CBSE Class 12 English Project File Vistas Book Chapter 6 On the Face of it | Introducation | Theme | Main Characatrers | Summary | Explanation | Conclusion| Question Answers From Vistas Book

On the Face of It

by Susan Hill

About the Author

Susan Hill is an English author of fiction and nonfiction works. Her novels include the ‘woman in black’, ‘The mist in the mirror’ and ‘I’m the king of the castle’ for which she received the Somerset Maugham award in 1971.

On the face of it Introduction

The story is about a teenage boy, Derry, who has a burnt face, and Mr. Lamb who is a disabled old man with an artificial leg made of tin. Derry accidentally enters his garden so that he can hide from people who hate him because of his ugly face. Mr. Lamb not only welcomes him in his garden but also encourages him to lead a normal life, leaving behind his past.

The principal scene is situated in Mr Lamb's nursery. Derry's strides are heard as he strolls gradually and reluctantly through the long grass. He comes to cycle through a screen of shrubberies.

In the second scene, we see Derry and his mom. He advises his mom about the faltering elderly person. 

The third or last scene is again situated in Mr Lamb's nursery. Derry arrives at Mr Lamb's nursery, gasping. He discovers Mr Lamb lying on the grass with the stepping stool.

Theme

On the Face of It summary, the theme revolves around the idea that people with physical disabilities suffer from loneliness and mental pain. The play gives us an insight into how appearances are deceptive. 

Main Characaters :-

Mr. Lamb

One of the play’s two central characters, Mr. Lamb is an old man and veteran of World War II. In the war, he lost one of his legs to a bomb, and nowhe has a “tin leg.” Lamb owns a big house and garden, and though he lives alone he keeps himself busy growing crab apples, keeping bees, reading, and making toffee and jelly. He is a wise and contemplative soul who enjoys observing, listening to, and learning from other people and the natural world. In his conversation with Derry, he expresses a philosophy of openness and non-judgmental connection, and his kindness and sense of the dignity inherent in all people eventually help him break through the boy’s wary and defiant exterior. 

Derry

The other protagonist of On the Face of It, Derry (whose full name is Derek) is a boy of fourteen with a badly burned face. Of the accident that left him scarred, all he says is “I got acid all down that side of my face and it burned it all away. It ate my face up.” Because of this, people treat him differently—he complains that others fear and pity him, and usually actively avoid him. This has led Derry to isolate himself and create a tough, reserved exterior. He wants to avoid being hurt, and so he avoids everyone he can, and when he does interact with other people he is both wary and angrily defiant. He also has internalized the way others see him and seems to consider himself monstrous because of his disability.

 Derry’s Mother

Derry’s mother is given little characterization in the play, but she seems simultaneously overprotective and not understanding of her son. She contributes to his isolation by keeping him home because of his facial injury, and treats him with a sense of pity that robs him of dignity and agency—essentially treating him like a perpetually helpless victim. In the play, Derry’s mother forbids him from returning to Mr. Lamb’s house, but Derry leaves anyway, finally asserting himself in a positive way.

On the Face of It summary :-

The summary of On the Face of It in  class 12 starts with a high school kid entering a nursery. His face is scorched on one side because of a mishap when a corrosive fell on half of his face. He has gone there to conceal himself as he fears confronting individuals. He fears being prodded by others for having such a face. However, when he enters, he discovers somebody effectively presents there. He attempts to leave the spot, yet he is halted by the elderly person, Mr Sheep, the nursery's proprietor. Derry feels remorseful for entering the nursery without consent. Mr Sheep invites him and instructs him not to leave due to his essence. 

Derry needs to leave as he might suspect individuals don't care for his face, and in addition, they get terrified of his looks. Be that as it may, Mr. Sheep demands him to remain there. They go into a discussion about how nobody loves Derry and how he loathes individuals carrying on like this with him. Mr. Sheep attempts to reassure him. He discloses to him that he has a tin leg, and children ridicule him. Still, he isn't discouraged and makes an incredible effort. The two of them talk about different things, and this prompts disclosure of Derry's dread, melancholy, and scorn about his being in such a condition. 

In any case, Mr. Sheep continues instructing him to think about the positive things. Before long, they become companions, and Mr. Sheep requests that he help him in culling the crab apples of his nursery. Derry discloses to him that he had overcome much from his home and hadn't enlightened anything regarding this to his mom. Mr. Sheep instructs him to take authorization from his mom. Derry thinks that it's troublesome, and this prompts a little squabble between the two. Finally, Derry discloses to him that he would return in the wake of taking his mom's authorization. His mom doesn't need him to return; however, he returns again to satisfy his guarantee. Then Mr. Sheep ascended the stepping stool all alone to cull the crab apples as he was certain that Derry would not return. He was crippled, and it was hard for him to climb. Derry, then again, re-visited the nursery to support him. At the point when he enters the nursery, he sees Mr. Sheep lying on the ground. 

Derry makes a decent attempt to make him move; however, he didn't get any reaction from him. He then comes to realize that he is dead and starts crying. 

Conclusion

On the Face of It conclusion revolves around the idea that people with physical disabilities suffer from loneliness and mental pain. The play gives us an insight into how appearances are deceptive

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