The Boy Comes Home
About Author | Alan Alexander Milne
Alan Alexander Milne( 1882-1956) was a British author. Milne was a well-renowned writer, primarily as a playwright, before the immense success of Poo overshadowed all his previous work. It won him worldwide fame. He came from a mediocre family in London.
He got his early education from the public school run by his father, John Vince Milne. He also came under the inspiring guidance of futuristic writer H.G Wells when he was in the school during 1889-1890.
He attended Westminister school and then Trinity College, Cambridge where he also used to contribute to the school magazine, Granta. He was also commissioned as a lieutenant in the British Royal Army during WW1.
Milne began to write short stories when he was working as a sub-editor in a news agency. His literary contributions ranged from short stories to novels, plays to journalistic articles, etc. He also wrote poetry with great passion and of intrinsic value.
Characters of the Play
Philip
Philip is a 23 years old young man. His father has died and he comes to his guardian uncle James’ home from the war front after four years. He was an immature person before going to war.
But now he is an experienced man the master of his own will. He gets up late at his uncle’s house and violates all his uncle’s rules and discipline. He thinks of himself as a mature person who learned a lot in the army.
Uncle James
Uncle James is an aged man. He is a strict person by nature. He specified a time schedule for dining and for every type of work. Everything is done on time. He considers Philip as an inexperienced person. That’s why he decided to engage Philip in his business but Philip does not agree with him.
Aunt Emily
Emily is Philip’s aunt. She is of a pleasant nature. She tajkes very good care of his house and puts the things in a proper arrangement.
Mrs. Higgins
Mrs. Higgins is an old woman. She is appointed as a cook in uncle James’s house. Apparently, she is a strict woman but understands everyone and obeys orders.
Summary | The Boy Comes Home
The Boy Comes Home is a light comedy. The title of the play shows that a boy, Philip returns from France, at the end of the Second World War after fighting against Germany. Philip is about 23 years old when comes home to his guardian, uncle James’ house in England.
He is a mature boy and very much depressed after the second world war ended. He hates tough army life and now he wants to enjoy his life freely. He had served the army for four years. When he went to fight against Germany, he was an immature boy of nineteen.
He lacked confidence and courage. At that time he was unaware of the problems of practical life. His late father left for his large property but he could not acquire it until he reached the age of 25. After fighting against Germany, he had become a mature boy.
Moreover, he was free to do any work. So it was because of the effect of war that Philip had become a changed person. The generation gap is the major theme of the play. Uncle James is the representative of the old generation and Philip is the representative of the young generation.
Philip wants to think, work, and act according to his own will, while Uncle James has set some rules in his house. He does not like his rude and bad attitude Philip. Philip demands the money that his father has left for him but his uncle does not give him until the age of 25 years.
Uncle James desires that Philip should join his business of join while Philip wants to be an architect. After the dream scene, Uncle James becomes a changed person. But, Uncle James and Philip develop a healthy relationship.
The greatest value of the new generation is freedom and independence. To maintain and guard freedom, the new generation has fought four years-long war. Hence they prefer freedom to all other values. The greatest value of the old generation is obedience and respect for elders.
Mr. James is a symbolic character who is upholding the old values and social traditions. The point emphasized by the author is that even good social values and traditions become taboos and a burden on society when blindly followed when a sense is taken out of them. It is in fact a conflict between tradition and modernity that goes on side by side in all ages.
CRITICAL ASPECTS OF THE PLAY
Title of the Play
The title The Boy comes Home is a story of a boy, Philip who returns from France, at the end of the Second World War after fighting against Germany. Philip is about 23 years old when comes back to his guardian.
He has his uncle James’ house in England. He is a mature boy. He is very much depressed after the Second World War II ended. He hates hectic, monotonous, and tough army life and now he wants to enjoy his life freely.
Effect of War
Philip had served the army for four years, When he went to fight against Germany, he was an immature boy of nineteen. He lacked confidence and courage. At that time, he was not aware of the problems relating to practical life. His late father left for him large property but he could not acquire it until he reached the age of 25.
After the war against Germany, he got maturity as this time. He told his uncle that he had become a mature and independent man now. Moreover, he was free to do any work. so it was because of the effect of war that Philip had become a different and changed person.
