If I Were You by Douglas James: “If I Were You” एक thrilling one-act play है। इसकी story Gerrard नाम के एक playwright के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है, जो एक lonely cottage में रहता है। एक दिन, एक criminal Intruder उसके घर में घुस आता है। Intruder का plan Gerrard को मारकर उसकी identity लेना है ताकि वह पुलिस से बच सके। लेकिन, Gerrard घबराने के बजाय अपनी intelligence और quick-thinking का use करता है। वह एक fake story बनाकर Intruder को outsmart करता है और उसे एक trap में फंसा देता है। यह play दिखाता है कि कैसे calmness और wit (हाजिरजवाबी) किसी भी dangerous situation को handle कर सकती है।
“If I Were You” by Douglas James: A Complete Analysis
2. About the Author (लेखक के बारे में)
Douglas James एक playwright थे जो one-act plays लिखने के लिए जाने जाते हैं। “If I Were You” उनका सबसे famous work है, जो suspense, humour और clever dialogue के लिए सराहा जाता है। उनके बारे में बहुत अधिक biographical information publicly available नहीं है, लेकिन यह play अक्सर school curriculums में शामिल किया जाता है क्योंकि यह suspense build करने और character development का एक बेहतरीन example है।
3. Difficult Words Meaning (कठिन शब्दों के अर्थ)
- Cultured (कल्चर्ड): सभ्य, सुसंस्कृत (Sophisticated and well-mannered)
- Melodramatic (मेलोड्रामैटिक): नाटकीय, अतिरंजित (Exaggerated and overly emotional)
- Nonchalant (नॉनशलॉन्ट): बेपरवाह, शांत (Calm and relaxed)
- Inflection (इन्फ्लेक्शन): आवाज़ का उतार-चढ़ाव (A change in the tone of voice)
- Wise guy (वाइज़ गाइ): खुद को बहुत चालाक समझने वाला व्यक्ति (A person who pretends to know a lot)
- Tradespeople (ट्रेड्सपीपल): व्यापारी, दुकानदार (Merchants or shopkeepers)
- Gratuitous (ग्रैटuitous): अकारण, बेवजह (Unnecessary or without reason)
- Dodge (डॉज): बचना, चकमा देना (To avoid someone or something)
- Frame (फ्रेम): झूठे आरोप में फंसाना (To trap someone with false evidence)
- Props (प्रॉप्स): नाटक में इस्तेमाल होने वाली वस्तुएँ (Objects used by actors in a play)
4. Short Summary (पूरे पाठ का सार)
Play की शुरुआत Gerrard से होती है, जो अपने cottage में फोन पर बात कर रहा होता है और कहीं जाने के लिए packing कर रहा होता है। तभी, एक Intruder (घुसपैठिया) चुपके से अंदर आता है, जिसके हाथ में एक revolver होता है। Intruder का physical build Gerrard जैसा ही है।
Intruder, Gerrard को धमकाता है और उससे उसकी personal life के बारे में सवाल पूछता है। Gerrard bình tĩnh (calmly) और wittily जवाब देता है। जल्द ही, Intruder अपना plan बताता है: वह Gerrard को मारकर उसकी identity ले लेगा और उसकी तरह रहेगा। Intruder एक jewel thief है जिसने एक police वाले की हत्या कर दी है और अब पुलिस से भाग रहा है। उसने Gerrard को इसलिए चुना क्योंकि Gerrard भी एक mysterious life जीता है, अकेले रहता है, और बहुत कम लोगों से मिलता है, जिससे उसकी identity लेना आसान होगा।
जब Intruder, Gerrard को मारने वाला होता है, Gerrard अपनी intelligence का use करता है। वह एक fake story बनाता है कि वह खुद एक criminal है और पुलिस से भाग रहा है। वह Intruder को बताता है कि अगर उसने Gerrard को मारकर उसकी identity ली, तो वह Gerrard बनकर ही पकड़ा जाएगा और उसे फांसी हो जाएगी। वह Intruder को अपना travelling bag और disguise outfit दिखाता है ताकि उसकी story real लगे।
तभी telephone की bell बजती है, और Gerrard कहता है कि यह पुलिस के आने की warning है। वह Intruder को बताता है कि उन्हें तुरंत भागना होगा। वह उसे garage तक जाने के लिए एक “secret passage” दिखाता है, जो असल में एक cupboard का दरवाज़ा होता है। जैसे ही Intruder अंदर झाँकता है, Gerrard उसे cupboard में धक्का देकर lock कर देता है। आखिर में, Gerrard police को phone करता है और calmly बताता है कि उसने एक criminal को पकड़ लिया है, और सोचता है कि इस incident को वह अपने अगले play में use करेगा।
