ON THE FACE OF IT SUSAN HILL

 

The play begins in the beautiful garden of Mr. Lamb, an old man who lives alone. The garden is full of flowers, fruits, bees, birds, and plants. One afternoon, a fourteen-year-old boy named Derry secretly climbs over the garden wall and enters the garden without permission. He believes no one is at home and wants to spend some time alone.

However, Mr. Lamb notices him and speaks kindly. Derry gets frightened and apologizes for entering without permission. Mr. Lamb calmly tells him that the garden wall is there only to keep people out if they choose not to enter through the gate, but visitors are always welcome. His warm and friendly attitude surprises Derry.

Derry has a badly burnt face. One side of his face was damaged by acid, leaving deep scars. Because of his appearance, people often stare at him, pity him, or avoid him. He feels rejected and believes that everyone hates him. He has become lonely, bitter, and suspicious of other people. He thinks that life has treated him unfairly and that he can never live a normal life.

Mr. Lamb, on the other hand, has lost one of his legs in an accident during the war. He walks with the help of an artificial leg. Despite his disability, he remains cheerful, optimistic, and full of enthusiasm for life. He does not allow his physical limitation to control his happiness. Instead, he enjoys nature, talks to people, and appreciates every moment of life.

As the conversation continues, Derry reveals that he has very few friends. People either feel sorry for him or make unpleasant comments about his face. Even his own mother worries constantly about him and tries to protect him from the outside world. Derry remembers overhearing someone saying that his face was so terrible that they did not like to look at it. Such comments have deeply hurt him and destroyed his confidence.

Mr. Lamb listens patiently and advises Derry not to let other people's opinions decide his life. He tells him that people have different ways of thinking, but one should never lose faith in oneself. According to him, physical appearance is far less important than a person's character, thoughts, and actions. He believes that everyone has some weakness, but life is much bigger than these imperfections.

To explain his ideas, Mr. Lamb gives many examples from nature. He points to the bees in his garden and says they do not discriminate between beautiful and ugly flowers. They simply collect nectar from every flower. He also talks about weeds, apples, and the changing seasons to show that everything in nature has its own purpose and value. Through these examples, he teaches Derry to accept life as it is.

Mr. Lamb also shares his own experiences. Although children sometimes laugh at his artificial leg and call him "Lamey Lamb," he never becomes angry or depressed. Instead, he smiles and continues living happily. He believes that it is better to laugh than to complain. He tells Derry that if a person closes himself off from the world, he misses the beauty of life.

Derry is deeply influenced by Mr. Lamb's words. For the first time, someone treats him like an ordinary person instead of showing pity. Mr. Lamb neither avoids looking at his face nor talks to him with sympathy. He simply accepts him as he is. This kindness begins to change Derry's attitude. He starts feeling hopeful and realizes that perhaps he has been hiding from life unnecessarily.

As evening approaches, Derry decides to go home. Before leaving, he promises Mr. Lamb that he will return soon because he wants to continue talking with him. Mr. Lamb happily agrees and waits for his return.

When Derry reaches home, his mother becomes worried because she does not want him to meet strangers. She fears that someone may harm him or influence him negatively. Derry tries to explain that Mr. Lamb is a kind and wise person who has helped him understand life differently. However, his mother refuses to understand his feelings and asks him not to visit Mr. Lamb again.

For the first time, Derry strongly opposes his mother. He realizes that he cannot spend his entire life hiding inside the house. He wants to make his own decisions and live freely. Ignoring his mother's objections, he runs back to Mr. Lamb's garden.

Meanwhile, Mr. Lamb is trying to pluck apples from a tree using a ladder. While working, he accidentally loses his balance and falls. The fall proves fatal, and he dies before Derry returns.

When Derry reaches the garden, he excitedly calls out to Mr. Lamb, eager to share his new confidence and begin a new chapter of his life. Receiving no reply, he discovers Mr. Lamb lying motionless beneath the ladder. The play ends on a tragic note as Derry repeatedly calls out to him, realizing that the only person who truly understood and accepted him is no longer alive.