llmi Best Notes

Lesson 17

THE BOY COMES HOME

A.A. Miln (1882-1956) AUTHOR
Alan Alexander Milne was an English novelist and playwright, who wrote as A.A. Milne. He was
born in London and educated at Westiminister School and at Trinity College, Cambridge, where
he edited the college magazine. He took hi? degree in 1903 and became a journalist after leaving
Cambridge. He was offered the assistant editorship of the ”Punch” in 1906 He worked as assistant
editor until the end of 1914. Early in 1915 ho enlisted in the army, and it was during his leisure
hours as a professional soldier that he first began to write plays. Other subalterns spent their spare
time in gold and bridge; Mr. Milne’s new game was far more exciting. He had married in 1913
Dorothy Daphne de Selincourt, a writer like himself. He wrote three volumes of essays and
before demobilization he had established himself as a humourist. He, therefore refused to go back
to the punch and gave all his time to authorship.

He began with one act plays, including ”The Boy Comes Home” but his reputation as dramatist
rests upon ’Mr. PimPasses By” and ”The Truth about Blayds”. His characters are the pleasant
people one may meet iiran English country house. He excels in dialogue.

It seems natural that a regular contributor to Punch should write in a vein of light comedy, and
Mr. Milne has a delightfully easy touch and a charm which cannot be defined.

A.A. Miln won fame in at least three different worlds. His first success was gained by his
delightful articles and sketches in the punch. He then turned to drama and his ”Mr Pirn Passes
By” and ”The Truth About Blayds” were distinguished success. During1 the last few years he
wrote verses and children’s stories like ’When we were very young Winnie the Pooh” and ’Now
We Are Six which are immensely popular with children.

Milne’s One Act plays reveal great versatility. His ’The Boy Comes Home’ and ’The Man in the
Bowler Hat’ have been immensely popular on the stage. He made his name as a hum ourist while,
writing for the punch. When he took to writing for the stage his first attempts were one act plays.
But he later wrote popular full length plays, such as ’The Dover Road, and ’The Truth About
Blayds’. His plays have been outstanding in their grace with good humour an clear and sound
character drawing. His poems and plays for children, have not only become household words, but
they also contributed to the happiness of countries homes by their sympathy with the joys, fancies
and prides of children. His charming and childlike whimsicality becomes prominent in ”The Man
in the Bowler Hat” when John behaves in an amusingly foolish and presumptuous wander and
both John and Mary confuse the chief villain by naming the various in applicable railway sttions
of London. John Shows the same comic whimsicality, when he indulges in the grotesque
spoonerism.

”The Boy Comes Home” was written by the author when he was thirty four and may be described
as light comedy. It is amusing and witty throughout, but that does not necessarily make it a
comedy. The ending seems ’right’ ”and satisfies our wishes because the hero ~ a real hero -
defeats the villain, who happens to be a pompous, bullying uncle. Early in the play we know that
the conflict just takes place, and we are kept in a state of hope and fear until the climax is reached
and passed. If the hero had been bullied into submission the play, however, witty and amusing,
would not have beer as a comedy.

Summary
”The Boy Comes Home’ is a light comedy. The main character Philip has been terminated from
the army after a period of four years. He has learnt the tactics which are essential to lead a
successful life. He knows bow to use different policies. He compels others to accomplish his
wishes. According to the will of his deceased father he can have his money at the age of twenty
five and by that time uncle James will be this guardian. The play is full of amusing and witty
situations.

Philip returns back from the war after a long and tough period. He is now in the mood of leisure.
He gets up late and goes to the morning room for breakfast at ten o’clock. He finds nothing on the
table and Orders Mary - the parlour maid to serve him with eggs and coffee. She tells him that
Mrs. Higgins does not like irregularity. She is very punctual and according to Master’s rule she
prepares breakfast at eight o’clock. Mary is afraid that Mrs. Higgins will annoy at her if she goes
to her for breakfast. In the meantime, Aunt Emily enters and discuss some trivial matter. A few
moment later Mrs. Higgins enters awfully Philip demands for breakfast. She replies firmly that
breakfast is available only at eight o’clock. She refuses to obey him and talks in arrogant manner.
She demands to give her one month notice. Having seen the haughtiness of Mrs. Higgins, Philip
uses the strategy and at once orders her to leave the job and offers cheque of her wages. She does
not expect such behaviour of Philip; it is astounding to her. She takes her order and goes away.

