Summary: The Hour of Truth
"The Hour of Truth" by Percival Wilde is a psychological drama that explores the corrupting influence of money and the strength of moral integrity. Robert Baldwin, secretary to banker John Gresham for thirty-five years at sixty dollars a week, discovers his employer has been misappropriating bank funds. Though Baldwin forces Gresham to close the bank and is the only witness who can testify against him, Gresham offers him a hundred thousand dollars to claim poor memory in court and say "I don't remember" to crucial questions. Baldwin initially refuses indignantly, upholding his lifelong commitment to honesty and honor. However, when he returns home and tells his family about rejecting the bribe, their reaction shocks him. His wife Martha, son John, and daughter Evie gradually persuade him to reconsider, arguing that nobody will lose money, that it's merely a technicality, that Gresham has been good to him, and that the family desperately needs financial security. They rationalize accepting the money as delayed payment for Baldwin's years of underpaid service. As the family pressure mounts, Baldwin's moral resolve weakens. In a powerful moment of self-awareness, he forces his family to admit the dishonesty of what they're proposing, calling them "Shams! Liars! Hypocrites! Thieves!" and acknowledging he is no better. Just as Baldwin appears ready to compromise his principles, Mr. Marshall from the Third National Bank arrives with stunning news: Gresham has confessed everything rather than force his honest friend to testify, knowing Baldwin would never lie. Marshall offers Baldwin a position and praises his integrity. The revelation comes at the precise moment when Baldwin is about to accept the bribe, leaving him overwhelmed with shame and tears. The play demonstrates that true character is tested not just in refusing wrong initially, but in maintaining that refusal when faced with family pressure and financial desperation.
Summary Malayalam: The Hour of Truth
പെഴ്സിവൽ വൈൽഡിന്റെ "ദ അവർ ഓഫ് ട്രൂത്ത്" പണത്തിന്റെ ദുഷിപ്പിക്കുന്ന സ്വാധീനവും ധാർമ്മിക സമഗ്രതയുടെ ശക്തിയും പര്യവേക്ഷണം ചെയ്യുന്ന ഒരു മനഃശാസ്ത്രപരമായ നാടകമാണ്. മുപ്പത്തിയഞ്ച് വർഷം ബാങ്കർ ജോൺ ഗ്രെഷാമിന്റെ സെക്രട്ടറിയായി ആഴ്ചയിൽ അറുപത് ഡോളർ ശമ്പളത്തിൽ ജോലി ചെയ്ത റോബർട്ട് ബാൾഡ്വിൻ, തന്റെ തൊഴിലുടമ ബാങ്ക് ഫണ്ടുകൾ ദുരുപയോഗം ചെയ്യുന്നത് കണ്ടെത്തുന്നു. ബാൾഡ്വിൻ ഗ്രെഷാമിനെ ബാങ്ക് അടയ്ക്കാൻ നിർബന്ധിക്കുകയും കോടതിയിൽ അദ്ദേഹത്തിനെതിരെ സാക്ഷ്യപ്പെടുത്താൻ കഴിയുന്ന ഏക സാക്ഷിയാകുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. എന്നാൽ ഗ്രെഷാം ബാൾഡ്വിനു ഒരു ലക്ഷം ഡോളർ കൈക്കൂലി വാഗ്ദാനം ചെയ്യുന്നു, പ്രധാന ചോദ്യങ്ങൾക്ക് "എനിക്ക് ഓർമ്മയില്ല" എന്ന് പറയാൻ. ബാൾഡ്വിൻ ആദ്യം രോഷത്തോടെ നിരസിക്കുകയും തന്റെ ആജീവനാന്ത സത്യസന്ധതയും മാന്യതയും ഉയർത്തിപ്പിടിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. എന്നിരുന്നാലും, വീട്ടിൽ എത്തി കുടുംബത്തോട് കൈക്കൂലി നിരസിച്ചതിനെക്കുറിച്ച് പറയുമ്പോൾ, അവരുടെ പ്രതികരണം അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ഞെട്ടിക്കുന്നു. ഭാര്യ മാർത്ത, മകൻ ജോൺ, മകൾ ഈവി എന്നിവർ ക്രമേണ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ പുനഃപരിശോധിക്കാൻ പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുന്നു, ആർക്കും പണം നഷ്ടപ്പെടില്ല, ഇത് വെറും ഒരു സാങ്കേതികതയാണ്, ഗ്രെഷാം അദ്ദേഹത്തോട് നല്ലതാണ്, കുടുംബത്തിന് സാമ്പത്തിക സുരക്ഷ ആവശ്യമാണ് എന്നിങ്ങനെ വാദിച്ചുകൊണ്ട്. കുടുംബ സമ്മർദ്ദം വർദ്ധിക്കുമ്പോൾ, ബാൾഡ്വിന്റെ ധാർമ്മിക ദൃഢത ദുർബലമാകുന്നു. ആത്മബോധത്തിന്റെ ശക്തമായ നിമിഷത്തിൽ, അവർ നിർദ്ദേശിക്കുന്നതിന്റെ സത്യസന്ധതയില്ലായ്മ സമ്മതിക്കാൻ അദ്ദേഹം കുടുംബത്തെ നിർബന്ധിക്കുന്നു, അവരെ "വഞ്ചകർ! നുണയന്മാർ! കപടവിശ്വാസികൾ! കള്ളന്മാർ!" എന്ന് വിളിക്കുകയും താനും മികച്ചവനല്ലെന്ന് സമ്മതിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നു. ബാൾഡ്വിൻ തന്റെ തത്വങ്ങളിൽ വിട്ടുവീഴ്ച ചെയ്യാൻ തയ്യാറാകുമ്പോൾ, തേർഡ് നാഷണൽ ബാങ്കിൽ നിന്നുള്ള മിസ്റ്റർ മാർഷൽ ഞെട്ടിക്കുന്ന വാർത്തയുമായി എത്തുന്നു: ഗ്രെഷാം എല്ലാം ഏറ്റുപറഞ്ഞു, തന്റെ സത്യസന്ധനായ സുഹൃത്തിനെ സാക്ഷ്യപ്പെടുത്താൻ നിർബന്ധിക്കുന്നതിനുപകരം, ബാൾഡ്വിൻ ഒരിക്കലും കള്ളം പറയില്ലെന്ന് അറിഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ട്. ബാൾഡ്വിൻ കൈക്കൂലി സ്വീകരിക്കാൻ പോകുന്ന കൃത്യമായ നിമിഷത്തിലാണ് ഈ വെളിപ്പെടുത്തൽ വരുന്നത്, അവനെ നാണക്കേടും കണ്ണീരും കൊണ്ട് നിറയ്ക്കുന്നു. യഥാർത്ഥ സ്വഭാവം പരീക്ഷിക്കപ്പെടുന്നത് ആദ്യം തെറ്റ് നിരസിക്കുന്നതിൽ മാത്രമല്ല, കുടുംബ സമ്മർദ്ദവും സാമ്പത്തിക നിരാശയും നേരിടുമ്പോൾ ആ നിരസനം നിലനിർത്തുന്നതിലാണെന്ന് ഈ നാടകം വ്യക്തമാക്കുന്നു.
