A Matter of Husbands – Ferenc Molnár
Introduction
Ferenc Molnár was a Hungarian playwright known for his clever and entertaining plays. "A Matter of Husbands" is a witty one-act play about trust, jealousy, and the tricks people use in relationships. It is included in the curriculum to help students think about honesty, communication, and the power of words.
Short Summary
A young wife believes her husband is in love with a famous actress. The actress uses her charm and quick thinking to convince the wife that it is all a misunderstanding. The play ends with a clever twist, leaving the truth a mystery.
Detailed Summary
"A Matter of Husbands" takes place in the dressing room of a famous actress. A worried young wife arrives, convinced that her husband is having an affair with the actress. The actress listens kindly and then begins to explain. She tells the wife that sometimes husbands pretend to be interested in someone else just to make their wives jealous and win back their attention. The actress’s words are gentle but clever, and she seems to know exactly what to say to calm the wife’s fears.
As the conversation continues, the actress uses her acting skills to make the story believable. She assures the wife that her husband loves her and that the whole situation is just a game. The wife, feeling relieved, starts to believe the actress. The play is full of quick dialogue, humor, and clever tricks, making it fun to read and watch. The audience is left guessing about what is true and what is not.
In the end, the wife leaves, feeling happy and confident in her marriage. The actress, left alone, reveals with a smile that she may not have told the whole truth. The play ends with a sense of mystery, showing how easily people can be fooled by words and appearances. Molnár’s story is simple, creative, and teaches students to think carefully about trust and honesty in relationships.
Narrative Structure Breakdown
- Exposition: The young wife visits the actress, worried about her husband.
- Rising Action: The actress listens and begins to explain the situation.
- Climax: The actress convinces the wife that her husband is innocent.
- Falling Action: The wife feels relieved and leaves.
- Resolution: The actress hints that the truth may be different from what she said.
Themes & Meanings
- Trust and Jealousy: The play shows how trust can be shaken by doubt.
- Deception: Clever words and actions can hide the truth.
- Ambiguity: Sometimes, it is hard to know what is real in relationships.
Character Sketches
- The Actress: Smart, charming, and skilled at persuasion.
- The Young Wife: Innocent, worried, and easily influenced by others.
- The Husband: Not seen on stage, but his actions cause the conflict.
Important Vocabulary
- Persuasion: Convincing someone to believe or do something.
- Ambiguity: When something is not clear or certain.
- Manipulation: Cleverly controlling or influencing someone.
- Jealousy: Feeling upset when you think someone you love likes another person.
- Deception: Hiding the truth or tricking someone.
Exam-Style Q&A
-
Q:
What is the main conflict in "A Matter of Husbands"?
A: The young wife thinks her husband is in love with the actress. -
Q:
How does the actress resolve the wife’s suspicions?
A: She uses clever words to make the wife believe it was all a misunderstanding. -
Q:
What themes are explored in the play?
A: Trust, jealousy, deception, and ambiguity. -
Q:
How does the play use ambiguity?
A: It leaves the truth about the husband’s actions a mystery. -
Q:
Why is this play important for students?
A: It teaches about trust, communication, and not believing everything you hear.
PDF Download Note
Click print in your browser and choose ‘Save as PDF’ to download this summary.