BISHOP’s Candlesticks

SUMMARY

The plot of the play revolves around a story that brings forth the themes of Religious virtues like love and
redemption. The play dramatically depicts how the love and the compassion of the Bishop brought about a
change of heart in a convict and turned him into a man of promise for a good life. The Bishop was a kind-
hearted man who being a true Christian was also an ardent humanist. He was ready to sacrifice everything to
help the needy people. Even after selling all, he had, for others, he felt sorry that he could do so little whereas
the world had so much suffering. He sold his saltcellars and gave the money to Mere Gringoire so that the latter
might pay his rent to the bailiff. His sister. Persome was how ever a worldly woman, neither as self-less as her
brother nor so noble. She did not like her brother to live for others and not for himself. She thought that people
took an unfair advantage of his charitable nature. But the Bishop thought that if the people pretended to be in
distressed and deceived him, then they are the poorer in spirit and not he. His door was never shut and it was
opened for everybody. One night when the Bishop was about to go to bed, a convict entered the house. At the
point of his knife he demanded food from the Bishop. The Bishop was unruffled. He called Persome and asked
her to give some supper to the convict. The convict wondered why the Bishop kept his doors and windows open
and whether or not he was afraid of thieves and robbers. The Bishop told them that he was not afraid but that he
was sorry for them, as they were only poor sufferers. He treated the convict with all love and respect as he
regarded him too as a sufferer. He regarded him as a fellowman and a friend. His attitude had some effect on the
convict. If we treat a man as a beast, then he becomes a beast. If we treat a beast as a man then it becomes a
man. A man is what we think him to be. The convict told the Bishop how he was caught by the police while he
stole some food for his ill and starving wife. He was caught and sentenced to ten years in prison. The authorities
did not pat any heed to the fact that he had stolen only to feed his ill and starving wife, Jeanette. They regarded
him as a born criminal and treated him like a beast for ten years. Then one day he escaped but the society treated
him no better. As he was a prisoner, nobody would give him any job. The police hunted him down. He was
running away from them starving. So he stole again for food. Thus, society with its wrong attitude, did not give
him a chance to lead a good life. Then he entered the house of the Bishop as he was hungry. The kind Bishop
was touched and gave him a bed to sleep on. The Bishop went to sleep. Left alone on his bed, the convict could
not resist the temptation to steal the silver candlesticks of the Bishop. He took them and went out of the house.
As he went out, the door slammed. Persome got up at the sound and found out that the convict had stolen the
silver candlesticks and had gone away. Persome reacted violently. She shouted and was very upset. The Bishop
is also upset but he blames himself for exposing the convict to the temptation. The Bishop was sorry to lose the
candlesticks as they were given to him by his mother. But like a true Christian, he felt that he was responsible
for the convict’s behaviour. By keeping them before him, he had led him into temptation. The Bishop thought
that he used to value the candlesticks very highly. It is a sin to get addicted to wealth. Lastly, the candlesticks
might be of some use to the convict and what had happened had happened for the good. But the convict was
arrested by the gendarmes along with the candlesticks The sergeant saw the convict moving stealthily and
arrested him. They recognized the candlesticks of the Bishop and brought him back to him. But the Bishop told
that the accused was his friend and that he himself had given the candlesticks to him. The police sergeant
released the convict and went away. The convict was overwhelmed by the love of the Bishop and now he is
convinced that the Bishop was kind and loving. He regained his faith that there can be goodness in men. He was
sorry that he had stolen the candlesticks. He felt that he was once again a human being and not a beast. The kind
Bishop told him of the secret road to Paris and gave him the candlesticks. The candle sticks were a dying gift
from the Bishop’s mother. They reminded him of her. But when the convict received them as a gift, they
become symbols of hope and life. The convict would now believe in the goodness of life and lead a steady life.
He asked him to remember that the body of man is the temple of God. The convict was already a changed man
and he promised to remember the Bishops’ last words and he went away.

1. Copy and complete the following paragraph about the theme of the play in pairs:
The play deals with a _______________and __________________Bishop who is always
ready to lend a _________________hand to anyone in distress. A _________________
breaks into the Bishop’s house and is ___________________________and warmed. The benevolence of the
Bishop somewhat _____________________the convict, but, when he
sees the silver candlesticks, he ____________________ them, and runs away. However, he is
_______________________and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police
they are a _______________________________. The convict is ___________________by this kindness of the
Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the priest’s blessing.
Answer The play deals with a kind and charitable Bishop who is always ready to lend a helping hand to
anyone in distress. A convict breaks into the Bishop’s house and is fed and warmed. The benevolence of the
Bishop somewhat confounds the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he steals them, and runs
away. However, he is arrested and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the
police they are a gift. The convict is moved by this kindness of the Bishop and before he leaves he seeks the
priest’s blessing.
5. (a) Working in pairs give antonyms of the following words