Generation Gap – a major theme of the play
The generation gap is an important theme of the play. Uncle James represents the old generation and Philip represents the young generation. Philip intends to think, work and act independently, while Uncle James has given rules in his house.
He does not like his rude and bad attitude Philip. Philip demands the money which his father has left for him but his uncle does not give him until the age of 25 years. Uncle James wishes that Philip should join his business of join while his nephew Philip wants to be an architect. After the dream scene, Uncle James is a changed man now. Both, Uncle James and Philip develop a healthy relationship.
The conflict between young and old generation
The greatest value with the new generation presents freedom and independence. The new generation has fought four years-long war to maintain and guard freedom, Hence they prefer freedom to all other values.
The greatest value of the old generation is obedience and respect for elders. Mr. James is a symbolic character who is upholding the old values and social traditions. The point emphasized by the author is that even good social values and traditions become taboos and burdens on society when blindly followed when the sense is taken out of them. It is in fact a conflict between tradition and modernity that goes on side by side in all ages.
Important Questions and Answers
Question 1
Do you think that the ending of the play The Boy Comes Home is justified?
Briefly compare and contrast the characters of Uncle James and Philip.
Discuss, the play is about the generation gap.
Answer
The play “The Boy Comes Home” is an interesting and light comedy. The play moves round a conflict between Uncle James and his nephew Philip. Philip is 23 years old young boy. He has returned after four years of war to his uncle’s house.
Uncle James is strictly punctual even about common routine matters. Whereas Philip can never regulate his habits, despite having spent four years in the army. Their behaviors and manners are totally different from each other.
The main cause of the difference is a generation gap. Philip is a very careless and lazy young man. He gets up very late and demands breakfast at 10’0 clock. He is the representative of the young generation. Uncle James is the spokesman of the old and strict generation.
He is very harsh and strict in manner and discipline. Uncle James strictly obeys his rules in his house but Philip does not care. Philip wants to become an architect while his uncle forces him to join his business. Philip smokes in front of his uncle. Uncle James rebukes him for smoking in his presence.
Uncle James is the guardian of the wealth of Phillip, which his father has left for him. Uncle James is not allowed to give him until he reaches the age of 25. But Philipdemands his money. Philip uses many tricks to get his money from his uncle but uncle James is not allowed to give him.
So Philip uses force and his uncle and takes out a revolver. Then uncle James agrees to give him money and Philip resolves the dispute with the use of threat and force. In the end, we can say that the ending of the play is justified.
Question 2
How does Philip tame his stubborn Uncle James in The Boy Comes Home?
Answer
Philips is a young man of thirty, He has been in the army for four years. There he led a disciplined life. Now he is at home where he hopes to spend his vacation according to his own will. But the dilemma is that the house he lives in is run by his uncle who has the same discipline at home as Philips had in the army.
There are timings of everything. No activity is done without the will of his uncle Philips norms set by his uncle. He awakes late and demands breakfast out of routine. He threatens the maid if she does not follow his orders he will suspend her from her job.
He argues with his uncle that he will not join his business and wants to become a contractor. But at the same time, he has to follow the instructions of his uncle as he is the heir of the property that his father has left for him. Philips’ uncle is a stubborn person. He is that sort of person as never comes to terms with. He forces his nephew to follow his terms.
But the young generation is not willing to obey him. This generation gap creates conflict between them. This can be seen when Philips smokes in front of his uncle, though smoking is not allowed in this house. Finally, conflict is resolved when Uncle James sleeps. He has a dream in which he exchanges some bitter words with his nephew.
He wants him to follow his directions but Philips becomes outraged. He takes his pistol out and wants to shoot him. At that point, Uncle James realizes his mistake and agrees to give in. He lets Philips live according to his own will. So Philips succeeds in taming his stubborn uncle.
Question 3
Uncle James’ dream helped him perceive reality. Discuss in the light of The Boy Comes Home.
What is the importance of the dream scene in the play The Boy Comes Home?
Answer
The play The Boy Comes Home deals with the domestic problems and affairs between the old and young generations. The whole play revolves around the two characters, Uncle James and his nephew, Philip. Philip has returned from the army. Uncle James calls his nephew, Philip to discuss his future plan.
