Class 12 Section II English Lesson 18

Summary

A Matter of Husbands by Ferenc Molnar is a fascinating one-act play that revolves around misunderstanding, jealousy, and deception. The story centers on an Earnest Young Woman, who is married to a lawyer named Alfred, and a Famous Actress, who is known and admired by many. The Earnest Young Woman visits the Famous Actress, believing that her husband is having an affair with her. Overcome by suspicion and heartbreak, she pleads with the actress to return her husband.

The Famous Actress, calm and manipulative, weaves a clever story to convince the Earnest Young Woman that it is all a misunderstanding. She claims that Alfred only pretended to be in love with her in order to make his wife jealous and win her affection again. The actress tells her that many men in theatre circles use such tactics, and that actresses often play along to help reunite estranged couples. Her words seem logical and gentle, and the Earnest Young Woman, being emotional and naïve, believes every word. Feeling guilty and foolish, she apologizes to the Famous Actress and leaves, comforted by the thought that her husband truly loves her.

However, in a shocking twist at the end, the Famous Actress calls for Alfred to come out from her boudoir, revealing that he was hiding there the entire time. This ironic ending exposes the actress’s cunning and the young woman’s gullibility, showing that the husband truly was cheating on his wife.

This play requires only two female actors, both of whom must have strong comedic timing and emotional range. The Earnest Young Woman should appear innocent, nervous, and gullible, while the Famous Actress must be confident, elegant, and slyly manipulative. Their chemistry and contrast are crucial to the success of the play.

The set design can be simple yet stylish—a luxurious drawing room that reflects the actress’s high social status. Lighting should be subtle and warm, emphasizing realism. Blocking and movement can be used creatively to add layers of humor and dramatic tension. In terms of costume, the Famous Actress could wear a long, glamorous gown, matching gloves, and a fur coat—symbolizing sophistication and vanity. The Earnest Young Woman, in contrast, should wear a plain, frumpy dress with visible socks and modest shoes, symbolizing simplicity and insecurity. The costumes visually introduce their personalities even before they speak.

In essence, A Matter of Husbands is a witty and ironic exploration of trust, manipulation, and the illusions people create. It cleverly demonstrates how appearances can deceive and how even the most earnest individuals can fall victim to emotional trickery.

Understanding the text

a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress?

Ans 👉 The Earnest Young Woman asks the Famous Actress to return her husband, believing that she has stolen him. She confesses that she deeply loves her husband but suspects that he has fallen for the glamorous actress. The Famous Actress listens calmly as the young woman pleads for her marriage to be saved.

b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous Actress?

Ans 👉 According to the Earnest Young Woman, her husband sends flowers to the Famous Actress, something she learns from a florist. Furthermore, she discovers a love letter written by her husband but never sent, in which he apologizes to the actress and expresses his love by offering her “a thousand kisses.” These gestures convince her that her husband is in love with the actress.

c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How?

Ans 👉 Yes, she is convinced. The Famous Actress, using her charm and acting skills, tells the Earnest Young Woman that her husband’s behavior is only a clever plan to make her jealous and rekindle her affection for him. The actress assures her that many men use such tactics and that she is merely helping him in his noble mission. The Earnest Young Woman, being naïve, completely believes this fabricated story.

d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding himself as they are talking about him?

Ans 👉 At the end of the play, it is revealed that the Earnest Young Woman’s husband, Alfred, was hiding inside the Famous Actress’s boudoir the entire time. This shocking revelation proves that the actress was lying all along and that the affair between them was real.

e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at acting?

Ans 👉 The Famous Actress shows her extraordinary acting skill when she convincingly pretends to be innocent and compassionate. She speaks sweetly, comforts the Earnest Young Woman, and hides her guilt so perfectly that no one can doubt her. Her ability to twist the truth and control emotions shows that she is indeed an excellent actress—both on stage and in real life.

f. How do we come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love?

