The Bishops Candlestick --Norman Mckinnel

The Bishops Candlestick

-Norman Mckinnel
1. Sketch the character of bishop.
Ans.- the Bishop is the nucleus of The Bishops
Candlesticks. He appears to be an embodiment of
affection !enerosit" and sacrifice. He could transform a
hardened criminal to a man for his complete belief in
faith hope and charit". He has faith in mans inner soul
not in appearance. He is a true Christian #ho preaches
as #ell as practices.
$. Sketch the character of %ersome
%ersome in the Bishops Candlestick is a #ido#ed sister
of the Bishop. She is a commonplace #oman #ith intense
lo&e and respect for his brother. Her realistic approach
to#ards life makes her possessi&e and materialistic. She
chides Marie at the sli!htest cause. A sense of economic
insecurit" haunts her al#a"s due to her brothers
e'cessi&e charit". She belie&es in reli!ious institutions but
lacks compassion.
( Sketch the character of Con&ict
The con&ict a ma)or character of the one-act pla" *The
Bishops Candlesticks is a disastrous outcome of the
social s"stem. He appears as a fierce character. But The
Bishops friendl" attitude influences him deepl" He #as a
peasant and a lo&in! husband too. He #as imprisoned
and became a number losin! his humanit". But ultimatel"
he re!ained his lost humanit" he faces mental conflict
before bein! completel" transformed.
+ Contrast the character of the Bishop #ith that of
%ersome.
The bishops character is a foil to that of his sister
%ersome. The contrastin! !limpses of their characters are
e&ident from their attitudes and actions. The former is
charitable bene&olent and !enerous. He is ma!nanimous
enou!h e&en to sacrifice the onl" memoirs of his mother
the candlesticks to sa&e the con&icts soul. ,n the
contrar" %ersome is common place #oman #ith
materialistic &ie#s and self-interest.
-. Ho# did an ordinar" man reduce.
The con&ict belon!ed to a peasant famil". ,nce )obless
he had to face the stark realit" of life. He had to steal for
his marital commitment. But the blind societ" #as cruel
as #ell as uns"mpathetic he #as sentenced to ten "ears in
the prison hulk. The" scalped out his humane &irtues and
instilled the spirit of a de&il instead. /hen he escaped he
became a confirmed thief for sustenance.
0 . 1escribe ho# life in prison turned the Con&ict into a
beast.
The con&ict #as imprisoned in the prison hulk for ten
"ears. The inhuman torture of authorit" chan!ed the man
to a beast. The" chained and lashed him. He #as fed on
filth" food and had to sleep on the planks. An" complaint
earned him farther lashin!. The" erased his identit".
The" robbed his soul and made a de&il d#ell in him.
2. *This poor bod" is the temple of the li&in! !od.
/ho said this and to #hom. /hat did the speaker mean
to sa".
The bishop made the con&ict feel that he had re!ained his
lost humane 3ualities. The bishop #anted to implant a
spiritual kno#led!e in his transformed mindset. ,ur
e'istence is not limited to the frail frame of bod". But the
immortal soul #hich is be"ond ph"sical resides in it. This
soul or li&in! !od #ill lead a person to the path of
ri!hteousness.
4. 5i&e an account of the con&icts inner conflict before
stealin! the candlesticks.
The Con&ict faces an inner conflict bet#een !ood and
bad. He cannot den" the emotional &alue of the partin!
!ift of the Bishops mother. But he can recall that the
societ" had no human face for his !rief-stricken mother.
The Bishops kindness cannot be o&errated. Besides his
)ail mates #ould not appreciate his !oodness and
softness. So he decides that &irtue should not pre&ent him
from the &ice of stealin! .