Before the arrival of Philip, uncle James goes to sleep and has a dream. In his dream, Uncle James threatens his nephew to accept his order and discipline. Philip wants to become an architect while his uncle forces him to join his business. Philip smokes in front of his uncle.
Uncle James rebukes him for smoking in his presence. Uncle James is the guardian of the wealth of Phillip, which his father has left. He is not allowed to give him until he reaches the age of 25. He has the belief that maturity is a significant state of mind. It is not connected with a certain age limit in years.
Philip demands his money. Philip is very aggressive and does not listen to his uncle. When uncle James does not return money to Philip, Philip takes out a revolver at his uncle and asks him to submit. Uncle James agrees to give him money. So the use of force resolves the conflict between Philip and his uncle.
At the same moment, uncle James’ dreams are over and he is a changed person. Now he has become very kind and to Philip. No doubt Uncle James quarrels with Philip in his dream but after this incident, he changes his attitude.
Question 4
Discuss the play The Boy Comes Home as a light comedy and bring out chief virtue.
Discuss the comic in the play.
Answer
The play, The Boy Comes Home, gives a comic element that shows light comedy. The play deals with domestic affairs between an old uncle and his young nephew. It begins seriously but ends happily. There are several humorous situations and dialogues in the play that make the readers laugh.
The comic elements start when Philip comes down for breakfast at 10’0 clock whereas breakfast is served at 8’0 clock. Philip asks Marry to bring breakfast. Later Mrs. Higgins comes and shows her anger. Actually, both Marry and Mrs. Higgins are afraid of Uncle James.
They are forced to follow the principles of Uncle James. Secondly, Uncle James tells about his habits in a funny manner. He runs a business of Jam. Philip wants to become an architect while his uncle forces him to join his business.
The fun of the play lies in the conflict which exists in the temperament of both the uncle and his nephew. Lastly, Philip asks his uncle to give him an allowance till he reaches the age of twenty-five. But his uncle refuses to give him.
Later when Uncle James is frightened by the hard nature of Philip, he is ready to give him money. This conflict between the wills and temperaments of both uncle and nephew gives an amusing color to the story.
To conclude, we can say that The Boy Comes Home is a light comedy with domestic affairs. The play is amusing and witty throughout. The end satisfies our wishes. The hero defeats the villain. It is a light comedy. It is full of wit and humor. It has conflict and climax
Question 5
Write a note on the behavior and attitude of Philip with other characters.
Answer
Philip is the central character of the play. He comes to his uncle’s house after fighting against Germans for four years. He is 23 years old and very energetic. His uncle is very strict in his rules and wants regular discipline in his house.
Philip gets up very late in the morning and orders Mary (a maid) to bring breakfast for him. She does not give him because he gets up very late, Mrs, Higgins tells him that his uncle has ordered him to give breakfast at 8’0 clock. Mary is not allowed to provide breakfast after 8 0′ clock.
Philip makes her payment and wants to dismiss her but later she agrees to give him breakfast in spite of his uncle’s objections. Philip smokes in his uncle’s house. He does not care about any rules and regulations. He is very rude towards his uncle.
Even though he has passed four years in the military but still he has not learned any discipline. Uncle James is the guardian of Philip’s property. Philip orders his uncle to give him money, which his late father has left for him.
He threatens his uncle in his dream by taking a revolver. But his uncle advises him to take interest in the business. At the end of the play, Philip accepts the advice of his uncle and joins the business of his uncle.
Question 6
Write a short note on the character of Philip.
Answer
Philip is the central character of the play. He is a pleasant-looking young man of 23. He lives in his uncle’s house. His uncle is his guardian. Philip has recently returned from the war front. Now he considers himself a mature person and wants to be dealt with as such.
He wants to be the master of his own free will. He also believes in the policy of using force to put down force, He knows how to subdue others. Philips shows hatred against war and army life. Perhaps, war has made him defiant and reactor. He does not like strict discipline and orders anymore.
He is in the mood for entertainment. He gets up late and demands breakfast against fixed time. When James reminds him of punctualitY, he announces to leave his house. Philip is the main source of amusement and fun in the play.
