On The Face Of It Summary

Writing a summary is a skill, requiring the ability to discern and encapsulate the main themes, characters, and events of a work succinctly. “On the Face of It,” a play by Susan Hill, presents an intricate narrative ripe for this exercise. The play, set in the English countryside, unfolds the poignant story of Derry, a disfigured young boy, and his unlikely friendship with Mr. Lamb, an elderly man with his own physical affliction.

In the task of summarizing Hill’s play, one must capture the essence of the characters’ interactions, the evolution of their relationship, and the broader themes concerning prejudice, isolation, and the human condition.

Understanding the Characters and Setting

To begin, a comprehensive understanding of the characters is crucial. Derry, the fourteen-year-old protagonist, has a severely scarred face from a burn, which subjects him to the cruelty of stares, whispers, and isolation. This has embittered him, leading to an outlook on life that is defensively pessimistic. Conversely, Mr. Lamb is an older man who lost a leg in the war and lives alone but with an open and accepting attitude towards life and his disability.

Their meeting occurs in Mr. Lamb’s garden, a place teeming with life and symbolic of Mr. Lamb’s philosophy of finding beauty and purpose in every aspect of existence, despite its imperfections.

Identifying the Main Points

The main points to convey in a summary of “On the Face of It” are the initial interactions between Derry and Mr. Lamb, the development of their friendship, and the play’s climax and resolution.

The play’s dialogue-driven narrative provides insight into both characters’ psyches, with Derry’s distrust and anger juxtaposed against Mr. Lamb’s optimism and wisdom. The garden setting serves as a metaphorical battleground for these conflicting worldviews, with Derry’s eventual transformation being the prize.

Capturing the Emotional Essence

In summarizing the play, capturing the emotional essence is paramount. The pain and vulnerability behind Derry’s aggressive defenses must be communicated, as well as the genuine concern and unguarded demeanor of Mr. Lamb. Their conversations, which touch on themes of death, fear, loneliness, and acceptance, are the heartbeats of the play.

Writing Clearly and Concisely

Clear and concise writing is the backbone of a successful summary. The language should be pared down to its most potent form, delivering the narrative’s weight without the embellishment of the full script. This is achieved by focusing on the dialogue’s substance, the action’s intent, and the narrative’s emotional trajectory.

Maintaining Objectivity

While “On the Face of It” is a deeply emotional play, maintaining objectivity is essential in a summary. The aim is to present the characters, their development, and the thematic concerns without personal bias, allowing the reader to absorb the narrative’s raw facts.

Organizing the Summary

Organize the summary to reflect the play’s unfolding events coherently. Introduce Derry and Mr. Lamb, describe their initial encounter, detail the progression of their dialogue, and conclude with the impact of their interaction on each other’s outlook.

Paraphrasing and Using Direct Quotes

Use your own words to convey the story, but don’t shy away from including a few direct quotes if they are pivotal to understanding a character’s sentiment or the play’s theme. Keep these to a minimum and ensure they serve the summary’s purpose.

Including Key Scenes

While brevity is key, it may be necessary to include brief descriptions of a few critical scenes. For instance, the moment Derry first hears Mr. Lamb’s philosophy on life or when Derry returns to the garden after a pivotal reflection can be briefly recounted to illustrate the significant turning points.

Crafting a Strong Opening

Begin the summary by setting the scene and introducing the central conflict. A strong opening might read: “In Susan Hill’s ‘On the Face of It,’ a disfigured boy named Derry meets Mr. Lamb, an elderly man with a missing leg, in a lush garden that becomes the stage for a profound exchange on the nature of difference and acceptance.”

Avoiding Common Pitfalls

Avoid the pitfalls of overgeneralization, which could strip the narrative of its nuanced dialogue and character development. Also, steer clear of interpreting or evaluating the play’s messages within the summary.

Revising for Precision

After drafting your summary, refine it for precision and fluency. It should accurately reflect the play’s plot and themes while remaining engaging and readable.

Testing the Summary

A good test of the summary’s effectiveness is whether someone who has not read the play can grasp its central narrative and the evolution of the characters. If not, adjustments are needed to clarify or emphasize the main points.

Concluding the Summary

End with a statement that encapsulates the play’s conclusion or the state of the characters at the end. For “On the Face of It,” a fitting conclusion might be: “Through their serendipitous friendship, Derry and Mr. Lamb unravel the complexities of human perception and the power of empathy, leaving a lingering question on the consequences of facing the world with an open heart versus a guarded one.”

Summary of “On the Face of It” by Susan Hill

In Susan Hill’s moving play “On the Face of It,” the audience is introduced to the world through the eyes of Derry, a fourteen-year-old boy whose face was horrifically scarred by acid, and Mr. Lamb, an elderly man who has lost a leg and lives in contented solitude. The story takes place in Mr. Lamb’s garden, a verdant and nurturing space symbolic of Mr. Lamb’s perspective on life.

Derry, while trespassing in Mr. Lamb’s garden, is initially wary and hostile, conditioned by a society that recoils at the sight of his scars. Mr. Lamb, unfazed by Derry’s appearance, engages the boy in conversation, sharing his optimistic worldview that life, like his garden, is to be accepted in all its diversity and unpredictability.

Their dialogue ebbs and flows, delving into themes of alienation, fear, and the human yearning for connection. Mr. Lamb challenges Derry’s belief that his life is over because of his disfigurement, instilling in him the idea that beauty and meaning can be found even in the most unlikely places. He shares his love for the natural world, his acceptance of his disability, and his refusal to be limited by it, encouraging Derry to see beyond the surface of things.

The play’s climax is reached as Derry confronts his deepest insecurities and fears, influenced by Mr. Lamb’s words but still grappling with society’s rejection. The resolution is poignant and thought-provoking, with Derry’s transformation not fully realized but certainly set into motion. He must choose whether to embrace Mr. Lamb’s outlook or to continue hiding from a world that he believes will never accept him.

“On the Face of It” is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of unexpected friendship. It confronts the audience with the harsh realities of prejudice and the beauty that can arise from understanding and acceptance. Through their serendipitous friendship, Derry and Mr. Lamb unravel the complexities of human perception and the power of empathy, leaving a lingering question on the consequences of facing the world with an open heart versus a guarded one.