Summary of If I Were You
The story revolves around Gerrard, a playwright who lives alone in a cottage. One day, an intruder enters his home with the intention of murdering him and taking his identity. However, Gerrard uses his wit and intelligence to outsmart the intruder. He tricks the intruder into believing that Gerrard himself is a criminal on the run, and eventually locks him in a cupboard, saving his own life.
If I Were You in Hindi
यह कहानी गेरार्ड नामक नाटककार के इर्द-गिर्द घूमती है, जो अकेले एक झोपड़ी में रहता है। एक दिन, एक घुसपैठिया उसकी हत्या करने और उसकी पहचान चुराने की मंशा से उसके घर में प्रवेश करता है। हालांकि, गेरार्ड अपनी बुद्धि और चतुराई से घुसपैठिए को चकमा देता है। वह उसे यह विश्वास दिलाता है कि गेरार्ड खुद एक भगोड़ा अपराधी है, और अंत में उसे एक अलमारी में बंद कर देता है, जिससे उसकी जान बच जाती है।
Thinking about the Text
I. Answer these questions.
1. “At last a sympathetic audience.”
- (i) Who says this? The intruder says this.
- (ii) Why does he say it? He says it because he feels Gerrard will be a good listener and will pay attention to his story.
- (iii) Is he sarcastic or serious? He is sarcastic.
2. Why does the intruder choose Gerrard as the man whose identity he wants to take on?
- The intruder chooses Gerrard because he thinks Gerrard lives a lonely life and is a perfect candidate for taking over his identity without attracting much attention.
3. “I said it with bullets.”
- (i) Who says this? Gerrard says this.
- (ii) What does it mean? It means that Gerrard handled a dangerous situation involving criminals by using a gun.
- (iii) Is it the truth? What is the speaker’s reason for saying this? No, it is not the truth. Gerrard says this to mislead the intruder into believing that he is also a criminal.
4. What is Gerrard’s profession? Quote the parts of the play that support your answer.
- Gerrard is a playwright. This is supported by his dialogue: “Sorry I can’t let you have the props in time for rehearsal; I’ve had a spot of bother — quite amusing. I think I’ll put it in my next play.”
5. “You’ll soon stop being smart.”
- (i) Who says this? The intruder says this.
- (ii) Why does the speaker say it? He says this to intimidate Gerrard and make him feel powerless.
- (iii) What according to the speaker will stop Gerrard from being smart? According to the intruder, Gerrard will stop being smart when he is killed and his identity is stolen by the intruder.
6. “They can’t hang me twice.”
- (i) Who says this? The intruder says this.
- (ii) Why does the speaker say it? He says this because he is already wanted for murder, and believes that committing another murder won’t increase his punishment, as he can only be hanged once.
7. “A mystery I propose to explain.”
- The mystery is Gerrard’s lifestyle, which the intruder finds suspicious. He wonders why Gerrard lives alone and moves around frequently, and Gerrard proposes to explain this by pretending that he himself is a criminal.
8. “This is your big surprise.”
- (i) Where has this been said in the play? This is said by Gerrard towards the end of the play, when he tricks the intruder into the cupboard.
- (ii) What is the surprise? The surprise is that Gerrard has outsmarted the intruder and locked him in a cupboard instead of being killed by him.
Thinking about Language
I. Consult your dictionary and choose the correct word from the pairs given in brackets.
1. The site of the accident was ghastly.
2. Our college principal is very strict.
3. I studied continuously for eight hours.
4. The fog had an adverse effect on the traffic.
5. Cezanne, the famous French painter, was a brilliant artist.
6. The book that you gave me yesterday is an extraordinary collage of science fiction and mystery.
7. Our school will host an exhibition on cruelty to animals and wildlife conservation.
8. Screw the lid tightly onto the top of the bottle and shake well before using the contents.
II. Irony
Irony is when we say one thing but mean another, usually the opposite of what we say. For example, when someone makes a mistake and you say, “Oh! that was clever!” you’re saying ‘clever’ to mean ‘not clever’.
