question_answer

     Compare and contrast Henry's character with that of his wife. Support your answer with evidence from the play.                                                  

Answer:

                  From the very beginning of the drama, we listen to the conversation between Henry and his wife (Amelia). Henry's wife (Mrs Slater) is a woman of dominating nature. In the beginning she says, "I am not satisfied, but it is the best we can do till our new blacks are ready and Ben and Elizabeth will never have thought about mourning yet, so we shall outshine them there". These words show her showy nature. Henry's character does not show such weakness. Mrs Slater is greedy also and wants to remove the bureau and the clock as early as possible. Although Henry helps his wife in shifting the bureau, yet he does not like this himself. He says to his wife, "You must arrange with Elizabeth when you are dividing things up." It shows that Henry and his wife's character are widely different. Mrs Slater does not give respect to moral values. She is highly insensitive and greedy. She wants to collect more and more things and wealth. Her husband is a weak-natured person. He cannot raise his voice against his wife and follows her orders.