English: The Dear Departed

1. How does Mrs. Slater plan to outshine the Jordans? What does it reveal about her character?

Answer: Mrs. Slater plans to outshine the Jordans by wearing black mourning as she thinks Jordans might not have thought of wearing black. It reveals that Mrs. Slater is vain lady and believes in showing herself off.

2. Why does Mrs. Slater decide to shift the bureau from grandfather’s room before the arrival of the Jordans? How does Henry react to the suggestion?

Answer: Mrs. Slater decides to shift bureau from grandfather room before the arrival of the Jordans because she likes the bureau a lot and is aware that Elizabeth would bargain seriously if the asks to give the bureau. Henry does not like the suggestion as he does not find it delicate and sensible.

3. What is the reason for the Jordans taking a long time to get to the house of the Slaters? What does it show about the two sisters’ attitude towards each other?

Answer: The reason for the Jordans taking a long time to get to the house of the Slaters is that they were waiting for their black mourning dress and started their journey to the Slater’s house after dressing themselves in black clothes. It shows that both the sisters have lost the sense of affection for each other and are just bothered to humiliate each other whatever the occasion is.

4. What does Mrs. Jordans describe as ‘a fatal mistake’? What is the irony in the comment she makes on Mrs. Slater’s defense?

Answer: Mrs. Jordans describes not calling another doctor on the death of Able Merryweather in the absence of Dr. Pringle. The irony in the comment she makes on Mrs. Slater defense is that had the doctor been called, there might be a chance of grandfather to come alive, which is very rare case.

5. Ben appreciates grandfather saying ‘its’ a good thing he did’. Later he calls him a ‘drunken old beggar’. Why does he change his opinion about grandfather?

Answer: When Ben comes to know that grandfather might not have paid his premium he calls grandfather a ‘drunken old beggar’ though in the beginning he only comments that the grandfather has done a good thing by paying his premium. He said this because he was greedy about the insurance money he would get.

6. What change does grandfather make in his new will? What effect does it have on his daughters?

Answer: Grandfather decides to leave his property to the one he would be living with at the time of his death. His daughters were totally exited as they think that grandfather’s property would come to anyone of them.

7. What are the three things that grandfather plans to do on Monday next?

Answer: The three things grandfather plans to do on next Monday are:-

• He would go to the lawyer and alter his will.
• He would go to the insurance office and pay his premium; and
• He would go to St. Philips church and get married.