Summary of “A Matter of Husbands” by Ferenc Molnar
"A Matter of Husbands" by Ferenc Molnar is a one-act play that takes place in the drawing room of a famous Hungarian actress. The play opens with the Earnest Young Woman nervously waiting in the actress's apartment. She is dressed modestly and appears distraught. When the Famous Actress enters, the Earnest Young Woman implores her to give back her husband, Alfred, who is the actress's manager's lawyer.
The Famous Actress is puzzled by the request and denies any involvement with Alfred. She explains that she knows him professionally and has never received any romantic gestures from him. She suggests that Alfred may have pretended to have an affair with her to incite jealousy in the Earnest Young Woman and rekindle their love.
As the conversation unfolds, the Famous Actress reveals that she has encountered similar situations before, where men associated with the theatre use actresses to make their estranged wives jealous. She explains that actresses are often targets for such schemes due to their glamour and allure. The Earnest Young Woman, feeling foolish and inadequate compared to the actress's charm, slowly starts to believe that her husband's actions were a ruse.
The Famous Actress advises the Earnest Young Woman not to be deceived again, no matter what she may find in Alfred's possessions. The Earnest Young Woman is grateful for the insight and leaves, believing that she can trust her husband again.
After the Earnest Young Woman's departure, the Famous Actress calls out to Alfred, who has been hiding in her boudoir during the entire conversation. The revelation suggests that the Famous Actress and Alfred might indeed have a secret relationship, and her previous explanations were a cover-up.
The play explores themes of jealousy, deception, and the complexities of relationships. It delves into the perception of actresses as alluring and the idea of using theatrics to manipulate emotions. The ending adds a twist, leaving the audience questioning the truth and the Famous Actress's true intentions.
Overall, "A Matter of Husbands" presents a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of human emotions and the intricacies of romantic relationships.
Answer the following questions.
a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress?
Ans: The Earnest Young Woman asks The Famous Actress to give her back her husband, Alfred. She implores The Famous Actress to return Alfred to her, believing that The Famous Actress has taken him from her. The Earnest Young Woman is emotionally distressed and seeks The Famous Actress's help in reclaiming her husband.
b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous Actress?
Ans: According to The Earnest Young Woman, the indications that her husband, Alfred, has fallen in love with The Famous Actress include him sending her flowers regularly, a letter in which he expresses affection and apologizes for not being able to meet her at the theatre during a night, and a lock of hair that belongs to Famous Actress.
c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How?
Ans: Yes, Earnest Young Woman is convinced by the argument of Famous Actress. When Famous Actress explains that it is a common tactic for men related to theatre to invent love affairs with actresses to make their wives jealous and rekindle their interest, Earnest Young Woman gets convinced. She believes that her husband's actions may have been a ploy to regain her affections rather than an actual love affair with Famous Actress.
d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding himself as they are talking about him?
Ans: The husband, Alfred, is not physically present in the scene while The Famous Actress and The Earnest Young Woman are talking about him. He has been hiding in Famous Actress’s boudoir during this specific conversation.
e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at acting?
Ans: I feel Famous Actress is really good at acting when she calmly and graciously addresses Earnest Young Woman's accusations and explains the situation with poise and understanding. Her ability to handle the emotional situation with empathy and composure demonstrates her skill as an actress. The end of the play when she calls Alfred to come out proves her acting prowess.
f. How do we come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love?
Ans: Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman’s love is confirmed at the end of the play when he is asked to come out of the boudoir at the end of the play.
g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.
Ans: "A Matter of Husbands" is a dialogue-driven play set in the drawing room of a famous Hungarian actress. The scene unfolds with an Earnest Young Woman emotionally distressed, believing that the actress has taken her husband, Alfred, from her. She implores The Famous Actress to give him back. As they converse, The Famous Actress calmly denies any involvement with Alfred and explains that he may have fabricated a love affair to make his wife jealous and revive their relationship. The Earnest Young Woman eventually realizes her misunderstanding and expresses gratitude to The Famous Actress for setting the record straight. The play explores themes of jealousy, trust, and appearances, with the theatre setting adding an intriguing backdrop to the dialogue-driven narrative.
Reference to the context
a. Sketch the character of Famous Actress.
Ans: The Famous Actress is portrayed as a confident and self-assured woman. She exudes grace and composure throughout the conversation with the Earnest Young Woman, even in the face of emotional accusations. At the same time, she is sly enough to hide her affair with the Earnest Young Woman’s husband. She pretends to display a level of empathy and kindness towards the Earnest Young Woman, manipulating her to believe that her husband has invented a fake love affair to regain the affection from her. However, she is also shown to have a good sense of humour, making light-hearted comments about her own experiences with men using her name to make their wives jealous. Overall, the Famous Actress is depicted as a cunning and level-headed individual, providing a contrast to the Earnest Young Woman's emotional turmoil.
b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress.
Ans: The conversation between the Famous Actress and the Earnest Young Woman sheds light on some perceived differences between ordinary women and actresses. An actress always stays in the limelight as they have cosmetics and bright lights to make them seem beautiful. An author's lines to make them seem witty and wise. However, an ordinary woman lives in simple dresses without any make-ups, and in her unstudied ways. In reality an actress may be more stupid than an ordinary woman, but when it comes to alluring men an ordinary woman cannot compete with an actress.
c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?