Then uncle James-enters and asks about Philip. Aunt Emily tells that he is taking his breakfast.
Uncle James dislikes his slackness. He tells that he should be very punctual. He wants to discuss
his future planning. He wants him to work in his office. Aunt -Emily tries to convince him that
Philip is no more a boy but a man. She says that Philip will not follow his instructions Uncle
James tells that he knows his Weak point, and will not give him money. Aunt Emily informs
Philip that his uncie is waiting for him. Philip answers carelessly that his uncle can come to him
to meet. However Philip goes to his uncle. Uncle James rebukes him for his smoking. Uncle
James advises him to learn Civility and respect for elders. He tries to impress him with his
experience and awful personality. He proposes him to join into his business. But Philip wants to
be an architect. They wrangle with each other. Uncle James threat him that he can get the
payment of that amount what is for Philip, at the attainment of age of twenty five years.

On this Philip takes out His revolver. Uncle James terrifies to see the revolverin Philip’s hand.
Philip said he will not hesitate to kill him, because he has already killed twenty men. Uncle James
tries to dodge Philip with his oily tongue but all in vain. Philip becomes harsh. He behaves his
uncle severely. He uses force to suppress force. Uncle James becomes soft and yield the palm.
Philip succeeds in his scheme. When he sees that Uncle James is completely in his control, he
agrees to work in his uncle’s office. Uncle James too becomes friendly to him.

We see Philip’s shows his sagacity on two different occasions. He compels his opponent to bow.

Characters PHILIP
Philip is a well built pleasant baking young officer. Waking late, he has visited the dining room,
returned to parlour and rung the’ bell. Mary the parlour maid enters to. whom he orders breakfast-
but she says breakfast has been cleared one hour before, an according to the rules of the house
Mrs. Higgins will made being bothered for it once again. She also tells that breakfast at 8 O’clock
is house master rule. He does not pay any attention to her explanations and tells her to mind her
business, and that she should bring two eggs, a piece of ham and coffee.

Disliking for his uncle. Although he does not like Uncle James who has been always authoritative
to him, yet he has a great love and respect for his aunt Emily and has a soft corner for her in his
heart. She is also very accommodating to his youthful activities and desires. She is not in favour
of forcing views and decisions upon the youth without giving due regard to their liking and
inclinations.

MR.JAMES
Mr. James is an old man with an unimpressive personality. He is a man of short stature with a thin
beard, but has a seventy in his behaviour which passes for a strength compensating his weak
personality. When he enters the parlour, he enquires about Philip and when told by Emily that he
might be tired after spending long years in war, be rejects it as an inadequate excuse and
emphasises the punctuality which Philip should have learnt in the army. He is quite annoyed and
looking at his watch furiously says ’It is ten O’clock Emily-ten O’clock. According to him it is
perhaps an unpardonable act. He says he has delayed going to office particularly for him, thus
practically the whole day has been spoiled.

He is very particular about the great value of morning time. According to him morning is not a
time to make oneself comfortable that accidentally another addition be made in the previous total.
James reminds Philip that he is his uncle. Philip tells that duringwar they used force to put down
force, hence the force of purse string will be faced with revolver. His nephew also tells him that
he has no sanctity for human life after the experienced of 4 years war. At this Mr. James gets
frightened and appeals for mercy. Meanwhile he awakes. Now he is completely changed. Now he
is very sympathetic and accommodative to the views of his nephew. Hence also changes his idea
and agrees to join his uncle’s business.

