THE PROGRESS

( One Act Play)

St. John Green Ervine
Unit:22
 ABOUT THE AUTHOR
› A dramatist and novelist.
› Professor of Dramatic literature and Royal
society of Literature.
› Served in first world war.
› Works include magnanimous, Alice and a
family, changing winds etc.
 One Act Play

A one act play is a play where all the

action happens in one act with no
breaks, that is, the scene is continuous
and the setting most likely will not
change.
› A one-act play is a form of drama that is written
in one act, as opposed to plays that are divided
into several acts. It usually has a running time
of between 15 minutes to an hour, and focuses
on a single event or problem, taking place in a
single setting. Unlike full-length plays, one-act
plays don't have intervals. They present a
concise, focused narrative, making them a
popular choice for drama festivals and
competitions.
BACKGROUND OF THE PLAY
WORLD WAR-I
 World War I
Jul 28, 1914 – Nov 11, 1918
› World War I, often abbreviated as WWI or WW1, also
known as the First World War or the Great War, was an
international conflict that began on 28 July 1914 and
ended on 11 November 1918.
 World War-I was fought between?
The war pitted(made holes) the Central
Powers—mainly Germany, Austria-Hungary,
and Turkey—against the Allies—mainly
France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan,
and, from 1917, the United States. It ended
with the defeat of the Central Powers.
 What happened in World War One?

World War I, which lasted from 1914 until

1918, introduced the world to the horrors of
trench warfare and lethal(deadly) new
technologies such as poison gas and tanks. The
result was some of the most horrific
carnage(destruction) the world had ever seen,
with more than 16 million military
personnel(employees) and civilians losing their
lives.
 ABOUT THE PLAY
› Professor Corrie excited about destructive
bomb
› Experiment has proved a success.
› His sister Mrs. Meldon is grief – stricken.
› Has lost her only son Eddie in First World War.
› Prof. Corrie’s murder by his sister
› Highly dramatic.
 MAIN CHARACTERS

•Professor Henry Corrie

•Mrs Meldon (a widow) and Professor’s sister
•Eddie ( Mrs. Meldon’s son)
•Tom (Mrs Meldon’s husband)
•Hannah (servant)
 Character sketch of Mr. Corrie

Mr.Corrie was a cruel , stone hearted man.

 Aged between fifty and sixty.
Cold homourless eyes, thick beard and cruel lined
mouth.
Barbaric attitude towards humanity
Under rates women and considered them incapable of
becoming great scientist or artist.
Scientist ; invented a bomb
 Promoted war by creating bomb
Wanted to make war more horrible and
devastating
Greedy for money and fame
 Character sketch of Mrs. Meldon
Widow ,her husband died after hearing the news of
his son’s death.
Sister of Mr. Corrie
Aged about forty-three
Lost her son in war
Sensitive and not fretful
Kind hearted and feel for humanity
 Significance of the title

• a thought-provoking message.
• title is ironic in nature .
• progress does not mean the development.
• brutal use of the weapons .
• focuses on worrisome aspect of
destruction.
 Central idea of the Play

• We should not favour war.

• Destruction of mankind on a large
scale.
• Anything against humanity should
be abolished.
 Plot of the Play
Climax

Rising Action Falling Action

Exposition Resolution
16
 Climax Mrs.Meldon is convinced that her
Mrs Meldon gently reminds him brother will not suppress his
that his invention will lead to invention.
devastation but he ignores

Rising action
Falling action
Corrie rejoices over his
invention Destroys the sheet on
which formula is written
Mrs Meldon mourns
her son’s death
anniversary

Conclusion She stabs him

Exposition
Professor working on The end is justified,
invention in his study revenge against the
murderer
 Prof. Corrie As A Despiser / Hater
of Humanity
• Selfish, self-centered, and evil-minded
person.
• Developed a formula for a destructive bomb.
• Bomb could take life of innocent people.
• Dreams of becoming a wealthy person.
• Feels pleasure in destruction of mankind.
 Mrs. Meldon as a Mother

• Sensitive, caring and loving mother.

• Lover of humanity and hates war
• Talks about Eddie’s childhood, youth,
killing at war.
• Selfless, unconditional love for her son.
 Mrs. Meldon’s View About War

• Totally against war.

• An organized butchery of youth.
• War snatches world’s peace.
• Threat to humanity.
• Most terrible thing in this world.
 Cause of the Quarrel

• Dangerous invention of bomb.