Here are some examples of irony from the play:
| What the author says | What he means |
|---|---|
| Why, this is a surprise, Mr —er— | He pretends that the intruder is a social visitor whom he is welcoming. In this way, he hides his fear. |
| At last a sympathetic audience! | He pretends that the intruder wants to listen to him, whereas actually the intruder wants to find out information for his own use. |
| And now you'll hear the story of your life. | He implies that the intruder will be surprised to learn the truth, but he is actually tricking him. |
| You’ll soon stop being smart. | The intruder is threatening Gerrard, implying that he will stop outsmarting him soon, but Gerrard stays calm. |
| A mystery I propose to explain. | He pretends that he will reveal something, but he is actually leading the intruder into a trap. |
Dictionary Use
A word can mean different things in different contexts. Usually, a dictionary helps you identify the right meaning by giving you signposts. Use the dictionary to complete the table below.
| Noun | Adjective | Adverb | Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| sympathy | sympathetic | sympathetically | sympathize | feelings of pity and sorrow for someone else's misfortune |
| familiarity | familiar | familiarly | familiarize | close acquaintance with or knowledge of something |
| comfort | comfortable | comfortably | comfort | a state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint |
| care | careful/caring | carefully | care | the provision of what is necessary for health, welfare, maintenance |
| surprise | surprising | surprisingly | surprise | an unexpected or astonishing event |
Speaking
1. Imagine you are Gerrard. Tell your friend what happened when the Intruder broke into your house.
[Clues: Describe (i) the intruder — his appearance, the way he spoke, his plan, his movements, etc., (ii) how you outwitted him.]
2. Enact the play in the class.
Pay special attention to the words given in italics before a dialogue. These words will tell you whether the dialogue has to be said in a happy, sarcastic, or ironic tone and how the characters move and what they do as they speak.
Writing
I. Which of the words below describe Gerrard and which describe the Intruder?
- Smart
- Humorous
- Clever
- Beautiful
- Cool
- Confident
- Flashy
- Witty
- Nonchalant
Write a paragraph each about Gerrard and the Intruder to show what qualities they have.
Gerrard: Gerrard is a smart, witty, and confident man. He uses his intelligence and quick thinking to outsmart the intruder. His calm and cool demeanor under pressure helps him maintain control of the situation. Gerrard’s humorous and nonchalant attitude further disarms the intruder, making it easier for him to deceive and trap him.
Intruder: The intruder is flashy and overconfident, believing he can easily take over Gerrard’s identity. However, his arrogance and lack of proper planning lead to his downfall. Despite his initial confidence, the intruder is outwitted by Gerrard due to his lack of cleverness and real intelligence. His plans crumble under the pressure of Gerrard’s calm approach.
II. Convert the play into a story (150–200 words).
Title: "The Intruder’s Mistake"
Gerrard, a playwright, lived alone in his cottage. One day, an intruder broke into his house with the intent of killing him and assuming his identity. The intruder, a criminal on the run, believed that by taking over Gerrard’s life, he could escape the law. However, Gerrard remained calm and used his wit to turn the tables on the intruder.
Gerrard convinced the intruder that he too was a wanted man, hiding from the police, and that killing him would only lead to more trouble. Pretending to cooperate, Gerrard tricked the intruder into believing that they were alike. He even offered to help the intruder escape by showing him a hidden route out of the house.
In reality, Gerrard led the intruder into a cupboard, locking him inside. He then called the police and had the intruder arrested. Through his quick thinking, Gerrard not only saved his life but also captured the criminal. The intruder’s mistake was underestimating Gerrard’s cleverness.
About the Author
Douglas James, the author of 'If I Were You', has crafted a thrilling and suspenseful play that keeps the reader engaged. His writing emphasizes quick wit, humor, and the ability to outthink one's opponents, which are the key themes in this engaging story.
