Facing Death

Understanding the text

a. Where does the play take place?
Ans: The play takes place in Monsieur Durand’s dining room where he lives with his three daughters as the owner of the boarding house, widower, and former railroad worker.

b. Why do the grocery, the baker, and the butcher send their bills to the Durand household?
Ans: The grocery, the baker, and the butcher send their bills to the Durand household because Durand hasn’t paid the bills of them for a long time and they won’t give the items until the bills are paid.

c. Why does Monsieur Duran spend money on candles when he doesn’t have money to buy even bread?
Ans: Monsieur Duran spends money on candles when he doesn’t have money to buy even bread because he wants to burn the candles on the death anniversary of his son, Rene whom he loved very much. After the death of his son, he was heartbroken. Duran also makes the plan to set fire to his house to claim the insurance for her daughter’s future.

d. Why did Monsieur Duran sell his life insurance?
Ans: Monsieur Duran sold his life insurance because he wants to pay his all debtor’s debts.

e. Why has Monsieur Duran paid fire insurance?
Ans: Monsieur Duran has paid fire insurance to claim compensation later. He wants to claim compensation by burning his house for her daughters’ life and better future.

f. How did Monsieur Duran and Mrs. Duran run out of their inheritances from both the sides?
Ans: Monsieur Durran and Mrs. Duran run out of their inheritances from both sides because of Mrs. Duran’s carelessness and poor decisions. They lost their assets from both sides of the family.

g. Why does Monsieur Duran tell a lie about his birthplace?
Ans: Monsieur Duran tells a lie about his birthplace because of two reasons. One is he had fought against his nation France which makes him awkward. So, he told a lie about his birthplace. Another is he falls in love with a woman who is younger than him and wanted to marry that woman. He moved to Switzerland to safeguard both his and his wife’s reputation.

h. What business is Monsieur Duran running to make a living?
Ans: Monsieur Duran is running a lodge to make a living. He has transformed his house into a lodge to earn money and provides many services and facilities with good hospitality to guests who arrive there.

i. What plan does Monsieur Duran have to help his daughters with money?
Ans: Monsieur Duran plans to commit suicide by lighting a fire in his home and claim compensation which will be helpful for his daughter with money. He is willing to lay down his life for the sake of his three daughters.

j. How does Monsieur Duran die?
Ans: Monsieur Duran dies by committing suicide by drinking poison for the sake of his three daughters with the amount of money as compensation for his insurance policy.

Reference to the context

a. Sketch the character of Monsieur Duran.
Ans: In the play “Facing Death” by August Strindberg, Monsieur Duran takes on the role of the central character. He shines as a loving, caring, and protective father figure in the play. In the play, he is depicted as a widower, who also happens to be the owner of a lodge and a former railway worker. He turns his house into a lodge for their living. He serves many facilities and services to their customers/guests. He is living with his three daughters and due to his bankruptcy, he is living a difficult life. He consistently puts his daughters’ welfare first, even if it means sacrificing his own life. He embodies the qualities of a loving and caring father, silently enduring injustices caused by his late wife. He is also seen as a patriot, though he feels embarrassed about having fought against his home country, France. He encounters economic hardship for the sake of his three daughters.

b. How do we know that the Duran family has reached a dead end?
Ans: We know that the Duran family has reached a dead end due to the miserable life and situation they are facing and grappling with the hardships. For years, Duran has been dependent on loans from his friends and relatives. Due to the bankruptcy, he facing a financial crisis and there is an increasing load of debt. They also transform their house into a lodge for their living. There were bills that he was unable to pay for a long time. The condition of their family is terrible and his daughters also blame him for his difficult situation. At last, he commits suicide and fires his house for the compensation of the insurance with the amount for the better future of his daughters.

c. ‘The mother, though already dead, seems to have had a great influence on the daughters, especially Theresa.’ Do you agree?
Ans: Yes, I agree with the given statement. In this play, we discover that the mother, though already dead, seems to have had a great influence on the daughters, especially Theresa. When his wife was alive, she used to hate his husband. She always blamed his husband for this difficult situation. She always forced her daughter to go against him and follow her orders. Because of her mother’s instruction, her three daughters also used to blame their father for the ruin of their family. Despite their dislike for them, just like their mother, his father has always stood by their side in every difficult situation. He chose to remain silent throughout his life, not wanting to cast doubt on his mother and her behavior. Theresa, one of three daughters, hates his father very much and always shows rude behavior.