5. Textbook Question and Answers
I. Answer these questions.
1. “At last a sympathetic audience.”
(i) Who says this?
Answer: Gerrard says this.
(ii) Why does he say it?
Answer: He says this because the Intruder wants to know about his life. Gerrard, being a playwright, sarcastically pretends that he has finally found an audience who is interested in hearing the story of his life.
(iii) Is he sarcastic or serious?
Answer: He is being sarcastic.
2. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on?
Answer: The intruder chooses Gerrard because Gerrard is of a similar build to him. More importantly, Gerrard lives a mysterious life—he lives alone in a secluded cottage, doesn’t meet many people, and often comes and goes suddenly. This lifestyle is perfect for the Intruder, as he can live as Gerrard without anyone discovering his true identity.
3. “I said it with bullets.”
(i) Who says this?
Answer: Gerrard says this.
(ii) What does it mean?
Answer: It means that he used a gun to get out of a difficult situation, likely by shooting someone.
(iii) Is it the truth? What is the speaker’s reason for saying this?
Answer: No, it is not the truth. Gerrard is a playwright, not a criminal. He says this to make his fake story believable to the Intruder. His reason is to convince the Intruder that he is also a wanted criminal, so killing him and taking his identity would be useless.
4. What is Gerrard’s profession? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer.
Answer: Gerrard’s profession is a playwright (he writes plays). The following parts of the play support this:
- He tells the Intruder, “Sorry I can’t let you have the props in time for rehearsal…”
- When the Intruder enters, Gerrard calls his behaviour “very melodramatic, not very original,” which are terms related to theatre.
- In the final line, he says, “I think I’ll put it in my next play.”
5. “You’ll soon stop being smart.”
(i) Who says this?
Answer: The Intruder says this to Gerrard.
(ii) Why does the speaker say it?
Answer: The speaker says it because Gerrard is being calm, witty, and clever instead of being scared. The Intruder wants to intimidate him and show that he is in control.
(iii) What according to the speaker will stop Gerrard from being smart?
Answer: According to the Intruder, his gun and the threat of getting hurt will stop Gerrard from being smart and make him crawl.
6. “They can’t hang me twice.”
(i) Who says this?
Answer: The Intruder says this.
(ii) Why does the speaker say it?
Answer: He says this because he is already wanted for one murder. He believes that since the punishment for one murder is hanging, he won’t get a worse punishment for committing a second murder. Therefore, he has nothing to lose by killing Gerrard.
7. “A mystery I propose to explain.” What is the mystery the speaker proposes to explain?
Answer: The mystery is why Gerrard lives such a secluded and secretive life. The Intruder finds it strange that Gerrard phones his orders, comes and goes suddenly, and never meets tradespeople. Gerrard proposes to explain this “mystery” by telling the false story that he is a criminal on the run from the police.
8. “This is your big surprise.”
(i) Where has this been said in the play?
Answer: This phrase has been said twice in the play. First, the Intruder says it when he reveals his plan to kill Gerrard. Second, Gerrard says it when he reveals his own (fake) secret that he is also a criminal, turning the situation around.
(ii) What is the surprise?
Answer: The first surprise (from the Intruder) is his plan to kill Gerrard and steal his identity. The second surprise (from Gerrard) is the revelation of his fake identity as a wanted criminal who is also on the run from the police