On the Face of It | CBSE Class 12 | NCERT Notes

Chapter Sketch: ‘On the Face of It’ is a play featuring an old man and a small boy meeting in the former’s garden. Both suffer from physical impairment, but Mr Lamb, the old man, takes life as it comes to him while the young boy Derry (short for Derek) is very withdrawn and defiant. The meeting turns out to be a boon for Derry. Mr Lamb is able to give him hope and the ability to see the bright side of life.

Chapter Summary

The Meeting in the Garden

The first scene of the play begins in Mr Lamb’s garden. Derry, a young boy of fourteen, climbs over the garden wall and enters the garden. He slowly and cautiously walks in thinking nobody is there and gets startled when he hears Mr Lamb’s voice.

The old man tells Derry to not trip upon the crab apples which have fallen from the tree. Derry tries to explain to him that he didn’t want to sneak in. He had presumed that the house was empty, and he didn’t expect anybody there. Mr Lamb tries to calm the scared boy and tells him that the house is no doubt empty, as he is in the garden.

But Derry gets panicked and wants to leave. Mr. Lamb tells him that he does not have to leave as the garden is always open and everyone is welcome to come in. He also adds that he saw Derry while he was sitting there and clarifies that Derry is not so young to steal the apples. Derry is now calm but still wants to leave which makes Mr. Lamb think that Derry is afraid.

Derry Appears to be Apprehensive

Sensing Derry’s fear, Mr. Lamb assures him that there is nothing to be afraid of. Derry tells him that he is not afraid but people are afraid of him. When Mr. Lamb shows his confusion, Derry tells him that he can see and understand what people think of him.

He furiously adds that people including Mr. Lamb pity him as a ‘poor boy’ and are afraid of him internally. He also asserts that he is not a poor boy. Mr. Lamb, after hearing Derry, tells him that he is not afraid and changes the subject. He tells Derry that he would pull down the crab apple and make jelly from it. He also adds that Derry could help him. Derry is enraged at the change of subject. He tells Mr. Lamb that he is also pretending that he does not have a burnt face and had not asked about it because he is also afraid of it.

Mr Lamb’s Philosophy

Sensing Derry’s hostility, Mr. Lamb asks Derry about it, and states he feels that Derry got burned in a fire. Derry clarifies that acid fell on the side of his face and now it will remain like it. Mr. Lamb’s indifference to Derry’s face surprises him. Confused Derry asks him why he isn’t interested. Mr. Lamb tells him that Derry is like everything or everyone else that God had created. He takes Derry’s focus on weeds and tells him that he grows weeds along with flowers, trees, herbs etc. He adds that for him weeds and flowers are same, it is just a matter of perspective. He follows a philosophy wherein he celebrates life in all form.

Mr Lamb Reveals his Impairment

Derry remains unsatisfied. So, Mr Lamb reveals that they are the same as he has a tin leg. Upon enquiry, Mr Lamb tells Derry that one of his legs got blown off in a war. When he goes out, some kids call him ‘Lamey-Lamb’. This doesn’t bother him. Derry tells Mr Lamb that he could cover his tin leg with his trousers, but Derry cannot cover his face and thus people stare at him.

Mr. Lamb tells Derry that everything is a matter of perspective like Beauty and the beast. But Derry remains unconvinced. He believes that he won’t change and everyone including his own mother is afraid of him. She only kisses the other side of his face and just like her no other female would kiss him all throughout his life.

Mr. Lamb tells Derry that the world out there is beautiful to look out and tries to fill Derry with optimism. But Derry doesn’t reconcile. He states that people pity him for going through the pain bravely. He adds that people also tell him to compare his condition with others who are blind, deaf or live in a wheelchair. His pessimism does not leave him.

Derry Calls Mr Lamb Peculiar

Derry then narrates an incident which happened at the bus stop. He heard two women talk about his face. Their comments hurt him. Listening to this, Mr Lamb advises Derry not to believe everything that he hears. Derry calls Mr Lamb ‘peculiar’ and his talks as well as questions confuse him. Mr. Lamb clarifies that he likes being social and goes on to talk about how he likes to hear the bees sing.

Derry tells Mr. Lamb that he liked the garden and if he knew Mr. Lamb was there he wouldn’t have entered as he doesn’t like being near people. Mr Lamb tells him a story about a man who was afraid to die. He feared each and every thing and locked himself in a room. Unfortunately, he died because a picture fell off the wall on his head. This makes Derry laugh.

