Dear Departed

Introduction:
‘The Dear Departed’ was first produced in Manchester in 1908. Here, Houghton
satirizes the degradation of moral values in the British middle-class.
About the author:

The writer of this play, William Stanley Houghton was a famous English
dramatist. He was a prominent member of a group of playwrights known as the
Manchester School of Dramatics. His plays are set locally in Northern England,
but represent universal aspects of human nature. He had a remarkable gift for
dialogue that is evident in ‘The Dear Departed’.
Summary
The story of the play begins with Mrs. Slater telling her ten years old daughter,
Victoria, to go upstairs and put on her white frock with a black sash. Her husband
Henry Slater comes home after sending a telegram to his sister-in-law, Elizabeth,
and her husband Jordan to come to talk over Grandpa’s affairs who is
presumably dead. Henry wonders if they would come because Elizabeth has said
she would never set foot in their house again. But Mrs. Slater says she will come.
She asks her husband to wear Grandpa’s new slippers and proposes Henry to
replace their shabby chest of drawers with the valuable bureaus of Grandpa.
After some hesitation he agrees. Mrs. Slater fastens the front door and they carry
the old chest of drawers upstairs. Mrs. Slater tells her daughter not to open the
door till they come down.

Mrs. Jordan throws her husband Tit-Bits, and tells him to try to look as if they had
been waiting for them. Victoria ushers in Ben and Mrs. Jordan. Sisters kiss each
other and men shake hands. Mrs. Jordan says that he has gone at last and asks
he sister whether she had sent for the doctor. Mrs. Slater says that she sent
Henry at once for Dr. Pingle but he was out. Mrs. Jordan says that she should
have sent for another doctor because many people have been resorted to life
after they were thought to be gone. Then they talk about his paying the premium.
Mrs. Jordan says grandpa did pay his premiums. Mrs. Slater gets tea ready. They
consider putting the announcement in the papers and think of some appropriate
verses. Then they say that they will look through his things and make a list of
them. Mrs. Slater tells Victoria to run upstairs and fetch the bunch of keys on her
Grandpa’s dressing table. She is afraid to go but eventually goes.

Victoria returns very scared and tells that Grandpa is getting up. They are
transfixed with amazement. The door opens and Grandfather, Abel Merryweather
comes in. They cannot believe their eyes. He comes forward to shake hand with
his son-in-law, Mr. Jordan. Mrs. Slater pokes him with her hand to see if he is
solid. Only Victoria is glad that he is not dead. She snatches the slippers from her
husband and gives them to Grandpa. Abel Merryweather asks them why they are
in mourning clothes. Mrs. Slater invents an excuse and tells that Ben’s brother
has died and they are going to his funeral.

Grandfather says, perhaps, they have been waiting for him. Then he tells them to
sit down and take tea. He says there is nothing serious. Due to over-drinking he
had become unconscious. Then he asks Mrs. Slater and Henry what they had
been doing with his bureau. Elizabeth blames her sister for stealing. The two
sisters start quarrelling. Their integrity is exposed. Grandpa comes to know the
reality. He tells them that he would change his will. He would give his money and
things to the one with whom he lives. Both the sisters try to persuade him to live
with them but he says that it is a bit late. He declares that he will do three things
on Monday next. He will go to the lawyer and change the will, pay the premium
and get married to Mrs. John Shorrocks who keeps the Ring-o-Bells at St. Philips’
Church. He invites all of them to attend the ceremony.
Meanings of words and phrases

