On the Face of It
Revisiting important points
*Mr. Lamb Welcomes Derry
– in his garden in spite of jumping over the wall
– Tries to make him comfortable
– Tells him to pick crab apples
– Spoke to him, without considering his disability
– Derry thinks, pretending not to be afraid of his burnt face
– Tells usually people afraid of his face
– Mr. Lamb asks but doesn’t probe
– Tells Derry that he has a tin leg
Mr. Lamb’s advice to Derry
– Tells that in Nature shapes differ but the quality is the same
– no difference among the plants whether they are weeds, flowers and others
all grow
– Inside is more important than outside
– Accept yourself not to fear of others
– Calling Lamey-Lamb does not bother him
– Not to keep thinking of these things
– Life offers many more things
– Isolation isn’t good
– Inspires to look at things positively
*Derry’s reaction to Mr. Lamb’s advice
– Initially, very suspicious of Mr. Lamb
– Never had anybody to talk and understand
– Couldn't believe that he does not find him ugly
– Later, fascinated by Mr. Lamb’s talk
– Motivated and drawn towards him
• Derry’s Transformation
– Had bitter experience in the world
– Tells Mr. Lamb about sarcastic comments about his looks
– Even his mother kisses on the other side of face
– Not trust people and ignore their comments about his face
– Sad that he will have only half a face
– Mr. Lamb’s meeting changes his outlook towards life
– Talks to Mr. Lamb about his likes, dislikes and fears
– Wants to be loved and appreciated
– Wants to break free from the stigma of being disabled
– His going back to Mr. Lamb’s garden shows his changing personality.
• Character Sketches: ( value based pointers)
- Mr. Lamb
– Found ways
– An old man – Lives alone, – Keeps his
to overcome
with a tin leg isolated gate open
his loneliness
– Never – Imagines kids – Spends time
– Has a positive
curtains his and people listening to the
approach to life
windows walking all over bees
Mr Lamb
– inwardly
- lonely, craved for company and acceptance
– outwardly
- jovial, optimistic, lover of nature, social, outgoing, tolerant (didn’t
mind children calling him Lamey Lamb or picking the Crab apples)
– helpful, sensitive, independent
- Derry
Derry was a young boy of 14.
Quiet, shy and defiant boy. (isolated)
One side of his face was totally burnt by
acid (‘an unpleasant sight’)
Victim of an inferiority
complex ( built a cocoon
of complexes)
loner / pessimistic / suffered from severe negative complexes / anger and
frustration / withdrawn and introverted / low confidence / indulged in self pity
/ suspicious of the intent of others
Mr. Lamb’s meeting with Derry becomes a turning point in Derry’s life:
– taught him
‐Both Lamb and – couldn’t stand – kept garden
the ways of
Derry people staring gate open and
dealing with
handicapped at him welcomed all
people
– had a positive
– Derry in the
– Lamb open‐ attitude, taught
beginning
minded and Derry not to
withdrawn and
generous. indulge in self
defiant
pity/love life
Lessons imparted by Mr. Lamb to give courage and confidence to Derry:
Welcomed him and accepted him as he was.
Told him it’s important to see how you are on the inside than how you look
on the outside
One cannot go through life being scared and alienated
Shouldn’t brood over limitations but count on his blessings-he had brain
legs tongue arms and thus was totally functional-this was a blessing
Enjoy simple joys of everyday living with people around and nature,
ignoring the unpleasant-see beauty in bee’s buzzing or humming-weeds
growing-flowers blooming
One’s attitude that matters
Individuals make a difference to the problem
Extended unconditional love
Inspired him with love for life and instilled confidence in him to look at life
in an optimistic way. Embrace his burnt face and rise above it.
Themes:
Human
connection
and
Openness
Loneliness
and
Alienation
Observation
Disability
and
and
Contemplati
perception
on