He is very witty, humorous, and amusing. In short, the character of Philip is very strong and dominating. He is as well as at heart. At the end of the play, his obedient, gentle, and submissive attitude wins our admiration for him.
Question 7
Write a short note on the character of Uncle James.
Answer
Uncle James is an important character in the play. He is the guardian of Philip. He is dull and in his appearance. He is a strict disciplinarian. He always thinks that others must be punctual, civilized, and submissive. He does not let anyone defy him.
Uncle James sticks to old values and traditions. His wife makes him realize that Philip is no more an immature boy but a mature person now. Uncle James fails to understand the changed Philip. Therefore, he tries to impose his will on him through thick and thin.
Hence, he receives tit for tat. Uncle James is proud of his generation. He feels that the older generation is wiser and more practical than the younger generation. James is a marked personality. He poses to be bold but turns out to be a coward.
When Philip displays a revolver and a bomb, he shudders and knocks down for mercy. However, having seen the dream, he becomes a changed person. He becomes respectful, polite and to Philip. In fact, the dream makes him reasonable and wise.
He laughs heartily when the incidents of the dream flashback in his mind. At the beginning of the play, we do not like him because he is strict, rigid, coercive, and uncivilized. But at the end of the play, his changed behavior wins our hearts.
EXPLANATION WITH REFERENCE TO THE CONTEXT
Passage 1
My dear uncle, this is a holiday. Being in London is a holiday.
Reference
This extract has been taken from the play The Boy comes Home by A.A. Milne.
Context
The play The Boy Comes Home is a comic play but comedy is light. It deals with the generation gap. This message has been brought out in the form of a conflict between a war-returned nephew (Philip) and a stiff-nicked old uncle (uncle James).
In a dream, when the strict uncle treats his nephew harshly, the nephew becomes defiant rather violent. But, in real life, when the uncle treats him politely, he proves submissive and friendly.
Explanation
The Boy Comes Home presents a light comedy and witty seriousness. Philip (23) has just returned from the war-front after four years. In the given lines, Philip is talking to James, his uncle, who is his guardian.
Philip speaks these lines at the very end of the play. He says that if a person lives in London that is compared to the holiday because in the war field there is no concept of holiday. He is the master of his own free will.
He has been trained in the policy of using force to put down the force. He knows how to subdue a strict person. Uncle James comes to know that if he is strict with Philip, he will receive tit for tat.
Passage 2
We used force to put down the force that’s what I’m doing now. You were going to use force….the force of money. To make me do what you wanted. Now I am using force to stop it.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
These lines are an extract from the dream scene in the play. When James threatens to use the force of money against his nephew Philip. He also tells him that the soldiers in the Army also used force to put down the force.
Uncle James is the guardian of Philip. This is why he is now using physical force. He tells his uncle that if he is going to use the force of money against him to force him to do what he wants, then Philip uses the physical force to stop the force of money, being used by his uncle.
Passage 3
You had about two looks at me, gasped in horror, and ever since you’ve been maneuvering for a chance to tell me what you think about me. Am I right?
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
These lines are spoken by Primrose, Primrose Aston is the representative of a new generation. She is about 20 and an independent and liberal girl. She cares about her outfits than her ethical and moral values, She enters her house without any greetings.
Her aunt keenly waits for her to talk, but she does not give time to her, In a very careless manner, she starts her conversation. She does not care about the values set by elders but is more serious about her cosmetics. She does not like her aunt’s questions and she wants to get rid of her aunt.
Her aunt fails to convince her as she asks few minutes from her. She refuses her aunt in a very disrespectful manner. When her aunt insists on her stay and listens to her views, Primrose rejects her.
Passage 4
Now, understand once and for all, Philip, while you remain in my house I expect not only punctuality but also civility and respect.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
These lines are spoken by James, who is the uncle of Philip. Uncle James is an important character in the play. He is the guardian of Philip. He is dull and unimpressive. He is a harsh and strict disciplinarian.
He wants others must be punctual, civilized, respectful, and submissive. He does not let anyone defy him. As a disciplinarian, uncle James gives much emphasis on punctuality, respect, and etiquette. He expresses his displeasure on Philip for his taking his breakfast at late hours.