kind- hearted unscrupulous forgiving stern benevolent credulous

generous pious suspicious sympathetic understanding wild
innocent penitent clever brutal cunning caring
sentimental trusting protective concerned honourable embittered
Answer (i) Kind Hearted − nasty, unkind, cruel
(ii) Unscrupulous − ethical, moral, good
(iii) Forgiving − censure, charge, punish
(iv) Stern − cheerful, funny, lenient
(v) Benevolent − greedy, malevolent, mean, selfish
(vi) Credulous − skeptical, suspecting, suspicious
(vii) Generous − greedy, mean, miserly
(viii) Pious - atheist, impious, irreligious
(ix) Suspicious − innocent, trustworthy, trusty
(x) Sympathetic − callous, merciless, uncaring, unconcerned
(xi) Understanding − misunderstanding, intolerant
(xii) Wild − civilized, controlled, delicate, gentle
(xiii) Innocent − bad, blamable, corrupt
(xiv) Penitent − happy, unashamed
(xv) Clever − awkward, foolish, idiotic, ignorant,
(xvi) Brutal − generous, humane, kind, nice
(xvii) Cunning − gullible, kind, naive
(xviii) Caring − disregarding, ignoring, neglecting
(xix) Sentimental − hard-hearted, indifferent, pragmatic, unemotional
(xx) Trusting- disagree, dispute, reject, renounce
(21) Protective − attacking, harmful, hurtful, injurious
(22) Concerned − happy, undisturbed, unperturbed
(23) Honourable − not respectful, unhonourable
(24) Embittered − pleasant, content, genial
(b) Select words from the above box to describe the characters in the play as revealed by the following lines
from the play.

Quality
Lines from the play Speaker
revealed

1. “You told him she was feeling poorly, did you? And so my brother is to be kept
out of bed, and go without his supper because you told him she was feeling poorly.”

2. __________ “take my comforter, it will keep you warm.”

3. “If people lie to me they are poorer, not I.”

4. “You are like a child. I can’t trust you out of my sight. No sooner my back is
turned than you get that minx Marie to sell the silver salt-cellars.”

5. “My dear there is so much suffering in the world, and I can do so very little.”
6. “My mother gave them to me on − on her death bed just after you were born, and
− and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so I would like to keep
them.”

7. “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.”

8. “You have your soul to lose, my son.”

9. “Give me food or I’ll stick my knife in you both and help myself.”

10. “__________they have made me what I am, they have made me a thief. God
curse them all.”

11. “Why the devil are you kind to me? What do you want?”

12. “I − I − didn’t believe there was any good in the world…but somehow I − I −
know you’re good, and − and it’s a queer thing to ask, but could you, would you
bless me before I go?”

Answer
Quality
Lines from the play Speaker
revealed

1. “You told him she was feeling poorly, did you? And so my brother is to be kept
out of bed, and go without his supper because you told him she was feeling Persome Protective
poorly.”

2. __________ “take my comforter, it will keep you warm.” Bishop Kind hearted

3. “If people lie to me they are poorer, not I.” Bishop Innocent

4. “You are like a child. I can’t trust you out of my sight. No sooner my back is
Persome Caring
turned than you get that minx Marie to sell the silver salt-cellars.”

5. “My dear there is so much suffering in the world, and I can do so very little.” Bishop Sympathetic

6. “My mother gave them to me on −on her death bed just after you were born,
and − and she asked me to keep them in remembrance of her, so I would like to Bishop Sentimental
keep them.”

7. “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” Convict Cunning

8. “You have your soul to lose, my son.” Bishop Pious

9. “Give me food or I’ll stick my knife in you both and help myself.” Convict Unscrupulous

10. “__________they have made me what I am, they have made me a thief. God
Convict Embittered
curse them all.”

11. “Why the devil are you kind to me? What do you want?” Convict Suspicious

12. “I − I − didn’t believe there was any good in the world…but somehow I − I −
know you’re good, and − and it’s a queer thing to ask, but could you, would you Convict Penitent
bless me before I go?”