JAMES
His personality is not much impressive. He has weak physique, thin beard and unimpressive
stature. But he has made his image as a disciplinarian and strict person. In his house he has
strictly implemented his orders. He is dry, unsympathetic and void of human sentiments and
emotions. He dislikes emotional expression associated to war, country or human relations. He is a
good businessman. He has expanded Jam’s business. He knows the trade tricks of making money.
His nephew Philip also knows that his business is running successfully. He is worried for paying
excessive tax on profits. He lacks practical knowledge of human psychology. He does not bother
to win favour of others. He is inflexible. He imposes his views forcefully. His behaviour with his
nephew is an example of his rigid and inflexible character. However, he is not bad at heart. This
fact is acknowledged by his wife Emily as well, who tells Philip that he is a little hard to go with-
but he has a love for Philip. He has no intention to misuse or usurp the money kept-in his custody
for the future of Philip. He only insists to hand over the money to Philip after he attains the age of
25 years and this is a legal requirement.

EMILY
A kind hearted woman. Emily is the aunt of Mr. Philip. She is a kind hearted middle aged woman.
She meets Philip warmly and asks him if he had sleep well and taken breakfast. She feels herself
concerned about the welfare of Philip. She lovingly says ’Naughty boy you are late for breakfast.
Moreover she has the feelings that in the army they would have been waiting him too early in the
morning. She expects that by spending four years in the army Philip must have developed a habit
of getting up early but Philip says that every morning when he woke, he used to say that one day
would come when he will be his own master. There is a mark of love and frankness in her
conversation with Philip. She remarks that a cosy comfortable bed would have kept him awake,
as during war he had been sleeping in trenches. Philip explains that during war all the time they
were not in trenches, and being an officer he had the privilege of availing short leave after
intervals. Aunt Emily complains that ’he did not spend such leave at home she herself explains
that he must have wanted gaiety during such short leave, but at the same time she points out that
his uncle James felt it, being his guardian.

Loved and Respected by Philip. She is loved and respected by Philip. She considers his point of
view sympathetically. When she first meets him he kisses her hand, he confesses during the
conversation ”I know you have been a darling to me always. But he also complains about uncle
James that a smooth running had been always difficult between them. Due to her kind nature Mrs.
Higgins and Mary also find it feasible to approach her for the solution of difficult situation.

MRS. HIGGINS
Mrs. Higgins is working as a cook in the house. She acts according to the instructions of Mr.
James and serves breakfast at 8 a.m. daily. When she is ordered for special breakfast at 10 a.m. by
Philip, she gets annoyed. In the beginning she is reluctant to obey and wants to complain before
aunt Emily. She asserts that she is working according to the orders of house master and for a
change in’ routine, there should be a change in orders by the house master. But Philip insists that
in that particular case his orders should be obeyed. To assert her importance she throws her trump
card and says that if she is pressed to that extent, she would serve one month’s notice
immediately. At this bogus threat Philip takes out his cheque book, writes a cheque for her that
Emily gives her notice to solve her problem. ’Hence she can leave’ the service immediately. At
this Mrs. Higgins is stunned, as she did not really mean to convert her threat into reality. Mrs.
Higgins tells that she has not asked for wages to relinquish the service. She only meant that she
should be asked in a decent polite manner. Thus she reconciles herself with the situation. Mrs.
Higgins is very aggressive in the beginning. She is quite sure that no body can disturb her out of
her routine duty till such directions come from Mr. James. She talks very impudently to aunt
Emily when she furiously asks if she had sent for her. But when Philip compels her to act upon
his order or leave the service, she changes her mind, and yields to the forceful decisive manner of
Philip.

PARLOURMAID (MARY)
Mary is a parlour maid in the house. When Philip rings the bell at 10 clock, she comes to attend
him and tells that breakfast has been cleared away. Now she will inform Mrs. Higgins but as it is
against house master’s rules, she cannot predict what will be her reaction. Mr. Philip says she
should not bother for her negative reply as he has become habitual of such situations in the Army.

Mary seems to be a little sympathetic to Mrs. Higgins. She tries to make it clear to Philip that the
same old routine and rules are prevalent in the house as they were 4 years before when he went to
war. But she does not listen to her argument as then he was a mere boy and did many silly things.
However, she goes to convey the orders and soon returns with message for aunt Emily that Mrs.
Higgins wants to speak to her. She finds Philip already there. Aunt Emily gets up to go to listen to
Mrs. Higgins, but is stopped by Philip, who tells her that she has been called by him to prepare
breakfast for him. Meanwhile he strictly orders Mary to go and call Mrs. Higgins to his presence.
She is stunned by his order, hesitates for a while, and then she clings to aunt Emily for support as
she feels fainting soon she leaves the room to convey the message.