Passage 5
Ah, but you must not think that after four years of war one has quite the same ideas about the sanctity of human life. How could one?
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
These lines are spoken by Philip to his Uncle James. Philip is the central character
of the play. He is a pleasant-looking young man of 23. He lives in his uncle’s house. His uncle is also his custodian. Philip has recently returned from the war-front.
Four years at the war-front has taught him much. Now he considered himself a mature person and wants to be dealt with as such. He wants to be the master of his own free will. He also believes in the policy of using force to put down the force.
Passage 6
I expect we should go through this little scene again tomorrow. You haven’t enjoyed it, have you? Well, there’s lots more of it to come.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage
Explanation
These lines are spoken by Philip. Philip is the nepheW Of Mr. James. Uncle James
is his guardian. Philip’s father had interested him to James with the condition that Philip would get his property when he would reach the age of 25.
Uncle James calls his nephew, Philip, to discuss his future plan. Before Philip comes, Uncle James goes to sleep and has a dream. In the dream, he finds Philip quite defiant, rude, and disobedient. To force and subdue Philip, he threatens to use the force of money.
To counter it, Philip takes out a revolver and a bomb. He threatens to kill James. James is totally At last, he kneels down before Philip and appeals for mercy. Philip informs his uncle that in the future he may again take this cruel step.
Passage 7
James That’s no excuse for not being punctual. I suppose he learns punctuality in the army.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
This extract of dialogue is spoken by Uncle James, who is a disciplinarian, and extremely conscious about discipline in the home. In this dialogue, he is talking to his wife Emily.
He seems to express his opinions and views about the habitual behavior of Philip, for not being punctual and respectful to his elders. He is sleeping late into the morning. Emily tries to make it clear that Philip might be tired after spending years in the war. But Uncle James is not willing to agree with her excuse.
He explains that after serving the army for four years Philip should have mended his ways of life, and learnt discipline and punctuality in army service. On Philip’s sleeping late in the day and missing the breakfast at 8.a.m. Uncle James is quite annoyed and furious.
Passage 8
James: Yes, yes but you make too much of this war. All you young boys seem to think you’ve come back from France to teach us our business. You will find that it is you who will have to learn, not we.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
In this extract of dialogue in the play, The Boy Comes Home, The hero Of the play, Uncle James speaks the dialogue addressing Philip. He explains that the service and experience of war have helped him a lot to improve his personality to a great extent.
He has now become a mature and responsible man. He does not agree with his nephew. Uncle James emphasizes the point that war experience has nothing to do with business affairs. Generally, the boys coming back from the army, attach great importance and project highly of their stay in the army.
According to Uncle James, experience in war is not a substitute for business experience. Both are wide apart, and not equal in any case and sense. The young boys are highly mistaken if they consider themselves capable of teaching us business techniques.
Only experienced hands in business can teach them business techniques, and they will know soon. In short Uncle James wants to say that the youngsters should see the light and rationality.
Passage 9
James (rather upset) Oh! (Recovering himself) fortunately, I have other means of impressing you. The power of the purse goes a long way in this world. I propose to use it.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
In this extract of the play, Uncle James is the speaker, who rather speaks loudly about his potential strength of purse string. In other words, James has the last resort to turn to, as the power of purse string goes a long way in this world.
Moreover, he is the legal guardian of Philip and supervises his business, property, and matters. However, Philip is not at all intimidated and disappointed by the hollow threats of his uncle. Philip uses his power of force against his uncle’s power of money.
Uncle James is empowered to use his legal authority, for not releasing the money before Philip attains the age of 25 years a limit to show and prove his maturity. So Uncle James is thinking over the matter of settling the terms with his nephew.
In the circumstances, uncle James was justified to think along these lines. As long as, he enjoys the control of the power of money matters, he can at least exercise his control, supervision over Philip.
Passage 10
Philip: we used force to put down the force. That’s what I am doing now. You were going to use force – the force of money, to make me do what you wanted. Now I am using force to stop it.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
This extract of dialogue is spoken by Philip to his uncle James. It is part of the dream which Uncle James was seeing and was exchanging views and opinions with Philip. They are, trying to convince each other with arguments and strength of the force.
