THE BISHOP’S CANDLESTICKS

By Norman Mckinnell

Norman Mckinnel (1870-1932)was an actor and a dramatist, As a playwright he is known for the play “Bishop’s candlesticks”

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

1.The Bishop 2.The Convict 3.Persome,the Bishop’s sister 4.Marie 5.Sergent of Gendarmes

CHARACTERS

The plays ‘The Bishop’s Candlesticks’ conveys a

number of messages to the readers. It explains that empathy is one of the most important features that a man should possess. Everybody should be given a second chance just like the Bishop gave a the convict a chance to improve his life. The plays also exemplifies the power of love ,kindness and benevolence in transforming a person. We should always hate the sin and not the sinner. Optimism is the key to better relationships and a well developed society.

Message to readers

Summary

The Bishop is a noble and kind hearted soul who lives with his sister Persome. The Bishop is always ready to help anyone in distress. The doors of his house are always open for the poor and the needy. He has donated everything except Candlesticks gifted by his dying mother.

 The Bishop’s sister Persome feels that most people take advantage of his simplicity and nobility. In her opinion, he is often cheated and misused of his generosity. One such occasion is Mere Gringoire; the old woman who lives on the top of the hill and does no work. He is made to pay for an old lady’s house rent by selling his salt-cellars.

One day in the midnight the Bishop sits to read. A convict enters the Bishop’s house and asks for food at the point of his knife. He threatens to kill the Bishop if he tries to call out. The convict is rude, hard-hearted, rough and suspicious and full of fear. The Bishop calls Persome to open the cupboard. He treats him with kindness and provides him cold pie, wine, and bread to eat.

The convict tells his painful story. He tells convict that he has lived in the prison for ten years. His wife, Jeanette was ill and dying of hunger. He stole a piece of bread for his wife but was arrested soon. He was sentenced to 10 years imprisonment. While in the jail, he was informed that his dear wife had died. He lived in the Hell for ten long years and had broken the prison and came out.

The Bishop is moved on hearing the convict’s story and asks

him to sleep in his house and assures no harm would come to him. Saying this, the Bishop goes inside to sleep. The convict happens to see the candle sticks on the mantel piece. He was told before by the Bishop that they were given by his mother. Unable to resist the temptation, the convict steals them and runs away.

When Persome and the Bishop get up the next morning, they find the candlestick missing. There is knocking at the door. A sergeant enters with three soldiers and the convict. They tell him that the convict is walking on the road with the candle sticks and arrest him on suspicion. They remember the candlesticks of the Bishop and so they bring the silver candle sticks there to get identified. Though the candlesticks are very dear to the Bishop as it is the parting gift presented to him by his mother, the Bishops saves the convict from going to hell by telling he has gifted them to the convict and calls convict his friend.

The convict is deeply touched by the noble gesture and generosity of the Bishop. Now, he is full of repentance and asks for the Bishop’s blessings. The Bishop gives him the candlesticks and shows him a secret road to Paris. The convict’s human values and human goodness are restored due to the noble act of the Bishop. The convict becomes a man again and leads an honest living in Paris

Made by Anzar Shah

“43” 9th c