d. Discuss the relationship between Monsieur Duran and his wife.
Ans: The relationship between Monsieur Duran and his wife was currently going through a tense phase. Though Monsieur Duran’s wife always blames him during her lifetime, Duran has always been with her in every situation. His wife has ruined the family and life herself but always shows the faults of her husband. She used to spend money from the family to buy lottery tickets and threaten her husband to become a prostitute for money after she was beaten by her husband. She made all her daughters go against her husband and misbehaved with him. She put negative thoughts about their father in their mind.

e. ‘Money determines the relationship between characters in this play.’ Elaborate this statement with examples from the play
Ans: Money determines the relationship between characters in this play. There seems to be a gap in their relationship due to the financial crisis. They were facing financial difficulties and couldn’t pay off their debts, which were only increasing with time. There were unpaid bills for a long period of time which makes their life miserable. Due to the economic crisis, they transform their home into a lodge. Mr. Duran’s wife always blames him for the difficult situation and economic recession. His three daughters always hate and detest him. The financial condition has caused the connection between Duran and his family to become loose. They always show disrespectful behavior towards Mr. Duran. Due to poor economic conditions, they can’t purchase bread for their daily needs. Due to lack of money, his family always hate him and misbehaved with him.

f. Monsieur Duran kills himself so that his daughters would get 5000 francs as the compensation from the insurance company. What does his plan tell us about him?
Ans: Monsieur Duran kills himself so that his daughters would get 5000 francs as compensation from the insurance company. Monsieur Duran doesn’t have money to pay the bills and is faced with an economic crisis. He aspires to create a bright and tension-free future for his three daughters but he spends all his life in economic hardship. So, he is always blamed by his wife and daughters. So, he commits suicide by drinking poison and set a fire in his house to get compensation from the insurance company which will benefit his daughters. So, his plan tells us about him that he is a caring, loving, and generous father who is always worried about his daughter’s upcoming time.

g. Discuss Facing Death as a modern tragedy.
Ans: Modern tragedies are plays that depict contemporary characters facing serious problems and often experiencing unhappy endings. In modern tragedies, the protagonists often grapple with personal struggles, societal pressures, and moral dilemmas that lead to their downfall or tragic outcomes. Likewise, the play Facing Death also ended with a modern tragedy. In this play, Monsieur Duran bears the weight of an economic burden, facing challenging financial hardships.

Monsieur Duran’s family has suffered from economic problems which impact their relationship too. The play portrays Monsieur Duran’s struggle to secure a future for his daughters amid financial hardship, exploring human emotions and dilemmas, making it relatable to modern audiences. The dilemma of choosing a life with a daughter or having his daughters a beautiful life which tends him to commit suicide and provide his daughters a beautiful life.  It also addressed on the social and economic issues of its time, highlighting the struggles faced by families during financial hardships. Therefore, the play’s relevance to current issues and human struggles makes it a captivating modern tragedy.

Reference beyond the text

a. Write a few paragraphs describing the role of the father in the family.
Ans: A father is a cherished paternal figure, crucial to the emotional, social, and financial well-being of his children and family. As the head of the family, he lovingly cares for his family members, fulfilling their needs and requirements. Traditionally viewed as providers and protectors, fathers have grown to embrace a wider array of responsibilities, adapting to the changing times.

The role of the father in the family is vital and diverse. He always offers love, support, and stability, contributing to their children’s emotional development and building strong bonds. Emotionally, fathers contribute to their children’s all-round development. Father provides security and stability to create a safe environment for his family. He is emotionally attached with his children for their growth and explore the world. Socially, fathers act as role models for their children, teaching them essential values, ethics, and social skills.

A father is ever-ready to offer comfort and spend quality time with his family. In every crucial moment, he stands by his loved ones, becoming the strong pillar and backbone of the family. He contributes to the emotional well-being, social development, and overall happiness of his children and spouse. A dedicated and involved father serves as a positive influence and a source of strength, enriching the lives of his family members and fostering a close-knit and loving family unit.