Philip has started throwing threats of force to make him surrender to agree to his point of view. Uncle James is rather by the use o brute force, with his revolver and bomb. Philip says that they used force to put down the force. That is what he is doing now.
His uncle intends to use the force of money to make Philip do what he wants him to do. He is using force in order to stop uncle James to stop him from doing what he wants to do. It is the use of force against the force of money.
To press his uncle, he says that he has already killed a number of old uncles in the war. He does not now feel pricks of conscience nor does he has any idea about the sanctity of human life.
Passage 11
If it’s only a bit of breakfast, I don’t say but what I mightn’t get it. if I’m asked decently.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
As an elder person in the family, Philip enjoys a dominating position. The play The
Boy Comes Home is based on the conflict and clash of opinions and views between generations. Philip, after four years of active service in the military, has gained experience in worldly affairs.
He is fully conscious of the sanctity of human life as well as the integrity of human life. He has become independent and self-dependent as far as the views- and opinions are concerned At this stage of life, Philip desires a peaceful and stable life, a tense free homely atmosphere.
On the other hand, Uncle James, being an elderly and dominating person, wants everyone to observe and obey his rules and orders. In the above-given extract for an explanation, Philip usually asks for breakfast at the late hours. He wants eggs, ham, and coffee. Philip is unaware of the timings of the breakfast and says that Mary can bring it right now, and says thanks.
Passage 12
My dear uncle, this is a holiday. Being in London is a holiday.
Reference & Context
Same as for the first passage.
Explanation
The boy Comes home presents a comic element. Philip (23) has just returned from War-front after four years. In the given lines, Philip is talking to James, his uncle, who is his guardian. Philip speaks these lines at the very end of the play.
He says that if a person lives in London that is compared to the holiday because in the war field there is no concept of holiday. He is a free person. He has been trained in the policy of using force to put down the force. He knows how to subdue a strict person. Uncle James comes to know that if he is strict with Philip, he will receive tit for tat.
Passage 13
Look here, Uncle James, do you really think that you can treat me like a boy who’s just left school? Do you think four years at the front have made no difference at all?
Reference & Context
The same as given in the first extract.
Explanation
In this extract, Philips, a young man of twenty-three is speaking to his uncle James. He has recently come from the war front. He is mature enough to deal with the personal life of his uncle. But his uncle thinks him still a schoolboy and wants to treat him in his own way.
He forces him to obey norms set by him in his house. He wants Philips to live like a disciplined person. But Philips is fed of such a life. He is at home to relax, to live life at ease. He is not ready to live a mechanical life.
So, he opposes his uncle and tells him that he is not a schoolboy who would follow his instruction. He says that he has spent four years in the army and now is a mature person and not a schoolboy. So, he is not ready to be a puppet in his hands. The extract shows the rebellious nature of Philips.
Passage 14
Then let me say again, ” Two eggs, ham, and coffee.” And Marry can bring the ham up at once, and I’ll get going on that, (Turning away) Thanks very much.
Reference & Context
The same as given in the first extract.
Explanation
In this extract, Philip is talking to the cook, Mrs. Higgins. She is not ready to serve breakfast to Philips. She is of the opinion that in that house the time to serve breakfast is 8’0 Clock. So, she cannot serve it late.
Philips had been in the army for four years where he never enjoyed full sleep, He is now at home and wants to enjoy sleep for hours. He is not ready to wake at seven just for breakfast. He shares this all with his aunt Emily.
She tells Philips that her sympathies are with him. When Mrs. Higgins is reluctant to bring breakfast, he threatens to dismiss her from her job. When she is afraid, he orders again to bring him two eggs, ham, and coffee for his breakfast.
He asks her to prepare breakfast and send it to the hands of Marry, the maid. The extract shows how discipline-related issues create conflict between Philips and Uncle James.
About the Author
What is meant by obedience?? Mam g
What is meant by westminister?? Mam g
Aoa mam hope so you are good
Mam kindly can you help me
Tell me the answer of this question plz..
Q.why does the writer call the meeting with the poor people pleasant?
What is meant by westminister ?
This is really helpful. Thanks ma'am