Comprehension
Q1]Aunt Jane thought that she had given away 2000 pounds instead of 200 pounde
What made her think so?
A]Jack and his wife Jill told their aunt Jane that they had got the furniture, the car, the piano, the refrigerator and the radio. At first, Aunt Jane, thought that it was wonderfu to have all those things as they were still very young. Then started worrying. She thought whether she had given them the cheque for 2000 pounds instead of 200 pounde by mistake. She doubted that they could have bought those things with the cheque given by her for their wedding present.
Q2]What surprised Aunt Jane most ? Why ?
A]Aunt Jane thought that the young couple’s house cost a great deal for rent as it was very lovely. But Jack told her that they didn’t pay rent because the house was theirs She couldn’t believe her eyes and ears. Thus, Jack’s reply surprised Aunt Jane most She couldn’t understand how they could get that lovely house.
Q3]”And the piano? … And the furniture?” What do these questions suggest?
A]These questions suggest Aunt Jane’s astonishment at the news that Jack and Jill owned
all the things on easy instalment basis.
Q4]Would you buy so many things if you were Jack ? Why ?
A]If I were Jack, I wouldn’t buy so many things. I don’t want to buy anything on instalment basis as I have to pay an additional amount of money towards interest. I don’t want to be a borrower. “Cash down and carry the thing” is my motto. The thing will belong to us when only we pay off all the instalments.
Q5]Who do you think first understood Aunt Jane ? Substantiate your answer.
A]I think Jill first understood Aunt Jane. When she was leaving the young couple, Aunt
Jane gave them a cheque with 10 pounds and advised them to pay off just one of their
bills so that one thing at least really belonged to them. As soon as Jack went along with
Aunt Jane to see her to the bus, Jill sent the cheque off to Dr. Martin to own the baby
as early as possible. When Jack asked her why she had wasted good money on the
doctor, Jill replied that the baby would be really theirs if they paid just one more
instalment. Thus Jill understood Aunt Jane and wanted to own the baby.
Q6]What would you have done with the 10 pounds if you were Jack/Jill ?
A]If I were Jack/Jill, I would have paid off just one of the bills as at least one thing could
belong to me.
Q7]Did your parents buy anything by an easy instalment scheme ? Do you support o
oppose this scheme ? Why ?
A]Yes, my parents bought a TV and a bike through instalment scheme. I don’t supp this instalment scheme. Buying things on instalment basis keeps us permanently debt. When we observe the calculation, we have to pay more for the things we on instalment scheme. The fact is that an additional amount of money is required rchase pay towards interest. If we buy many things on instalment basis, we have to pay off more and more money towards instalments. When we can’t pay off them, we have to borrow money from another moneylender. Thus we have to face financial problems. Hence, I oppose the instalment scheme.
Q8]Write a critical review of the play, ‘The Never-Never Nest’ bringing out the point of
view of the writer.
A]The play is didactic and thematic. It is a well-knit play with a little exaggeration to teach
a message that “Buying things on installment scheme is uneconomic and it leads to
insolvency and mental depression.” Satire, humour, exaggeration and wit and irony are
the literary devices efficiently used in this mono-act. The play satisfies all the
characteristics of one-act play. Moreover the theme of the play is relevant for today. Jack and Jill were a young couple who had a small baby. Jack was an easy going personality who loved pleasures and comforts. Jill was a housewife. She was innocent. She was not so clever that she could not warn her husband about the financial insoivency in which they had to submerge because of buying all the things on installment basis. One day Aunt Jane visited their house. She was at first surprised how could they buy such a beautiful villa and all the other things such as car, refrigerator, piano with the small income they would earn. She was a clever and practical woman. She says that if she were in their place she would not buy all the things on the installment basis. She was such a practical woman at first she supported their decision of buying a house on installment basis. She justifies that it was uneconomic to pay rent for the house when one could buy house on installment basis. But she opposed their decision of buying all the things on installment basis. She was astonished when she heard that they borrowed money on installment basis for repaying the installments from Thrift and Providence Trust Corporation. She told them that she had never owed a penny in her life – and cash down was her motto. She advised them to buy things on outright basis but not on installment basis. She left their home by giving them a cheque of ten pounds and advised them to pay off at least one of their bills. Jack went along with her to see her off. Mean while Jane sent that cheque of ten pounds to the doctor to whom they had to pay. Jack returned and asked about it. Jane told him if they paid one more installment the baby could be their own. It arouses sympathy in the minds of the audience.
