent. I have transferred it in some investment. I have got tenfold gains. Now we shall quietly transfer the amount in their own accounts. No one will ever come to know of it.
Baldwin: Is it not a breach of trust? I’m not going to keep quiet about this.
Gresham: What do you want to do?
Baldwin: Close the bank and make good the loss to all the depositors. (After a few days)
Gresham: Well, Baldwin I have closed the bank. Third National is going to do the reorganization. Now I want you to say three words.
Baldwin: What?
Gresham: “I don’t remember” When you are cross-examined on vital statistics for which you would require references.
Baldwin: How does that absolve you of your crime.
Gresham: Don’t you know the fact that I’ve earned enough money and no depositor will lose a cent. It is just a technicality.
Baldwin: What do you mean?
Gresham: Well, I will give you one hundred thousand dollars for letting me off the hook. I just want you to say “I don’t remember”.
Baldwin: Already you have used the funds of depositors. You want them to become paupers?
Gresham: Baldwin, you frustrate me. Look here. This is hot cash from my own private fortune. Baldwin, why don’t you say something?
Baldwin: You have known me for more than 35 years.
Gresham: You are silent. Say yes or no. I know you have been an upright man all through your life. The offer is final.
Baldwin: You have one option Gresham. We will meet in court. You can confess. For God’s sake don’t force me to say anything now. I am disturbed.
Gresham: Why do you think it is a bribe or a bait. It is the difference in your salary, the salary you have received and what you should have got all these years.
Baldwin: As long as you are honest, I will be loyal to you Gresham. When you part with loyalty, we would part ways. The matter is closed.

(b) ‘A friend in need is a friend indeed’. Does this hold good in all situations? Share your views with your class.

The saying, “A friend in need is a friend indeed” is relevant to only those situations when both the friends pursue the goals with justifiable means. I read an interesting story written by O. Henry entitle “After twenty years”. Two boyhood chums, Bob and Jimmy, decided to pursue their dream careers and decide to meet at Big Joe Brady’s Restaurant. Jimmy becomes a policeman and Bob a criminal and notorious robber. Jimmy recognizes the features of the most wanted criminal by Chicago police in Bob. The friend’s need is to help him escape but duty consciousness gives him the painful choice of sending a plain clothes man to arrest him. So, the saying “A friend in need is a friend indeed” is not applicable on all occasions. When there is a debate with the conscience on moral grounds and professional ethics, one can’t continue to be a friend “in need”.

The Hour of Truth (Play) About The Author

Samacheer Kalvi 12th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 3 The Hour of Truth (Play) img-6

Percival Wilde (1887 – 1953) was a prolific American author and playwright. He wrote many novels, short stories, and one-act plays. His plays were popular in the little theatre movement. He also authored a textbook on the theatre arts. He was a native of New York City, worked for a time as a banker. He began writing plays in 1912.

Percival Wilde chose to portray the values of life in his plays, throwing light on a specific trait of an individual. His one-act play The Hour of Truth is a testimony to his craftsmanship where the three classical unities of time, place, and action are observed.
The climax of the play develops rapidly and ends with a pleasant surprise

The Hour of Truth (Play) Summary in English

Introduction
In ‘The hour of truth’, the integrity of Baldwin is the dominant trait around which the whole play is spun. This one-act play evidences his craftsmanship where the classical unites time, place, and action were observed meticulously. The climax has an O. Henry twist and thus a surprising end.

Baldwin is a middle-class man earning 60 pounds a week. He is working in a private bank for Mr. Gresham. They are close friends for over thirty years. Baldwin Christens his son as Gresham Baldwin. He leads a contented life. He finds out that his boss has been misappropriating money very cleverly. Technically speaking the depositors will not lose a scent. But Baldwin coerced Mr. Gresham to close the bank and | settle the account of the depositors. Mr. Gresham promised to return the depositor’s money. He offered Baldwin one hundred thousand dollars if he chose to tell the enquiry officers that he had forgotten some important details. This would help Gresham get out of the problem safely. Baldwin was shocked by the offer.

He went home and told Martha, his wife, and Gresham Baldwin about the offer. On hearing the handsome offer, both the wife and son persuaded him to take the money as it was just a technicality and the depositors would not lose money. Actually, Baldwin had a faith that his family regarded his integrity far higher than material gains. When he learned his son and family members were trying to convince him to take the money, he felt disgusted. Just then, Mr. Marshal, President of Third National Bank, informed Baldwin that his boss Mr. Gresham has confessed to his crime. He had told him that one hundred thousand dollars couldn’t shake Baldwin’s integrity. Though he had told him that it was a difference in salary he had paid and what he ought to have paid. He said Gresham did not want him to undergo the pain of testifying against him in the court. Hearing this, Baldwin cried. His heartfelt light. Mr. marshal offered him a position in his bank. This has been the honour conferred on his honesty.

SamacheerKalvi.Guru

Conclusion
The dramatist reflects the foibles of modem society. People value riches more than honesty and integrity. He rewards honesty at the end reaffirming the common faith “Honesty is always rewarded.”