• Could kill millions in just a few seconds.
• Mrs. Meldon not in favour.
• Tried to convince to destroy his formula.
• Refused as he was selfish and cruel.
• Mrs.Meldon kills Corrie at the end.
 Conflict in the Play
• Ideological in nature.
• Mrs. Meldon loves peace and hates war
• Prof. Corrie, wants to see destruction of world.
• Stops Corrie from inventing bomb.
• Corrie shows inclination towards inventing it.
• Mrs.Meldon kills him to save humanity and
peace of world.
Character Analysis of Henry Corrie
Character Analysis of Mrs. Charlotte
Meldon
 RECAPITULATION

• Professor invents a bomb

• Mrs Meldon mourns her son’s death anniversay
• Corrie rejoices over his invention
• Mrs Meldon stops Corrie from inventing bomb.
• Corrie rejects her proposal.
• Kills him to save humanity.
i. Playwrights often create conflicting characters whose struggle provides for
the crisis or tension in the play. Elaborate with reference to a play you have
read.
Answer: Conflicting characters are the engine of a storyline of
any work of fiction that drive the story forward. Playwrights
often push them into situations of increasing conflict. Conflict,
both internal and external, comes from contradictory warring
(war)traits inside the characters such as fear versus ambition,
and contradiction as a result of a clash between two external
and powerful wills pitted(opposed/to be in fight) against each
other. Some characters eventually concede(suffer) defeat.
Others remain stubborn until they succeed or die.
. In one act play „Progress‟ St. John Ervine establishes basic conflict
between two ideas-the point of view of the war mongering(selling) arm
dealers (represented through the character of Prof. Corrie) and that of
the peace-loving universal mothers (represented by Mrs. Meldon). The
play „Progress‟ has also sufficiently exposed the motive behind wars –
which is to perpetuate(to prolong) and extend the class interests of the
war –mongering imperialists(having dominance) and exploiters, who sit
safe and secure, far behind the fighting lines, when the poor sacrifice
their lives in the trenches. The conflict finally resolves (with a little
violence) in favour of the peace lovers (represented by Mrs. Meldon)
point of view through the murder of Prof. Corrie. It seems that true
progress necessitates the destruction of the means of destruction.
› ii. What is the difference between flexible and inflexible
characters? Explain with reference to any piece of
literature you have come across.
› Answer: A character can be defined as any person, animal, or
figure represented in a literary work. The characters grip the
attention of the reader/ audience and make them want to
know what happens next. The concept of flexible and
inflexible characters is closely tied to character
development. A flexible character is the one who goes
through some sort of change; they show character
development. A protagonist is usually a flexible character.
Inflexible characters, on the other hand, are those who do
not change throughout the course of the story. They serve
to show contrast to flexible ones, refusing to grow and
remaining in one place or mentality.
› In one act play „Progress‟ by St. John Ervine, Mrs. Meldon is a
dynamic character because she changes from a weak, lonely and
fretful women into a strong, confident, and passionate woman.
She changes from a bereaved widow to a cold and distant person –
extremely emotional and impulsive in the interest of humanity.
She takes the matter into her own hands. To save the human race
from the deadly invention, she picks a knife and stabs her cruel
brother to death. On the other hand, Professor Henry Corrie is
portrayed as unsocial, cruel and uncourteous person. He is
obsessed by his prior to all human relations. From the outset(start)
of the play, he is persistent to work on a deadly weapon for the
express purpose of fame and fortune. Mrs. Meldon tries her best
to make him change his opinion and intention, but he shows no
flexibility. He refuses to suppress his evil invention and gets
stabbed by his own sister.
› Q3) What are the main elements of a play? Elaborate any one of
them.
› Ans. The elements of a play include setting, plot,
characters, dialogue,theme, conflict, language.
› A plot is a sequence of events within a play that
tells a story. Essentially, a plot is what makes a
story. Five components make up a plot: exposition,
rising action, climax, falling action, and resolution--
conflict and theme help drive the plot forward.
Characters are introduced in the exposition part of
the plot.
› Exposition - Introduces the setting, characters, and the
story's primary conflict.
› Rising Action - Begins after the introduction of the
conflict and carries most of the story's details. It builds
intensity as it progresses toward the climax.
› Climax - The most intense part of the plot. The conflict is
at its most intense moment.
› Falling Action - After the conflict has reached its peak,
the story begins to wrap up. Any other minor disputes
are now resolved.
› Resolution - All loose ends of the story have been
resolved. The story concludes.
 Q.4 Critically analyze conflict in any play you have
recently read. Explain how it resolves.

