THE BISHOP’S
CANDLESTICKS
BY NORMAN MCKINNELL
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”
CHARACTERS
1.The Bishop
2.The Convict
3.Persome,the Bishop’s sister
4.Marie
5.Sergent of Gendarmes
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.
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
PRESENTATION BY:
SOURAV SEMALTI
9TH C
40

The bishop’s candlesticks PPT

  • 1.
  • 2.
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR NormanMckinnel (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,theBishop’s sister 4.Marie 5.Sergent of Gendarmes
  • 4.
    MESSAGE TO READERS Theplays ‘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.
  • 6.
    The Bishop isa 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 inthe 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 ismoved 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 isdeeply 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.