On the Face of it – Susan Hill

About the Author:

Dame Susan Elizabeth Hill, shortly named Susan Hill is an English author and writer whose works spread across
fictional and non-fictional stories. Some of her books have garnered worldwide attention and recognition. The Woman
in Black, The Mist in the Mirror, and I’m the King of the Castle are some examples of her great works. She is an
author who mostly writes books keeping in mind the youth of the current generation.
Introduction:
The story is about a little boy named Derry who is insecure about his burnt face. His family members, society, his
friends constantly remind him of his insecurities which creates a societal gap in his life. He starts ignoring people and
spends most of his time alone. Then, he comes across a retired army man known as Mr. Lamb, who has a tinted leg.
When Derry gets an opportunity to have a conversation with him, he realizes that it is okay to have flaws and
insecurities and that people should live a life of dignity with those flaws. Check the summary below to know how Mr.
Lamb changes Derry’s life.
Theme
The theme on the face of it revolves around the concept of human insecurities and the constraints society puts on
them. It also talks about the difference in people and their thought processes. The difference in how people see life and
live it. It sends out a message that it is absolutely okay to have flaws and still live life with dignity, respect, and love.
No matter how much society puts you down, you have to be strong enough to face everyone. Also, if you want
everyone else to love you, you have to start loving yourself first.
Title Justification 1:
The title of the story ‘On the Face of It’ is very appropriate. The idiom ‘On the Face of It’ means from appearance
alone or apparently. In the play, Derry is frustrated and has lost self-esteem due to people’s attitude to him. Everyone
thought that his burnt face was terrible, and he was handicapped. Similar was Mr. Lamb’s case. He had lost one leg in
a bomb explosion. Apparently both Mr. Lamb and Derry had deformities. But Mr. Lamb enabled Derry to have faith in
himself and look at the bright side of things and to learn to live with his deformity. Their physical handicap was an
apparent thing for them as well as for the world. But the most significant thing is the strength of one’s soul. Mr. Lamb
was a mentally strong person who handled his own handicap and loneliness very effectively. He became instrumental
in Derry change his views about himself and his deformity and start taking things positively. The play deals with the
acceptance of the fact that things are not always as they appear, i.e. physical handicap has nothing to do with the
mental strength and positive attitude to life.
Title Justification 2:
“On the Face of It” is an informal expression used to say that what may seem good but this opinion may change when
you know more about it.
This definition of the expression should leave us in no doubt about the appropriateness of the title. Mr Lamb is called
Lamely Lamb and mothers were afraid of sending the children because of his tin leg. Derry has a burnt face and
everyone pities him. Only a mother could love such a face.
Both Mr Lamb and Derry have been facing hatred and alienation. Mr Lamb takes comments lightly. But Derry does
not have the attitude like Mr Lamb. The attitude of the people needs to be changed. On the face of it, both suffer from
disability but their attitudes are very different. The title is therefore justified.
Character Sketches:
Derry: Derry is a little boy who has his own insecurities. He is under-confident. He is lonely, withdrawn, and likes to
stay away from people. He is pessimistic and does not have a positive approach towards life. He is a thoughtful and
good kid who listens to Mr Lamb, spends time with him, and analyses that he has not been living a good life by
creating a societal gap in his life.
Mr Lamb: He is an optimistic man who cares about people and wants to bring a change in the lives of people. Despite
his tinned leg, he talks to everyone with a smiling face and is always open for a talk. He keeps the curtains of his
house open to represent that he is open to everyone who wants to have a conversation. He is empathetic, positive, and
kind. He teaches Derry that his flaws are beautiful and worth celebrating. The scars on his face should not be the
reason for him being lonely in his life. He should be talking to people, living a socially rich life, and start looking at
life with a positive attitude.
Summary in points:
 Derry enters Mr Lamb’s garden thinking that it is empty. When Mr. Lamb asks him to be mindful of the
apples, he realizes that the garden is not empty.
 Derry wants to take his leave but Mr Lamb denies it and says that he is open to everyone who wants to visit
his garden
 The conversation continues and Derry talks about his insecurity saying that he thinks people are afraid of him.
He continues and says that he thinks his face might be the most terrible thing one sees in their life.
 Mr Lamb changes the subject and tells him that he makes delicious jelly out of the crab apples. He should
visit him often.
 During the conversation, Mr. Lamb asks Derry what does he see across the wall. To which Derry replies that
he sees some weed. Mr. Lamb explains to him that for some they are just weeds, while for some there are
flowers, fruits, and all such lovely things. He wanted to teach Derry that beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder
and that it depends on the way you see life.
 Then Mr Lamb tells him about his tin leg and how he got his leg blown off. He adds that kids call him Lamey-
lamb and that does not trouble him at all.
 Derry shares an incident at the bus top where a woman tells her friend, “Look at that terrible thing” while
pointing at his face. To this Mr Lamb asks him, does he also think the same way?
 When Derry tells him that he does not like being near people because they would comment on his face or be
afraid of him, Mr. Lamb tells him a story. There was a man who locked himself up in a room. He was afraid,
you see. Of everything. Everything in this world. A bus might run him over, or a man might breathe deadly
germs onto him, or a donkey might kick him to death, or lightning might strike him down, or he might love a
girl and the girl would leave him, and he might slip on a banana skin and fall and people who saw him would
laugh their heads off. So he went into this room, and locked the door, and got into his bed, and stayed there.
Then a picture fell off the wall onto his head and killed him. Jerry laughs a lot.
 The conversation continues a lot longer and Derry returns home promising Mr. Lamb that he will come back.
Mr. Lamb tells himself that everyone says that but never comes back.
 As Derry returns home, he has an argument with his mother over Mr Lamb. She stops him from meeting him
and going there. Derry argues and says that he says things that matter to him, things that no one has ever told
him, he likes being there, and he wants to go back. His mother tries to stop him but he says that if does not
return to Mr. Lamb, he will never go anywhere in this world.
 Mr. Lamb was up on his ladder, trying to grab the crab apples. As he does so, his leg slips and he falls hard to
the ground. By the time, Derry comes running to the garden and says look I told you I would come back. He
sees Mr Lamb lying on the ground in dead silence. He walks up to him, assures him that he is there with him,
and weeps hard.