The play tells the story of a bishop known for his kindness and generosity. One night, a convict breaks into the bishop's home, but the bishop treats him with compassion instead of anger. When the convict's story of hardship and loss is revealed, the bishop allows him to stay and feels empathy for him. The next day, the convict steals the bishop's prized candlesticks before leaving. When caught by police, the bishop claims he gifted the candlesticks to spare the convict further punishment, showing great forgiveness. The bishop's noble act transforms the convict, allowing him to begin a new, honest life.

1. BY NORMAN MCKINNELL
THE BISHOP’S
CANDLESTICKS

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

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

4. MESSAGE TO READERS
• 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.

5. •Summary

6. 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.

7. • 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.

8. • 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.

9. 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

10. •Made by Anzar Shah
•“43”
• 9th c