Main Points
Mr. Philip has been shown acting against the house discipline by demanding breakfast at 10
O’clock. The house maid servants are uncooperative in the beginning but when Philip writes a’
cheque to pay wages to Mr. Higgins, she withdraws her threat to leave the service and agrees to
prepare the breakfast.

Mrs. Emily who is Philip’s aunt is the most loving character in the drama. She is very kind and
sympathetic to Philip. When she meets Philip in the morning, she asks had he good sleep and did
he get a good breakfast. She is really concerned with his comfort and well being like a mother.
Philip does not like his uncle since he was a school going boy. On his return from the army he
expected that his uncle will treat him like a grown up responsible person but when he sees that his
uncle’s orders and instructions are still implemented like a dictator he openly revolts against him
and declares he cannot get on with him, Philip is a freedom loving youth. Although he was a very
efficient officer in the Army yet he waited impatiently for the day when war will end and he will
leave the Army and he able to call himself his own master.

_ At home When his uncle makes it essential for him to abide by house discipline and ask proper
permission for smoking, he is provoked to revolt against him. He demands allowance to arrange
separate residence for himself. Mr. James wants to fulfil the written conditions of his patronage.
He insists not to release the money before Philip attains the age 25 years a limit to prove his
maturity. Mr. Philip does not agree to his uncle’s demand and says that he has attained maturity in
the Army. According to Philip maturity is a state of mind when a man can make judicious
decisions in critical situations showingfull responsibility. Mr. James acknowledges his admirable
performance as company commander but he says it does not qualify him to make a decision for
the choice of his future career Philip’s father had entrusted him to see the welfare of his son.
When ordinary arguments fail, Philip tells his uncle flatly that he Cannot be treated as a school
boy-and he should understand that 4 years war service has changed him from a boy to a man.

Mr. Philip tells his uncle that he cannot frighten him by any method. His threats cannot impress
him. He tells his uncle that a military Brigadier could not intimidate him in spite of being in full
uniform decorated with 20 medals. When reasoning fails, Philip tells his uncle that in the Army
they were taught to use force to put down force, hence now he will act upon the lesson he has
learned in the Army. The real problem with Philip was to enjoy freedom and live like an
independent honourable person. He wanted his status and ability to be recognized which his uncle
recognizes at the end.

Objective Questions and Answers

Q.1. What type of man is Mr. James?
Ans: Mr. James is a rigid and inflexible person He has imposed a strict discipline in his house. He
is void of human sentiments and does not consider anything on emotional grounds. He is disliked
by Philip who has openly revolted against him. On the whole he is not appreciate by anyone.
Even his wife declares that he is a little difficult to get with.

Q.2. What is the main problem with Philip?

Ans: The main problem with Philip is that he wants to be independent and free. He cannot bind
himself with the house discipline imposed by his uncle James. He wants to be his own master. He
wants to sleep and rise according to his liking. He cannot accept any restrictions on smoking. In
the family he wants a status of house master. He wants to be fully authoritative in making all
types of decisions about his future and participate in business with equal authority like his uncle
and not in a subordinate position.

Q.3. How Mr. Philip proves that he is a strongman of action.

Ans: Mr. Philip proves himself a strong man of action at several occasions. In the Army when he
became company commander, he decided and acted in a difficult situation and he captured enemy
trenches using his own initiative. Likewise in the house when Mrs. Higgins hesitates to act upon
his orders to prepare breakfast, he decides to dismisses her and prepares a cheque to pay her
wages. Likewise in the case of his future career he decides to be an independent person and he is
strict with his decision, he does not yield to the pressure used by his uncle through / purse strings.
This shows that he is strong man of action.

Q.4. What is the point of quarrel between Mr. James and Philips?