About Percival Wilde
Percival Wilde (1887-1953) was an American dramatist and writer known for his plays and detective stories. He also worked as a book reviewer for newspapers. His notable works include "Brothers," "Little Shot," and "First is Last." "The Hour of Truth" is taken from his volume "A Question of Morality and Other Plays." Wilde's plays are characterised by their psychological depth and exploration of moral dilemmas. "The Hour of Truth" stands as a striking psychological study examining the corrupting influence of money on individuals and families, demonstrating how financial pressure can challenge even the strongest moral convictions.
Questions and Answers
Why was Mr. Gresham arrested?
Mr. Gresham was arrested for misappropriating the funds of the bank he owned. He had been illegally using depositors' money for his own purposes, which constitutes embezzlement and financial fraud. Baldwin discovered Gresham's wrongdoing only a day before the bank collapsed and forced him to close the bank immediately. Although Gresham had the means to pay back all depositors so nobody would lose money, misappropriating bank funds is a crime regardless of restitution. Since Gresham was a prominent figure, the authorities could not let him go unpunished despite the technical nature of his offense.
Why didn't Baldwin explain his position to the papers?
Baldwin chose not to explain his position to the newspapers out of loyalty, discretion, and principle. He felt it wasn't necessary to publicly defend himself, saying "I didn't think it was necessary to tell them." He was confident the truth would emerge at the trial and clear his name naturally. He left it to Gresham to reveal that depositors wouldn't lose money, stating "I left that for Gresham. It will come out tomorrow." When asked why he didn't speak to the papers, he simply replied, "Nothing forced me to answer, John." He was willing to have his name "rest under a cloud meanwhile" because he knew the truth would ultimately prevail.
What was the change in the attitude of the members of the family when they came to know the amount of the bribe?
When the family first hears about Baldwin rejecting Gresham's request, they are supportive and proud. Martha says "I knew! I knew!" and John exclaims "Bully for you, Governor!" However, when Baldwin reveals the bribe was one hundred thousand dollars, the atmosphere transforms dramatically. Evie responds "What!" in shock and seems "hypnotised" by the figure. They begin rationalizing why Baldwin should accept the money, arguing it's merely unpaid wages, nobody will lose money, it's just a technicality, and they desperately need financial security. John points out he earns only thirty dollars a week and would have to support his parents. The family's moral compass shifts entirely based on the financial magnitude, becoming willing to overlook dishonesty and pressure Baldwin to compromise his integrity.
How did Baldwin react to the opinion of his family?
Baldwin's reaction evolves through confusion, disillusionment, and moral outrage. He looks "appealingly from one face to another" but finds they avert their eyes. He desperately seeks their support, saying "Say 'Yes', one of you" or "No," but receives only silence. He walks to the window exclaiming, "God knows I never thought this day would come!" He forces them to confront the truth: "I know that if I take this money I do a dishonourable thing. And you know it!" When they continue rationalizing, he erupts with brutal honesty, calling them "Shams! Liars! Hypocrites! Thieves!" and adding "And I no better than any of you!" Despite this moral clarity, family pressure erodes his resolve, and he begins weakening, admitting "Yes, John" when asked if he initially refused because he feared their judgment.
Was Baldwin disloyal to Mr. Gresham? Quote the relevant sentences to support your answer.
No, Baldwin was not disloyal to Mr. Gresham. He maintained remarkable loyalty throughout the ordeal. When Baldwin discovered the wrongdoing, he handled it privately first: "I told him he would have to make good... the first step would be to close the bank." When refusing the bribe, he maintained respect: "I didn't use your words, John. He's too old a friend of mine for that." He explains his restraint: "If it had been anybody else, I would have struck him across the face. But John Gresham and I were boys together." He expresses genuine sorrow about the punishment: "I think that I'm sorry for John Gresham—terribly sorry" and even wishes "I wish I could" let him off. Baldwin understood that telling the truth was the highest form of respect—honoring their relationship by being the honest man Gresham always knew him to be.