6. Answer the following questions briefly

(a) Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/why not?
Answer No, the Bishop was not right in selling the salt-cellars. His own economic condition was not good and
he should have asked for Persome’s opinion before he sold the cellars, which belonged to her too.
From another point of view the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars as he wanted to give the money he got
from selling the cellars to Mere Gringoire who could not give rent to the landlord on time and was about to face
eviction. The Bishop was very broadminded as he could empathise with the condition of Mere Gringoire and
chose to do away with the salt cellars. The Bishop felt that one could eat salt out of china as well.
(b) Why does Persome feel the people pretend to be sick?
Answer Persome is protective and wishes to maintain the household. She is pained to see that the entire
humanity is turning upon them for charity and benevolence. She feels people like Marie’s mother pretend to be
sick and take undue advantage of the Bishop.
(c) Who was Jeanette? What was the cause of her death?
Answer Jeanette was the convict’s wife. She died due to illness and starvation.
(d) The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does he mean by this statement?
Answer The convict has suffered, he is embittered, he is experienced. So he couldn’t be tricked. He ordered the
Bishop to stay put because he couldn’t trust anyone not to report to the police and get him arrested.
(e) Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
Answer The convict was sent to prison for stealing a loaf of bread. He was sentenced to ten years in a prison
hulk.
(f) Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/ why not? Why is the convict eager to
reach Paris?
Answer The punishment given to the convict was not justified. It is too inhuman for someone who was caught
stealing just to feed his sick wife. He was guilty of stealing only to feed his wife who was dying of starvation.
But they showed him no mercy and treated him like a beast. They chained him like a wild animal, lashed him
like a hound and fed him filth. He was covered with vermin and had to sleep on boards. This kind of treatment is
inhuman and not justified.
The convict is eager to reach Paris because it was a big city and the Police would never be able to find him
there.
(g) Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this change in him?
Answer The Bishop’s benevolent, kind and caring attitude had brought about a change in the convict. That is
why before leaving for Paris, he asks the Bishop to bless him.
7. Read the following extract and answer the questions that follow by choosing the
correct options.
A. Monseigneur the Bishop is a ------------ahem!’
(a) Why does Persome not complete the sentence?
(i) she used to stammer while speaking.
(ii) she was about to praise the Bishop.
(iii) she did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(iv)she had a habit of passing such remarks.
Answer (iii) She did not wish to criticise the Bishop in front of Marie.
(b) Why is she angry with the Bishop?
(i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
(ii) The Bishop has gone to visit Mere Gringoire.
(iii) He showed extra concern for Marie.
(iv) She disliked the Bishop.
Answer (i) The Bishop has sold her salt-cellars.
B. ‘She sent little Jean to Monseigneur to ask for help, and—’
(a) Who sent little Jean to the Bishop?
(i) Mere Gringoire
(ii) Marie
(iii) Persome
(iv) Marie's mother
Answer (i) Mere Gringoire

(b) Why did she send Jean to the Bishop?

(i) so that he could pray for her
(ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
(iii) as she was a greedy woman
(iv) as she was a poor woman
Answer (ii) as she knew that he was a generous person
C. ‘I offered to take her in here for a day or two, but she seemed to think it might distress you.”
The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.
(a) The Bishop wanted to take Mere Grngoire in because _________.
(i) she was sick
(ii) she had no money
(iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(iv) she was a close friend of Persome
Answer (iii) she was unable to pay the rent of her house
(b) Persome would be distressed on Mere Gringoire's being taken in because ________.
(i) she did not want to help anyone
(ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
(iii) she was a self-centred person
(iv) she would be put to a great deal of inconvenience
Answer (ii) she felt that Mere Gringoire was taking undue advantage of the Bishop
9. Identify the situations which be termed as the turning points in the convict's life?
Answer The Convict, when was caught and brought to the Bishop’s house, was asked to be released by the
Bishop saying that he is a friend to him. The Bishop also gives him his mother’s only memory i.e. candle-sticks.
This entire incidence makes convict believe that there still exists humanity. This is the turning point in the
convict’s life.
Important

Question (1): Who are Marie and Persome?

Answer: Marie is a young girl who comes to help in the housework. Persome is the Bishop's sister.
Question (2): Where had the Bishop gone? Why was he late for supper?
Answer: The Bishop had gone to Marie's house to look up her mother as she was unwell.
Question (3): What had happened to the salt cellars?
Answer: Mere Gringoire was an old lady who was unable to pay the house rent. The Bishop asked Marie to sell
the salt cellar for him. He used the money to pay off the poor woman's house rent.
Question (4): What did the convict first ask for?
Answer: He asked for some food.
Question (5): What does the convict tell him about his life before imprisonment?
Answer: He had a cottage with vines growing. He had a wife but she was ill. They had a bad year and there was
no food to eat. He had to steal some food for her.
Question (6): What treatment did the convict receive in prison?
Answer: The convict received inhuman treatment. They whipped him, fed him with unhealthy food, made him
sleep on cold hard boards.
Question (7): What effect did such inhuman treatment have on the convict?
Answer: The convict felt hurt and afraid. Soon they broke down his spirit. He became just a number and forgot
his earlier life. He even lost the ability to pray, for he says, he lost his soul.
Question (8): What happened to him after his escape from jail?
Answer: The wardens were looking for him. He had nowhere to go, no food to eat. He even had to steal the
clothes that he was wearing.
Question (9): How does the Bishop and Persome react when they learn that the candlesticks are stolen?
Answer: Persome reacts violently. She shouts and is very upset. The Bishop is also upset but he blames himself
for exposing the convict to the temptation.
Question (10): What does the Bishop tell the sergeant?
Answer: The sergeant sees the convict moving stealthily and arrests him. He brings the convict along with the
stolen candlesticks to the Bishop's house. But the Bishop tells him that the convict is his friend and the silver
candlesticks were a gift from him.
Question (11): What significant role did the Bishop's Candlesticks play?
Answer: The candle sticks were a dying gift from the Bishop's mother. They reminded him of her. But when the
convict received them as a gift, they become symbols of hope and life. The convict would now believe in the
goodness of life and lead a steady life