Going Places

 

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Going Places (By A.R. Barton)

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Introduction

1. The story “Going Places” by A.R. Barton explores the dreams, ambitions, and fantasies of adolescence.
2. It is set in a lower-middle-class neighborhood in England, where people lead simple, working-class lives.
3. The protagonist, Sophie, is a teenage girl who constantly dreams of achieving glamour and success beyond her means.

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Sophie’s Dreams and Personality

4. Sophie is imaginative and ambitious — she dreams of owning a boutique someday, though she lacks money or experience.
5. She also fancies becoming a fashion designer or actress, seeking fame and admiration from others.
6. Her imagination offers an escape from her dull surroundings, making her live in an unreal world.

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Jansie – The Realist Friend

7. Sophie’s friend Jansie is practical and realistic. She knows they both belong to the working class.
8. Jansie often reminds Sophie that after school, they’ll have to work in a biscuit factory to earn a living.
9. Sophie, however, refuses to accept this harsh truth and continues to dream about a glamorous life.

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Sophie’s Family Background

10. Sophie lives with her father, mother, little brother Derek, and elder brother Geoff. The family’s financial condition is modest.
11. Her father is a hardworking man who enjoys football matches on television and doesn’t take Sophie’s fantasies seriously.
12. Geoff, her elder brother, works as an apprentice mechanic. He is quiet, mature, and doesn’t talk much about his life.
13. Sophie admires Geoff deeply and feels he lives in a world she cannot reach. She wants to be part of his adventures and freedom.

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The Imaginary Meeting with Danny Casey

14. One day, Sophie claims that she met the famous Irish footballer Danny Casey near Roy’s shop.
15. She tells Geoff that Danny spoke to her and even promised to meet her again the following week.
16. Geoff doubts the story but doesn’t argue much. When their father hears about it, he laughs it off, saying Sophie's stories will cause her great trouble someday.
17. Sophie, however, begins to believe her own story, convinced that she truly met him and that he will meet her again.

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The Meeting that Never Happened

18. On the decided evening, Sophie goes to the canal to meet Danny Casey. The place is quiet, and she waits eagerly.
19. As time passes, Danny never appears — yet Sophie keeps imagining his presence, replaying their supposed meeting in her mind as if it were real. 
20. She returns home disappointed, shattered by her hollow fantasies, but continues to live in her world of fantasy, using imagination to escape her reality.

Theme and Message

• The story presents a sharp contrast between fantasy and reality.
• It reflects the dreams of adolescents who wish to “go places” but are restricted by their social and economic backgrounds.
• Barton beautifully captures the inner world of a dreamer, showing how unchecked imagination can lead to heartbreak.
• The story ends with a subtle message: it is good to dream, but one must remain grounded and practical.

On the Face of It

 

On the Face of It – Susan Hill

Characters

1. Derry – A 14-year-old boy with one side of his face burnt by acid.

2. Mr. Lamb – An old man with a tin leg, who owns a beautiful garden.

Setting

• The play is set in Mr Lamb’s garden, a calm and green place symbolising peace and acceptance.
• Derry enters the isolated garden by chance, which becomes a turning point in his life.

Summary / Plot Overview

1. Derry enters the garden

• Derry enters cautiously into Mr Lamb’s garden.
• Mr Lamb surprises Derry by greeting him warmly and saying everyone is welcome in his garden.
• Derry plans to leave but is stopped by Mr Lamb’s friendly nature.

2. Derry’s fears and insecurities

• Derry explains that others are scared of him because of his burnt face.
• He feels isolated and unloved.
• Derry believes people find him ugly and often make him feel inferior.
• He even admits that he himself hates looking at his face in the mirror.

3. Mr Lamb’s acceptance and wisdom

• Mr Lamb listens patiently and changes the subject by talking about plucking crab apples.
• Derry thinks he is avoiding the topic like everyone else.
• Mr Lamb gently asks about the cause of his burnt face.
• Derry reveals that acid burnt one side of his face, which will remain scarred forever.
• Mr Lamb responds calmly — says that everything made by God is interesting.
• He shares his own experience of disability — his tin leg and how children mock him as “Lamey-Lamb.”
• Yet, Mr Lamb remains cheerful, positive, and friendly.

4. Conversation on inner beauty

• Mr Lamb compares life to the story of “Beauty and the Beast.”
• Derry says that unlike the tale, no kiss can change his face; he will always remain a “monster.”
• His mother only kisses him on the unburnt side, deepening his emotional pain.
• Mr Lamb encourages him to see beauty in life and not in appearances.
• He says, “You’ve got a whole world to look at.”

5. Derry’s change in attitude

• Derry opens up about people’s rude comments and pity.
• Mr Lamb advises him not to listen to negative voices or hide from society.
• He narrates a story of a man who was so scared of bad things that he locked himself inside, but a picture frame fell on him and killed him anyway.
• Moral: Fear and hatred can harm us more than any physical injury.

6. Derry’s transformation

• Derry starts liking Mr Lamb’s company and garden.
• He expresses his wish to return and help pluck crab apples.
• Mr Lamb welcomes him, telling him he’ll meet many friends there.
• Derry goes home to tell his mother but promises to return.

7. The tragic end

• Mr Lamb, talking to himself, feels doubtful whether Derry will return.
• Derry’s mother forbids him to go back, but he insists — saying that if he doesn’t go, he’ll never be able to face the world.
• Derry runs away from home and returns to the garden.
• He finds Mr Lamb dead under an apple tree, possibly from a fall.

Theme	Description
Acceptance & Positivity	Mr Lamb teaches Derry to accept himself and others without prejudice.
Loneliness & Isolation	Both characters are lonely — Derry due to his face, Mr Lamb due to his age and disability.
Appearance vs Reality	The play highlights that real beauty lies within, not in physical looks.
Courage & Transformation	Derry transforms from a withdrawn boy to one who wishes to live meaningfully.

Message / Moral

• The play teaches the importance of self-acceptance and positive thinking.

• Physical deformities should not define a person’s identity or worth.

• Life becomes beautiful when we stop fearing others’ opinions.

• Mr Lamb’s optimism and kindness bring a remarkable change in Derry’s outlook.

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Important Quotes

1. “You’ve got a whole world to look at.” – Mr Lamb

2. “It’s all the same – flowers, bees, apples, and people.” – Mr Lamb

3. “If I choose, I can go anywhere.” – Derry

4. “Hatred can do more harm than any acid.” – Mr Lamb

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Character Sketches

Derry

• Sensitive, withdrawn, insecure, but intelligent.

• Suffers from low self-esteem due to his disfigurement.

• Initially bitter, but transforms after meeting Mr Lamb.

• Learns to value life and self-worth.

Mr Lamb

• Old, wise, and lonely man with a tin leg.

• Represents optimism, acceptance, and wisdom.

• Sees beauty and goodness in everything created by God.

• Becomes a mentor and friend to Derry.

• His death is tragic but leaves behind a life-changing lesson for Derry.

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Moral / Conclusion

• “On the Face of It” shows that true beauty lies within.

• Self-acceptance is the key to happiness.

• Mr Lamb’s brief meeting transforms Derry’s attitude forever.

• The play ends tragically but delivers a powerful message of hope and courage.