English Notes Chapter 3.2 “The Welcome” Class 7 Maharashtra Board

Notes For All Chapters – English Class 7

About the Author:

• Rabindranath Tagore was a great writer, poet, and thinker.
• He wrote songs, poems, stories, plays, and novels.

Summary of the Play:

“The Welcome” is a funny one-act play about Chaturbhuj Babu, a young man who returns to his village after passing his M.A. exams. He hopes everyone will praise him, but instead, they are only interested in his cat!

Key Characters and Their Roles:

1. Chaturbhuj Babu:

• The main character, proud of passing his M.A. exams.
• He feels ignored because everyone talks about his cat, not his achievement.

2. Nilratan:

• A villager who meets Chaturbhuj on the road.
• He only asks about the cat instead of congratulating Chaturbhuj.

3. Zamindar (Landlord):

• He meets Chaturbhuj and praises the cat.
• He invites the cat to his house, not Chaturbhuj.

4. Uncle Satu:

• Chaturbhuj’s uncle who also talks only about the cat.

5. Mother:

• She welcomes Chaturbhuj home but is more interested in feeding the cat.

6. Maid and Little Boy:

• They annoy Chaturbhuj by talking about the cat.

7. Sadhucharan and Paran:

• Villagers who ask about the cat, ignoring Chaturbhuj’s accomplishment.

8. Urchins (Street Kids):

• They tease Chaturbhuj by calling him “Pussy Cat.”

Important Scenes:

1. Scene 1 (On the Road):

• Chaturbhuj meets Nilratan and Zamindar.
• Both admire the cat and ignore Chaturbhuj’s academic success.
• Chaturbhuj gets frustrated because no one congratulates him.

2. Scene 2 (At Home):

• Chaturbhuj comes home angry because no one cares about his achievement.
• His family focuses on feeding and caring for the cat.
• He becomes furious and decides to leave.

3. Scene 3 (On the Road Again):

• Chaturbhuj walks away with his bag, leaving the cat behind.
• Villagers continue asking about the cat, and street kids tease him.
• He angrily says the cat is dead and storms off.

Themes:

1. Humor and Irony:

• Everyone focuses on the cat, ignoring Chaturbhuj’s big achievement.
• This creates a funny and ironic situation.

2. Frustration of Unacknowledged Efforts:

• Chaturbhuj feels upset because his hard work is not recognized.

3. Misplaced Priorities:

• The villagers and family care more about a cat than human success.

Key Vocabulary:

Plump: Fat.

Confound: A word to show anger.

Stunner: Something very beautiful.

Brats: Naughty kids.

Swarm: A noisy group.

Men of worth: Valuable or important people.