Ans: The main point of quarrel between Mr. James and Philip is the authority of Mr. James. Mr.
James has imposed a strict discipline in the house. Philip has challenged his authority by rising
late for breakfast and breaking any restrktic as for smoking. Mr. James says that he will not allow
such impatience. But Mr. Philip clearly says he cannot get on with him-hence he should be given
a reasonable allowance to arrange a separate living. Likewise Philip does not join his uncle’s
business because he dislikes his authoritative manner.

Q.5. Why Mr. James is a little difficult to get on with?

Ans. Mr. James is a little difficult to get on with because he is rigid and inflexible. He does not
give sympathetic consideration to the view point of others. Mrs. Emily has become used to his
attitude and therefore can manage to get on with him. However, in spite of his strict attitude he is
not bad at heart. He believes in acting upon the agreement in letter and spirit. That is why that
despite not believing in Philip’s ability, he declares that he will hand over the money to him when
he attains the age of 25years.

Q.6. Is Mrs. Emily a successful wife?

Ans: Yes, Mrs. Emily is a very successful wife, she fully understands the weak and strong points
of Mr. James. She is sympathetic to Philip and loves him like her son but she is also loyal and
respectful to Mr. James. She makes Mr. James sit comfortably in front of fireplace, and
recommends him to be kind to Philip. Mr. James also promises to be just to Philip. Hence we can
rightly conclude that Mrs. Emily is a very successful wife.

Q. 7. How does Mr. James change his attitude?

Ans: Mr. James changes his attitude at the end of drama as he experiences Mr. Philip’s reaction in
a dream. Philip begins to play with a revolver and a pocket bomb. He tells his uncle that he killed
20 Germans with his revolver, and that now he has decided to use force to put down force. Mr.
James gets frightened and is shaken at heart. He changes his attitude and agrees to accommodate
Philip’s point of view in all matters. This also changes the attitude of Philip and the problem is
settled to the satisfaction of both.

Q.8. Why Mr. Philip decides at the end to join his uncle’s business?

Ans: Mr. Philip decides to join his uncle’s business at the end because his uncle withdraws the
use of his authority and accepts him as a equal partner in business. He acknowledges his
administrative ability and gives him a complete freedom to choose his future career. As the
difficulty has been removed Mr. Philip decides to reconcile with his uncle.

Q.9. Who is the most loving character in this drama and why?

Ans: Mrs. Emily is the most loving character in this drama. She is of angelic nature. She is kind
and loving to everyone. Her behaviour with Philip is very kind; loving and sympathetic. When
she meets Philip in the morning, her first question is-did he sleep well. Again she says, ”And did
you have a good breakfast? Naughty boy to be late for it. I always thought they, had to get up ss
early in the Army”. All these sentences are soaked in a mother’s love. She is loving and kind to
everyone. Philip acknowledges her love by saying. ”I know you’ve been a darling to me always,
aunt Emily.

Q. 10. Who is Mrs. Higgins and what is her objection?

Ans: Mrs. Higgins is a house cook. She works according to the instructions of Mr. James, the
master of the house. She prepares breakfast, at 8 O’clock in the morning. Everybody in the house
acts according to this routine. But Mr. Philip who has returned to his home after 4 years war, does
not care about this routine. He gets up late at 10 O’clock and orders Mary to bring breakfast for
him. When this order is conveyed to Mrs. Higgins, she objects to it strongly. She demands that
amended instructions should be issued by the house master Mr. James qr she would be obliged to
resign. Philip at once prepares a cheque for her wages and orders her to leave at once.

Q.11. What is the role of Mary in this drama?

Ans: The role of Mary is very limited it this drama. She is a parlour maid and serves the house
members at the table. She conveys Philip’s orders to Mrs. Higgins to prepare two eggs, a piece of
ham and coffee for his breakfast. Then she brings a message from Mrs. Higgins to Mrs. Emily.
Philip intervenes and explains to her aunt why he has called Mrs. Higgins. Mary exits the room
and her role ends here.

Q. 12. Who dominates the drama, Mr. James or Mr. Philip?

Ans: Throughout the drama the character of Philip dominates the story. In the beginning when he
is introduced he remains dominating while other characters i.e. Mary, Mrs. Higgins and Mrs.
Emily vanish from the stage one by one. Then Mr. James is introduced as his uncle. He directly
demands his money as he wants to select a career of his own choice. We see that at the end his
uncle yields to his desire. Hence from beginning to end Philip dominates the drama undoubtedly.