The Hour of Truth (Play) Summary in Tamil

முன்னுரை
“உண்மை , தெரிந்த நேரம்” என்னும் கதையில் பால்ட்வின் நேர்மையான நடத்தையையும் அதன் பின்னணியில் முழுக்கதையும் சுழல்கிறது. இந்த ஓரங்க நாடகம் ஆசிரியர் இடம், காலம், செயல் இவற்றுக்கிடையே உள்ள பாரம்பரிய ஒற்றுமையைத் துல்லியமாகக் காட்டுகிறது. நாடகத்தில் உச்சக் கட்டத்தில் ஓ.ஹென்றிக்கே உரிய திருப்பத்தால் நாடகம் வியப்பூட்டும் வண்ணம் முடிகிறது. பால்ட்வின் வாரம் 60 டாலர் மட்டுமே சம்பாதிக்கிற நடுத்தர வகுப்பைச் சார்ந்தவர். அவர் திரு.கிரெசாம் நடத்துகிற தனியார் வங்கியில் பணி புரிந்தார். அவர்கள் 30 வருடங்களாக நண்பர்கள். பால்ட்வின் தன் மகனுக்கு கிரெசாம் பால்ட்வின் எனப் பெயர் சூட்டினார். அவர் மனம்

நிறைந்த வாழ்க்கை வாழ்ந்து வந்தார். அவர் தன் முதலாளி மிகத் தந்திரமாகப் பணத்தைக் கையாளுகிறார் என்பதைக் கண்டுபிடித்தார். நுட்பமாகப் பார்த்தால் பணம் செலுத்துபவருக்கு ஒரு பைசா நஷ்டமும் ஏற்படாது. ஆனால், பால்ட்வின் வங்கியை மூடிவிட்டு பணத்தைச் செலுத்திய வாடிக்கையாளர்களுக்கு திரும்பிக் கொடுத்து விடுமாறு கிரெசாமை நிர்பந்தப்படுத்தினார். கிரெசாம் வாடிக்கையாளரின் பணத்தை திருப்பிக் கொடுத்து விடுவதாக வாக்குறுதி அளித்தார். பால்ட்வின் விசாரணை அலுவலர்களிடம் தான் சில முக்கிய தகவல்களை மறந்து விட்டதாகக் கூறும்படியும், அதற்கான சன்மானமாக ஒரு லட்சம் டாலர் தருவதாகவும் கிரெசாம் கூறினார். இது கிரெசாம் பிரச்சனையிலிருந்து தப்பிக்க உதவும். பால்ட்வின் இத்தகைய லஞ்ச அறிவிப்பைக் கேட்டு அதிர்ந்து போனார்.

வீட்டுக்குச் சென்று தன் மனைவி மார்த்தாவிடமும், மகன் கிரெசாம் பால்ட்வினிடமும் ஒப்பந்தத்தைக் குறித்துச் சொன்னார். இதைக் கேட்ட இருவரும் ஒப்பந்தப் பணத்தைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளுமாறு தூண்டினர். மேலும், இதனால் நுட்பமாகப் பார்த்தால் வாடிக்கையாளர் எதையும் இழக்கப் போவதில்லை என்றனர். உண்மையாகப் பார்த்தால் தன் குடும்பத்தினர் தன் நாணயத்தின் மீது, பணத்தைவிட அதிக மதிப்பு வைத்திருந்தனர் என்பதில் நம்பிக்கை கொண்டிருந்தார். அவர்கள் பணத்தைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளுமாறு தன்னை சம்மதிக்க வைப்பதை எண்ணி வெறுப்படைந்தார். அப்போது தான் மூன்றாவது தேசிய வங்கியின் தலைவரான மார்சல் அவர்கள், கிரெசாம் தன் தவற்றை ஒப்புக்கொண்டதாக பால்ட்வினுக்குத் தெரிவித்தார். அவர் கிரெசாம் கொடுப்பதாகச் சொன்ன 1 லட்சம் டாலர் பால்ட்வினின் நேர்மையைத் தகர்க்கவில்லை எனத் தெரிவித்தார். அதை அவரின் சம்பளத்தில் தான் தந்திருக்க வேண்டிய தொகையின் வித்தியாசமே எனக் கிரெசாம் கூறியும் அதை மறுத்து விட்டார். பால்ட்வின் நீதிமன்றத்தில் தனக்கு எதிராக சாட்சி அளிப்பதில் | தனக்கு விருப்பமில்லை என்பதைக் கிரெசாம் தெரிவித்ததாக மார்சல் கூறினார். இதைக் கேட்ட பால்ட்வின் கண் கலங்கலானார். அவர் மன உலைச்சல் | தளர்ந்தது. மார்சல் தன் வங்கியிலேயே பால்ட்வினுக்கு | வேலை வாய்ப்பு ஏற்படுத்தினார். இதுதான், அவர் நாணயத்திற்கு கிடைத்த சன்மானம்.

முடிவுரை:
‘நாகரீக சமுதாயத்தின் குறைகளை ஆசிரியர் பிரதிபலித்துக் காட்டுகிறார். மனிதன் நேர்மை, நாணயத்தைக் காட்டிலும் பணத்தையே மதிக்கிறான். கதையின் முடிவில் கதாபாத்திரத்திற்கு கிடைக்கும் சன்மானம், ‘நாணயம் சன்மானத்திற்கு உரியது) என்பதை மீண்டும் உறுதிபடுத்துகிறது.

The Hour of Truth (Play) Glossary

Textual:

Samacheer Kalvi 12th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 3 The Hour of Truth (Play) img-7

Additional:

Samacheer Kalvi 12th English Solutions Supplementary Chapter 3 The Hour of Truth (Play) img-8

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