Ans 👉 We come to know that the Famous Actress and the Earnest Young Woman’s husband are in love from the ending of the play. When the Famous Actress calls “Alfred, you may come out now,” it is revealed that he had been hiding in her boudoir. This moment clearly exposes their romantic relationship and shows that the actress’s earlier story was only a lie.

g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.

Ans 👉 A Matter of Husbands by Ferenc Molnar is a one-act play that explores misunderstanding, jealousy, and manipulation. The play begins when an Earnest Young Woman angrily visits a Famous Actress, believing her husband has fallen in love with her. The actress denies it and cleverly tells a false story that her husband only pretended to love her to make his wife jealous and affectionate again. The young woman believes her and leaves, comforted and relieved. But in a surprising twist, the actress calls Alfred, the young woman’s husband, to come out of her boudoir, revealing that the affair was real. The play ends with irony, showing that appearances are deceptive and trust can easily be misplaced.

Reference to the context

a. Sketch the character of Famous Actress.

Ans 👉 The Famous Actress is a young, beautiful, and intelligent woman who is admired by everyone for her charm and talent. She appears calm and innocent but is actually cunning and deceitful. She manipulates the Earnest Young Woman by inventing a story to hide her affair with Alfred. Her quick thinking, smooth talk, and perfect acting skills show that she is a professional both on and off the stage. She symbolizes how appearances can deceive and how charm can be used to manipulate others.

b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress.

Ans 👉 The ordinary woman is simple, emotional, and innocent. She believes what others tell her without much thought and is easily manipulated. On the other hand, the actress is confident, clever, and controlling. She uses her intelligence and acting skills to twist situations in her favor. While the ordinary woman represents sincerity and purity, the actress represents deception and experience. The contrast between them highlights how naivety can be easily defeated by cunningness.

c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?

Ans 👉 Yes, I agree with her argument to some extent. Men associated with theatre often live in a world of imagination and drama. It is possible that they use actresses to create jealousy and win their wives’ love again. In the play, the actress cleverly tells this story to justify the husband’s behavior, and the Earnest Young Woman believes it. However, her argument is only a lie to hide her guilt, proving that while her idea may sound logical, in this case, it was used for deceit.

d. How does Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman?

Ans 👉 The Famous Actress makes a fool of the Earnest Young Woman by pretending to be innocent and sympathetic. She tells her that her husband only pretended to love her to make her jealous and loving again. The young woman, being naïve, believes this story completely. In reality, the actress was having an affair with the husband all along, which is revealed at the end when he comes out of her boudoir.

e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house as a part of setting play in A Matter for Husband?

Ans 👉 The setting of the play—a luxurious drawing room belonging to the Famous Actress—creates a theatrical atmosphere that reflects the theme of acting and deception. The setting itself resembles a stage where real emotions and false performances are mixed. The actress’s elegant apartment, her confident demeanor, and the dramatic confrontation between the two women make the audience feel as if they are watching both a play and real life happening together. The setting helps to blur the line between truth and performance.

f. What do you think about the ending of the play?

Ans 👉 The ending of the play is ironic and dramatic. It reveals the truth that the actress and Alfred are truly having an affair, exposing the actress’s lies. The Earnest Young Woman, who believed the actress’s false story, leaves unaware of the truth. This ending shows how the cunning and experienced often manipulate the innocent. The play ends with the lesson that appearances can deceive, and blind trust can lead to heartbreak.

Reference beyond the text

a. Write a paragraph describing your favourite actor/actress.

Ans 👉 My favourite actor is Johnny Depp, an American actor known for his unique and versatile roles. I admire him for his extraordinary talent, creativity, and dedication to his craft. His portrayal of Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean made him world-famous. He brings depth and humor to every role he plays. Apart from acting, he is also known for his generosity and kindness, supporting several charities such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Johnny Depp is not only a brilliant actor but also a humble and devoted person. His ability to transform into different characters makes him my all-time favourite actor.