Q. 13. Who wins the sympathy of refers?

Ans: Sympathies of readers are won by Philip, because in spite of being undisciplined and
impudent towards his uncle, he is not unreasonable. If he breaks house discipline, it is understable
as he has-been impatiently waiting for the me when he would be his own master. He says ”Every
morning for bur years, as I’ve shot out of bed, I’ve said to myself ”wait” A time will come.” He
had a great longing for freedom. Hence to compel him for early breakfast is very callous. Putting
restrictions on smoking to an officer at his own house is again quite senseless. Mr. Philip is quite
ready to earn. He wants to live in a separate house so that his uncle has no chance to get annoyed,
and there may not develop any clash between them. If he prefers freedom and independence all
other worldly benefits, it should be given due consideration. However, the unbending attitude of
Mr. James loses all sympathies on the readers. Young Philip is further provoked by the
inflexibility of Mr. James. Mr. James considers him a sentimental irresponsible youth, who is not
serious about his future, whereas Philip has run through such complicated experiences and critical
situations this he has become far maturer than the young men of his own age group.

Q.14. Does the difference of opinion between Mr. James and Mr. Philip show a
generation gap-explain.”

Ans: Yes, it is true that the difference of opinion between Mr. James and Mr. Philip is an
indication of generation gap. There is always some gap between the old an: new generation This
gap is expressed by the difference of values. Tue new generation is always a little different in the
process, of accepting and rejecting certain values. Here in this drama we finish that uncle James
demands unquestioned obedience from his new considering it his right being elder in the family.
But Philip thinks freedom and independence his first right which cannot be usurped by any elder.
Moreover maturity does not always come with age it is note documentary reality. It is something
that is achieved by racing.

Reference to the Context Example 1:

Now that’s the sort of silly sentiment that there’s been much too much of it. I object to it strongly.
I don’t want to boast, but I think I may claim to have done my share. I gave up my nephew to my
country, and I have suffered from the shortage of potatoes to an extent that you probably didn’t
realize.

Reference
These lines have been taken from one act play The Boy Comes Home’ by A.A. Miline.

Context
In this drama a tussle between uncle and nephew has been shown. Mr. Philip is a young man of
21 years age, who has been in the army for the last four years as an officer. He is a promising
young man and has a great potential for improvement. He has • already proved him worth as
company commander in the army. Now after demobilization he wants to choose some suitable
career for himself. His uncle has implemented strict discipline in his house Philip does not like to
live and work under controlled conditions. His uncle wants to join him in his Jam’s business,
which is severally opposed by Philip.

Explanation
Emily was pleading for Philip and trying to pursue Mr. James that he should be considerate
towards him. She tells James that the boy should not be forced and he should be consulted, as he
has fought 4 long years for his count. In these lines Mr. James is showing his reaction to Emily’s
suggestions. He says that this sort of foolish and sentimental considerations for army service are
over exaggerated and therefore he strongly objects to the views of his wife. About himself he
declares that he did his share for the country to the best of his ability. He means that people
running the business in civil have not less contribution in war than fighting soldiers. First of all he
spared his nephew for army service. He was a-supplier in the army but he Had to suffer a great
loss due to the shortage of potatoes. He says to his v-ife that she does not know the sacrifices he
made as a civilian. He Jso happily-paid excessive tax. Hence Philip alone has not served his
country.

Example 2:
”Put it down sir, you .ought ~o have grown out of monkey tricks like that in Army. You ought to
know better than to point an unloaded revolver at anybody. That’s the way accidents always
happen.

Reference
These lines have, been taken from one act play. ’The Boy Comes Home” written by A. A. Miline.
Context
In this drama a tussle between uncle and nephew has been shown. Mr. Philip is a young man of
21 years age, who has been in the army for the last 4 years as an officer. His uncle is bent upon
joining him in his Jam’s business. The young man Philip wants to lead a completely independent
life. He has rejected his uncle’s offer to join his business.