Ans: No, I do not agree with her argument that men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. It is because this method can rather destroy relationships than repair them. While it may be true that some men associated with the theatre might use the names of actresses to manipulate their wives, it is not fair to generalise this behaviour to all men. People in any profession can resort to manipulative tactics to save their relationships, but it is not an inherent trait of theatre-associated men or actresses. (Note: You may agree with this argument too.)
d. How does Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman?
Ans: It is evident that Famous Actress is in an affair with Earnest Young Woman’s husband, Alfred. However she makes a fool of Earnest Young Woman by making her believe that it has been merely a misunderstanding that Alfred has fallen in love with her. When Earnest Young Woman implores to give her husband back, Famous Actress calmly denies any involvement with Alfred, explains that he might have used her name to make his wife jealous, and shares her own experiences with similar situations. Through this she succeeds in manipulating Earnest Young Woman by making her believe that it is her mistake to blame for the affair rather she has been a fool due to her own emotional turmoil and assumptions.
e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house as a part of setting play in A Matter for Husband?
Ans: The theatre setting serves as a significant backdrop for the play. It symbolises the world of illusion and deception. The theatre house as setting plays an essential role in "A Matter for Husband '' for several reasons. Firstly, it directly supports the theme of this play. This play is about the illusion created by an actress through her acting skills and her deception to Earnest Young Woman, and theatre as a symbol supports this idea. Secondly, it highlights the metatheatrical elements (theatre or something related to theatre is directly a part of the play) of this play. Theatre as a setting allows the Famous Actress, who is a theatre performer herself, to share insights into the theatre world and the dynamics of relationships within that context. And lastly, it also adds an aura of glamour and exoticism to the setting, suggesting the world of fame and artistry associated with Famous Actress.
f. What do you think about the ending of the play?
I think the ending of the play is astonishing as it reveals that the Earnest Young Woman's suspicion was, in fact, correct. Alfred, her husband, was hiding in the Famous Actress's boudoir during their conversation. This twist ending adds a layer of complexity to the story, implying that the Famous Actress might have been deceiving the Earnest Young Woman after all. The revelation creates a sense of ambiguity and leaves the audience to ponder the true nature of Alfred and the Famous Actress's relationship. It also challenges the audience's perception of the Famous Actress's character and intentions throughout the play. The ending adds a touch of intrigue, raising questions about the authenticity of the Famous Actress's previous explanations and advice.
a. Write a paragraph describing your favourite actor/actress.
Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman
My favourite is Zendaya Maree Stoermer Coleman, who is a multi-talented American actress, singer, and model. Born on September 1, 1996, she rose to prominence with her breakthrough role as Rocky Blue in the Disney Channel series "Shake It Up." Since then, Zendaya has captivated audiences with her exceptional acting skills and captivating on-screen presence. Her versatility and ability to portray complex characters have earned her critical acclaim and a loyal fan base. Beyond her acting career, Zendaya is also known for her advocacy on social issues and her unapologetic stance on promoting diversity and inclusion in the entertainment industry. With her natural beauty, charisma, and empowering personality, Zendaya has become an inspiring role model for many, making her a prominent figure in contemporary Hollywood.
b. John Cassavetes says, “I’m very worried about the depiction of women on the screen. It’s gotten worse than ever and it’s related to their being either high- or low-class concubines . . . . There’s nothing to do with the dreams of women, or of woman as the dream, nothing to do with the quirky part of her, the wonder of her.” How do you assess Famous Actress in the light of Cassavetes’ argument about the portrayal of women?
Ans: Cassavetes expresses concern about the limited and stereotypical portrayal of women in media, being reduced to either high-class or low-class concubines. He emphasises the lack of depth in representing the dreams, complexities, and wonders of women. The Famous Actress in the play does fit the mould of a successful, glamorous woman in the entertainment industry. However, it's important to note that she is portrayed in a satirical manner within the context of the play.
The Famous Actress is depicted as a sophisticated and experienced woman, who is well-versed in the world of theatre and the tricks played by men to manipulate their partners. She reveals that men often create false love affairs with actresses to make their wives jealous and rekindle their relationships. While this portrayal does align with Cassavetes' argument that women are often depicted as objects of desire or tools to manipulate emotions, the play does not necessarily endorse or glorify such representations.
Instead, the Famous Actress's character serves as a reflection of the stereotype that exists in society and highlights the absurdity of such manipulative tactics. Through her character, the play addresses the lack of genuine understanding and empathy between spouses, and how misunderstandings can arise due to societal perceptions and prejudices.
In this light, "A Matter of Husband" does touch upon the concerns raised by Cassavetes about the portrayal of women on the screen. It showcases how women may be perceived as objects of desire or symbols of unattainable beauty, rather than being portrayed as multi-dimensional individuals with their dreams, ambitions, and complexities. The play encourages the audience to question these stereotypes and the roles assigned to women in society, even within the realm of entertainment.
Comments
Post a Comment