 gaudy – extravagantly bright or showy
 vulgar- someone lacking sophistication or good taste
 precocious- a person whose mental attitude is developed beyond his/ her
age
 gallivanting – to go about seeking pleasure
 prying- excessively interested in a person’s private affairs
 speck- a tiny spot
 trifle – a thing of little value or importance
 money grubbing – someone who is overeager to make money
 vigorous – strong
 stoop – lower one’s moral standards so far as to do something wrong
 straight talking – be frank and blunt
 ostentatiously- a pretentious or showy way designed to impress
 furtively- a way someone attempts to avoid notice or attention
 complacent – very pleased and satisfied with their own achievements
 impassive – not feeling or showing emotion
 scrupulous – extremely honest
 etiquette – the customary code of polite behaviour in society or among
members of a particular profession or group
 piqued – to feel irritated or resentful
 swindling – use deception to deprive someone of money or possessions
 obituary – a notice of a death
 hen-pecked husband – Dominated and ordered about by his wife
 chirpy – cheerful
 accustomed – usual
 transfixed – to become motionless with horror, wonder, or astonishment
 malicious – something intended to do harm
 tomfoolery – foolish or silly behaviour
 vindictive – having or showing a strong desire for revenge
 humorous – causing laughter
 disconcerted – to make someone feel unsettled
 snappishly – irritable and curt
 consternation – a feeling of anxiety or dismay, typically at something
unexpected
 precocious child – having developed certain abilities or inclinations at an
earlier age than is usual or expected.
 scrupulosity – guilt about moral or religious issues
Character Sketches:
Amelia Slater:
Amelia Slater is an energetic and sharp woman. She is married to Henry Slater
and has a ten year old daughter, Victoria. She is a very dominating person by
nature and makes sure that all things happen according to her own will. She
makes her husband do all she wants. She can talk her way through any
argument. She is a cunning and sharp person and cares only for the material
world. She is a tart and biting person when it comes to her own gain. She is never
contended or sated with what she already has. There is always a need for more
in her. She wants a major part of her father’s inheritance and tries to get so by
unfair means. She is a pretentious person who worries about what people will
think about her mourning and therefore she sheds fake tears. She feels no true
sorrow for her dead father. In the end when it comes to winning Abel
Merryweather’s favour, she alters completely just to get hold of her money. Thus,
Mrs. Slater is a pivotal character of the story who is a materialistic and
dominating woman.
Henry Slater:
Henry Slater is a man who has no will of his own and no say in the house. He
does what his wife tells him to do. Although, he’s not as bad and greedy in nature
like his wife Amelia, he helps her in hiding some things of Grandpa before the
arrival of Amelia’s sister. He also wears his dead father-in-law’s slippers because
his wife asks him to do it.
Elizabeth Jordon:
Mrs. Jordon is a stout and complacent woman. She is impassive and always has
an irritating air around her. She is very witty and sharp. She holds the capacity to
drive a hard bargain over things to gain possession. She too is a greedy person
just like her sister who takes every opportunity to criticise the Slaters and finally
decides to take her father with her just for the sake of money.
Ben Jordan:
Ben is surely a practical man and a very big hypocrite in the play. He is practical
when he says that everyone has got to die someday. This shows that he is not at
all mournful of the fact that Abel passed away. Ben called Abel Merry Weather
‘the drunken old beggar’ because the latter had not paid the premium for his
insurance. This meant that none of the family members would be able to get his
insurance money. This angered and disgusted everyone in their family. This
incidence shows that Ben was very logical, and very materialistic. He did not
believe in the importance of relationships.
Abel Merryweather:
Abel Merryweather is an old widower. Since the death of his wife, he has been
living in turns, with his daughters Amelia Slater and Elizabeth Jordan. He is a fun-
loving and jovial man, who loves to go to the pub and drink. He is quick-witted
and too intelligent to be fooled by any show of affection by his daughters. He
knows them too well. But, he lives with them because they are his daughters and
he wanted to leave something to them in his will. But when he discovered how
they behaved, believing him to be dead, he decides to change his will, and marry
a widow, Mrs. John Shorrocks, the keeper of ‘’Ring – O – Bells’. He is a likeable
old man, much better than his daughters.
Theme and conclusion

The lesson ‘Dear Departed’ focuses on the family values that are dwindling fast in
the society. Materialism has affected the modern man’s life so much that even
the respectful relationship between father and daughter has become tainted with
it. The lesson highlights this aspect of the relationship with unmatched
craftsmanship by weaving a wonderful and absorbing sequence of events. The
poetic justice at the end is the real mastery of the playwright. Abel’s
vengeful response to the selfish daughters leaves them stupefied and stunned.
They are left regretful for their meanness. Thus the theme of the play quite
interesting and edifying
The Dear Departed Summary in English
The play depicts a tragic situation that has become very

common in today’s world. He presents the idea of
degrading moral values in the middle class. The children
have no feelings for their parents. Moreover, they just try
to grab the belongings of their father. They have no sense
of responsibility, no love for their old-aged parents.
At the beginning of the drama, Mrs. Slater, elder daughter

of Abel Merryweather goes to offer something to him.
However, she finds him quite cold. Moreover, he was not
responding. Thus, she declares that their father is no
more. Accordingly, she informs her sister and her
husband ( the Jordans) about the sad demise of their
father. They expected Jordans to join them in the process.
They started using the belongings of their father.
Victoria, who was an obedient child had a genuine love
for her grandfather. She didn’t like all that but still, she
was reluctant to help her parents.
Read more English Chapter Summaries here
Victoria’s parents asked her to keep a watch at the door

and inform her mother when Jordans arrive. She was not
willing to share her father’s belongings with her sister.
Jordans arrive and the family members start a detailed
discussion of the deeds of their father. Moreover, they
started planning to announce the same in papers. Also,
they were keen to receive insurance premium payment.
Surprisingly, the play witnesses a turn of events here.

Victoria goes to her grandfather’s room. However, she
returns very scaredly from the room. She tells that
grandfather is alive. Furthermore, grandfather walks
downstairs. He was surprised to see the Jordans there too.
No-one dared to tell him that he was declared ‘dead’.
However, the truth comes out at the tea-time. He gets to
know how his daughters were in a hurry to grab his
belongings. On knowing this harsh reality, the
grandfather decides to live separately. He didn’t want to
live with any of his daughters. Moreover, he expresses his
final intention to change his will.
He declares that he will marry Mrs. Shorrocks and give

all his belongings to her. He felt that by marrying Mrs.
Shorrocks he will have someone to look after him with
the feelings of genuine love. Also, she will not consider
him a burden.
Conclusion of The Dear Departed
The play brings out the harsh reality of dying love and
absence of moral values in the children. Also, children of
today lack their sense of responsibility.

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Introduction:

About the author:

Meanings of words and phrases

Theme and conclusion

The Dear Departed Summary in English

The play depicts a tragic situation that has become very

At the beginning of the drama, Mrs. Slater, elder daughter

Read more English Chapter Summaries here

Victoria’s parents asked her to keep a watch at the door

Surprisingly, the play witnesses a turn of events here.

He declares that he will marry Mrs. Shorrocks and give

Conclusion of The Dear Departed

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