Class 12 Chapter 5(Vistas)

🌈Chapter 5 

🎲On the face of it 

Author: Susan Hill

✍️ Introduction about the Author  

Susan Hill (Born 1942) is an English author best known for her ghost stories (The Woman in Black). On the Face of It is a touching play about overcoming prejudices, focusing on two characters with physical disabilities who form an unlikely friendship.  

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🎭 Themes 

• Perception vs. Reality – Judging others based on appearances.  
• Isolation & Loneliness – How disabilities can make people feel alone.  
• Friendship & Hope – Finding connection despite differences.  
• Resilience – Learning to live with challenges.  
• Fear of Rejection – How society treats people with disabilities.  

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👥 Character Sketch  

• Mr. Lamb  

   - An old man with a tin leg (lost in war).  

   - Optimistic, wise, and kind – sees beauty in everything.  

   - Lives alone but does not feel lonely . 

   - Represents acceptance and inner strength.  

• Derry

   - A 14-year-old boy with a burnt face (acid attack).  

   - Angry, withdrawn, and insecure – fears people’s stares.  

   - Slowly learns confidence from Mr. Lamb.  

   - Represents youthful struggle with self-image.  

• Society (Unseen Characters)

   - People who mock or pity Derry and Mr. Lamb.  

   - Symbolizes judgmental attitudes. 

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📖 Summary 

- Derry accidentally enters Mr. Lamb’s garden, thinking it’s empty.  

- Mr. Lamb welcomes him, but Derry is rude and defensive.  

- They talk about fear, loneliness, and life’s struggles.

- Mr. Lamb shares his positive outlook ("Bees don’t care how I look").  

- Derry starts opening up, feeling hopeful.  

- Derry’s mother warns him against Mr. Lamb, but he returns anyway.  

- Tragically, Mr. Lamb dies (falls from ladder), leaving Derry heartbroken but stronger. 

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💬 Key Quotations

• "It’s not what you look like, it’s what you are inside." – Mr. Lamb’s life lesson.  
• "People are afraid of me. They stare. They call me ugly." – Derry’s pain.  
• "The world’s got a whole face, and the world’s there to be looked at." – Mr. Lamb’s wisdom.  
• "I’m not afraid. Not anymore." – Derry’s transformation.  
• "You’ve got a friend now." – Hope in friendship.  

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🔚 Conclusion

The play teaches that true strength comes from within and human connection heals wounds deeper than physical scars.  

💡 Moral:

"Don’t judge a book by its cover – everyone has a story."*  

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