Explanation
Mr. Philips reasoning has failed to pursue his uncle to allow him certain allowance for separate
living arrangements or to release his money to enable him to start separate business. Here Mr.
Philip has been shown playing with revolver. He has told his uncle that he has killed twenty
Germans with it. His uncle is afraid of some mishap. He tells Philip to put down the pistol and
stop playing such monkey tricks that he might have learned in the army. Moreover he should
know and realize that sometimes quite fatal accidents take place when playing innocently with
weapons.

Examples:
I expect we should go through this little scene again tomorrow. You haven’t enjoyed it, have you?
Well, there’s lots more of it to come. We’ll rehearse it every day. One day, if you go on being
unreasonable, the thing will go off. Of course, you think that I should not have the pluck to fire.
But you can’t be quite certain. It’s a hundred to one that I should only I might fear it’s a horrible
thing. Elderly men die of it sometimes.

Reference
This extract has been taken from one act play ’The Boy Comes Home’ written by A.A. Miline.

Context
In this drama a tussle between uncle and nephew has been shown. Mr. Philip is a young man and
wants to choose a suitable career for himself as he has been released from the srmy after
demobilization. His uncle is desirous of joining him in his own business forcefully. They had a
discussion about Philip’s future career but they have not agreed with each other. Mr. Jzjnes has
gone into sleep. During sleep he sees Philip playing with revolver, and gets frightened. Philip
aims the revolver at las u»d<? asks him to be reasonable. Mr. Jafties asks him what will he do if
he does Dot

Explanation
In these lines Philip replying to his uncle says, he does not know but as long as Philip’s problem
of future career is not settled and his uncle does not become reasonable he will certainly carry on
such rehearsal’s daily. He asks his uncle that he may not have enjoyed such violent and
unreasonable behaviour. But now this will be his daily routine. With his uncle he is determined to
do such rehearsal daily. But nobody known when such rehearsal Will turn into reality. One day,
he may shoot up old uncle James. Thus the difficulty will be solved for ever. He says ’you may
think that I have not enough courage for shooting. But, you can’t say anything with certainty..
There is a very blight possibility that I may not shoot, but the greater possibility is that one day
during rehearsals, the fire will be shot and the target hit.

Philip emphasises that during such rehearsals he may -also suffer from fear. And fear is not an
ordinary thing. Some elderly men like him may die of fear. He is warning his uncle to be smootn
with him or he will be quite rough with him. This is a threat and his threat has succeeded.
Example 4:

Yes, never mind about the excess profits now. I can tell you quite well what we fought for. We
used force to put down force. That’s what I am doing now. You were going to use force-the force
of money-to make me do what you wanted. Now I am using force to stop it. [He levels the
revolver again]

Reference
This extract has been taken from one act play ’The Boy comes home’ written by A.A. Milne.

Context
In this drama a tussle between old and new generation has been shown. Mr. James representative
of old generation tries to impose his will upon his nephew Philip and forces him to join bis Jam’s
business. As he is the legal patron of Philip’s money, he compels Philip to act according to his
desire. Philip has served in the army as an independent company commander. He has been
making important decisions as a mature and responsible officer. His uncle considers him as an
inexperienced boy and rejects his desire to live and work independently.

Explanation
His uncle falls asleep and in a dream he sees that Philip is playing with a revolver and a pocket
bomb. Philip tells him that he has kicked many Germans with his revolver. He points his revolver
at his uncle and motions him to sit on the chair. Mr. James is surprised that Philip has begun to
settle the argument by force. Philip tells him that this is what he has learned in the army. They
were fighting to put down the use of undue force. He tells his uncle that he should not mind about
the excess profits, but should rather understand how different and changed he has become after 4
years in the army. Philip says he is telling practically what they were fighting for in the army. The
main thing was that they used force to put down forte. He is now applying the same formula with
his uncle. His uncle was using the force of money to do what he wanted. Now Philip is using the
force of weapons to bend his uncle before his opinion. Hence his Uncle should not be surprised, it
is the same common tactics he has been using himself. Saying this he straightens his revolver at
his uncle, to indicate that he will not avoid even shooting his uncle if necessary.

»** »** **» »** ***