Explore the ways in which Stanley Houghton criticises certain human characters in The Dear Departed

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Explore the ways in which Stanley Houghton criticises certain human characters in “The Dear Departed”

Stanley Houghton uses various literary devices to criticise basic human characteristics, in “The Dear Departed”. He uses a mixture of irony, dramatic irony, sarcasm, simultaneous speech, humour and a twist in the plot to criticise human traits. The characters in the story are very two-dimensional and there is no development. This allows us to easily see through their character and understand their actions.

In this short play, Houghton manages to portray irony in many different ways. Firstly, the title is already ironic. The departed, Abel Merryweather, is not one bit dear and precious to them. The only thing the sisters are interested in is the money or valuables he owns. The ironic statements make the readers think. While the more they think the more they realise the irony criticises our basic human characteristics.

Another instance of irony is between the sisters. When they thought Abel was dead, they were complaining of what a burden he was to them. The moment Abel mentions his new will, in which he will leave everything to the person he is living with when he dies, they both fight for him to live with them. This will is a trophy that both this sisters want and will do anything to get. The irony of this shows us the shallowness of humans, the need for us to have anything that benefits us, no matter what the cost.

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Houghton criticises human traits by using dramatic irony, a situation in a play or other fiction in which a character unwittingly makes a remark that the audience is intended to see as ironic, or in contradiction to the full truth. In the play, Mrs Slater comment on the ‘low, money-grubbing spirit’ of her sister. To us as the audience, we clearly see that she herself is exactly what she calls her sister. This exposes the hypocritical nature of humans, where we jump up at any situation to criticise others while failing to see similar faults in ourselves.

        Houghton also uses ...

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Houghton's portrayal of certain human characteristics is effectively analysed here, though some more specific textual references and quotations would be helpful. The development of the argument is quite well managed. Paragraph and sentence construction are mostly quite well controlled, though with some repetition and instances at the beginning and end where paragraphs could be combined to form the introduction and the conclusion. 3 stars