About the author:

Ruskin Bond, often considered as one of India’s best – loved and most prolific writers, has been writing

novels, poetry, essays and short stories for almost half a century now. Apart from this, over the years he

has expertly compiled and edited a number of anthologies. For his outstanding literary contribution, he

was awarded the John Llewellyn Rhys Memorial Prize in 1957, the Sahitya Akademi Award in 1992 (for

English writing in India) and the Padma Shri in 1999.

Introduction to the text:

Using his imitable simplistic style of writing, Ruskin Bond adroitly represents lifes’ realities. He presents

a critique on the rampant materialism in society where familial love is considered inconsequential. He

also elaborates on the privileges enjoyed by the British nationals during the time of the British Raj, where

they were considered to be above the law of the land. Through his narrative he elaborates on the finer

nuances of human nature and motivation.

Themes for discussion:

- Materialism in society overpowering family values and ethics.

- Perception of an individual versus reality.

Comprehension Questions:

1. Ruskin Bonds’ short story overhauls the conventional representation of family values.

Comment.

- Overhaul means taking apart something in order to examine it

- The conventional family values are questioned

 - Conventional family values – loving and dedicated husband and wife, fidelity in

marriage life, love and concern for family members, importance to relationship with

people than love for money, adults being role models to children

- All these are questioned

- The behavior and attitude of William Jones and Mrs. Browning – no love or fidelity

towards their spouses – killed them for their selfish trivial physical pleasures / Gave

no thoughts towards their other family members or even the society

- William jones had no love or concern for family members – did not think about the

repercussions of his actions on his family members namely his mother, his sister and

the his young cousin Rusty

- William Jones did not love his sister as well – after coming out of jail, he moved to

South Africa to be with his sister and doing odd jobs to survive – his sister and her

husband who owned a farm there died due to some illness (the doubt of them being

murdered by William Jones ) – possible that he killed them for money

- Comes to meet Rusty – the young cousin who has grown up to be a successful writer

– doesn’t come to meet him out of love but with the intention of killing him and

getting whatever money and the royalty he gets for his book

- William Jones is not a person who a young boy like Rusty can take as his role model

2. Elucidate on how the narrative reads like a critique on materialistic society.

- The whole story is a critique ( a detailed analysis and assessment) on the materialistic

society

- Materialistic refers to giving high importance to money

 - The central character William Jones is highly materialistic in nature

- He loves fame, money and physical comfort more than people

- He kills his patients but manages to be around his victims and their gets family

without guilt. – enjoys the fame

- Kills his own sister and her husband for money

- Intends to kill his cousin for his estate and royalty

- Through the character of William Jones, the writer makes the readers to analyse an

assess the things which people give importance to

3. ‘He said it with arsenic’ with its representation of British and Anglo-Indian characters

depicts the bygone era of the British Raj. Comment citing suitable examples.

- The story is a representation of British & Anglo-Indian Characters of the bygone era

of British Raj

- The names of characters are all English

- The temperament of the characters are foreign to Indian temperament

- It is Anglo-Indian as it represents the certain Indian characteristics as well

- Quote lines from text to support these ideas

4. “It seemed the only decent thing to do.” Elucidate on the significance of the statement

and substantiate with suitable examples.

- Said by Willaim Jones when rusty asks him why he drank the poisoned sherry

- William who came to visit Rusty stayed with him – one evening invited him to a glass

of sherry – Rusty knowing the nature of William was suspicious and his doubts
 became very sure when William took more than the required time to fill the glasses

with sherry and bring it

- Rusty turned the plate round making the glass meant for him to be on the side of

William saying that it brings luck - when William too does the same, Rusty says the

luck is reversed and again turns the plate round and takes the glass on his side and

drinks it

- William had no other choice but to drink from the glass meant for Rusty and falls

very sickalmost dying

- When Rusty questions him why he drank the replied that it was the decent thing to do

– after offering the drink to Rusty, as per etiquette he cannot go back and refuse to

drink

5. Justify the suitability of the title ‘He said it with Arsenic’.

- William jones is a strange character

- He loved money and comfort

- He loved to kill people and was even described as a born murderer

- He is a man ofless words and more of actions – he always did rather than speak

- His action was mainly killing people who stood on the way of his goal

- To kill he used arsenic – so the title he said it with arsenic

Very appropriate to the story