The Positive Side of Life

Derry asks Mr. Lamb what he does all day. Mr. Lamb informs him that he sits in the sun and reads books. He adds that his house is full of books and other things. Derry notices that there are no curtains on the windows of Mr Lamb’s house. Mr Lamb tells him that he is not fond of curtains because they shut thingsout and he likes to observe things.

Derry says that he likes to hear the rain falling on the roof. Mr. Lamb senses some change in Derry. Derry tells Mr Lamb that even his family pities him. They think about his future and are worried about him. Mr Lamb shows him that he is normal and that he can live his life easily like others.

Derry asks Mr Lamb if he has any friends. Mr Lamb tells him that everyone including Derry is his friend. Derry is confused and asks him how they are friends when Mr Lamb doesn’t even know his name. Mr Lamb explains that names don’t signify anything. To him, being friends doesn’t mean that you should know all the details about a person.

Derry tells him that his name is Derek, but he hates being called that. He wants to be called ‘Derry’ only. He asks Mr. Lamb that of he does not come back, he will not be a friend. Mr. Lamb clarifies that he would still be a friend and that one always has a relationship with people.

‘Watching, Listening, Thinking’

Derry tells Mr Lamb that he hates some people. Mr Lamb says that hatred is more dangerous than the acid that burned his face. Derry narrates another incident about the time when he returned home after the accident. He heard someone say that Derry would have been better in the hospital with others ‘like him’. Mr Lamb contradicts it.

Derry is amazed and asks how he understands all these things. Mr Lamb replies, ‘Watching, listening, thinking’. Derry tells Mr. Lamb that he would like to have a place this with no curtains and a garden.

Mr Lamb tells Derry that he can come and go in his house as he wishes. Whatever belongs to him belongs to everybody. Derry tells Mr Lamb that his friends would run away at seeing Derry’s face. But Mr. Lamb stands by his decision and reaffirms that Derry should come.

Derry Offers his Help

Derry asks Mr Lamb how he is going to get the apples down, since his leg is blown off. Mr Lamb assures him that over the years he has learned to deal with his handicap. Derry then offers his help, but states his mother won’t allow him to come out once he gets home.

Mr Lamb tells Derry that it is not Derry’s mother but Derry’s bitterness and hesitation that won’t let him go out. He adds that he is a young boy and he could do anything if he chooses to. Mr Lamb excites Derry who is getting infuriated. Derry asks Mr. Lamb about his friends to mock him, but Mrs Lamb does not pay any attention to him. He goes to his bees and indicates that he doesn’t believe Derry would come back.

Derry Chooses for Himself

The second scene begins in Derry’s house. He is fighting with his mother because he wants to return to Mr Lamb, and his mother is not allowing him to go. She says that she has been warned by many people that Mr Lamb appears to be an eccentric. But Derry insists that he wants to go. For the first time in his life, someone has shown him the right way. He wants to talk to Mr Lamb about things which matter to him. He wants to sit there and listen to things. His mother tells him to stay, but Derry tells her that he hates it. His mother doesn’t react. She simply tells him that he is bound to say such awful things because of his face. Derry strongly replies that he doesn’t care about his face anymore. He realises that if he doesn’t go now, he won’t go anywhere in the world which he wants to enjoy.

Derry is a Changed Person

The final scene shifts to the garden again. Derry reaches there out of breath. He finds Mr Lamb lying on the ground. He has been trying to pick the apples off the tree when the ladder has slipped and he, alongwith it, had fallen on the ground. Derry tries to awaken him, but Mr Lamb is unmoving. He is probably dead. Derry has lost his only friend and begins to cry. Mr Lamb was able to do what he has been trying; he has taught Derry how to live.

Reference @Arihant

Word Meanings

The given page numbers correspond to the pages in the NCERT textbook.

Page 56

• windfalls — fruits blown down from a tree or bush by the wind

Page 57

• scrump — steal (fruit) from an orchard or garden

Pages 58-59

• give (me) a hand — help, assist
• blown off — separated

Pages 60-61

• monstrous — frightening
• daft — crazy, foolish
• dribble — to let saliva drip from the mouth
• peculiar — strange or unusual

Pages 63-64

• filing box — a box for keeping documents or files in order
• make (all that) out — understand

Pages 67-68

• thumping — falling down with a loud, dull sound
• swishes — moves with a hissing sound