Ans. The play “Progress” exemplifies both external and internal conflicts.
The external conflict is between Professor Corrie- an agent of
destruction, and Mrs. Meldon an ambassador of peace. Professor Corrie
is excited that he has invented the formula for an extremely deadly
bomb which could wipe millions as if they never existed. He shares his
triumph with his sister Mrs. Meldon and expects that she would be
equally happy. Mrs. Meldon, on the other hand, is not happy at all.
Already in mourning for her husband and son-the war victims, she tries
to convince Professor Corrie that he should destroy his formula as it will
destroy life, but he rejects her appeal disdainfully. Mrs. Meldon now
undergoes an internal conflict. She has to choose between her brother
and humanity. Finally, she resolves to save the humanity and thus stabs
her own brother to death as it was the only means left to destroy the
deadly formula.
Q.5 What are the main elements of a play? Elaborate any
one of them.
Ans. The elements of a play include setting, plot, characters,
dialogue, monologue/soliloquy, theme, conflict, language,
spectacle and rhythm. Plot is a very important element of a play. It
consists of the main events of the story on which play is based. It
can be termed as the skeleton of the play. It is composed of clearly
defined problems for the characters to solve. The plot of a play
should be both astonishing and credible. A typical plot consists of
the following phases: exposition, which is introduction to main
characters, setting and beginning of the conflict; rising action,
when conflict gradually intensifies; climax, which is the peak of
tension, anticlimax/falling action, when situation reverses and
moves towards the final resolution. A good plot is vital to a good
play
6. Critically analyze conflict in any play you have recently read. Explain how it
resolves.
Ans. The play “Progress” exemplifies both external and internal conflicts. The
external conflict is between Professor Corrie- an agent of destruction, and Mrs.
Meldon an ambassador of peace. Professor Corrie is excited that he has invented
the formula for an extremely deadly bomb which could wipe millions as if they
never existed. He shares his triumph with his sister Mrs. Meldon and expects that
she would be equally happy. Mrs. Meldon, on the other hand, is not happy at all.
Already in mourning for her husband and son-the war victims, she tries to convince
Professor Corrie that he should destroy his formula as it will destroy life, but he
rejects her appeal disdainfully. Mrs. Meldon now undergoes an internal conflict.
She has to choose between her brother and humanity. Finally, she resolves to save
the humanity and thus stabs her own brother to death as it was the only means left
to destroy the deadly formula.
7.Explain the elements of the plot represented by the blob in the
context of the play you have recently read.
Ans. There are five elements of a plot as represented by the given blob which are exposition,
rising action, climax, falling action and resolution. The play which I have read is “Progress”. In
exposition the author introduces the study of professor Corrie where he seems very excited for
his invention. Corrie rejoices over his invention as it can destroy a vast city in a few seconds.
Rising actions denote the introduction of the formula to Mrs. Meldon who is already in a state
of sorrow and grief. Mrs. Meldon gently reminds him that his invention will lead to the death of
hundreds of young men like her son Eddie. But he ignores her words and gloats over his
invention and the fame and wealth. Climax of the play happens at the moment when Mrs.
Meldon tries to convince him to destroy his formula. As it can cause much damage to humanity
but he doesn’t get convinced. Falling actions appear in the form of a strong debate between
Professor Corrie and Mrs. Meldon. It paves way to the resolution in the play in which
Mrs.Meldon couldn’t control herself and killed Professor Corrie by stabbing him with a knife.
Though she doesn’t want to do so but she finds it essential to save the humanity. She feels that
this is a justifiable revenge against murderer of her son on the occasion of the death
anniversary of her son.
8. Recall the theme of a play you have read and explain whether it is of
individual or universal significance.
Ans. I have read the play “Progress” which has a universal theme. It reveals anti-
war theme. It signifies that we should not favour war and weapons of mass
destruction as it causes destruction to mankind on a large scale. We should not
give rise to the feelings of hatred and enmity through wars. Basically the play is
written after World War I which had perished a number of families all over the
world. The writer wants to spread the message of humanism through this play as
he believes that anything that is against humanity should be abolished for the
peaceful living of all human beings. In the play “Progress” Professor Corrie has
invented a formula which will make war in future over in a few hours. He will sell
it to the country which will offer him the best incentive for it. Blinded by the lust
for money, Professor Corrie forgot all about humanity and peace of the world.
Mrs. Meldon wants her brother to destroy his formula only to save humanity. She
kills him by the end of the play as she fails to convince Professor to destroy it.
9. What is the difference between flexible and inflexible characters?
Explain with reference to any piece of literature you have come
across.
Answer: A character can be defined as any person, animal, or figure
represented in a literary work. The characters grip the attention of the
reader/ audience and make them want to know what happens next.
The concept of flexible and inflexible characters is closely tied to
character development. A flexible character is the one who goes
through some sort of change; they show character development. A
protagonist is usually a flexible character. Inflexible characters, on the
other hand, are those who do not change throughout the course of
the story. They serve to show contrast to flexible ones, refusing to
grow and remaining in one place or mentality.
In one act play „Progress‟ by St. John Ervine, Mrs. Meldon is a dynamic
character because she changes from a weak, lonely and fretful women into a
strong, confident, and passionate woman. She changes from a bereaved widow
to a cold and distant person – extremely emotional and impulsive in the interest
of humanity. She takes the matter into her own hands. To save the human race
from the deadly invention, she picks a knife and stabs her cruel brother to death.
One the other hand, Professor Henry Corrie is portrayed as unsocial, cruel and
uncourteous person. He is obsessed by his prior to all human relations. From the
outset of the play, he is persistent to work on a deadly weapon for the express
purpose of fame and fortune. Mrs. Meldon tries her best to make him change
his opinion and intention, but he shows no flexibility. He refuses to suppress his
evil invention and gets stabbed by his own sister.
What is one act play?Illustrate with example from the play you have
recently read.