The Bishop’s Candlesticks
The Bishop's Candlesticks is a one-act play by Norman
McKinnel, adapted from a chapter in Victor Hugo's novel Les Misérables. It
tells a poignant story of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power
of kindness. Here's a breakdown of its plot and structure:
Summary of “The Bishop’s Candlesticks”
“The Bishop’s Candlesticks” is a one-act play by Norman
McKinnel, adapted from a scene in Victor Hugo’s novel Les Misérables. The play
centers on a compassionate Bishop and his encounter with an escaped convict
named Jean Valjean.
The play is set In the Bishop’s kitchen on a cold winter
night. The Bishop, a kind and generous man, offers shelter and food to Valjean,
who is desperate and hardened by his harsh experiences in prison. Despite the
Bishop’s kindness, Valjean steals the Bishop’s silver candlesticks. When the
police capture Valjean, the Bishop surprisingly claims that he had gifted the
candlesticks to Valjean. This act of forgiveness profoundly impacts Valjean,
leading to his moral redemption and transformation.
Plot Summary:
The play is set in a small French village in 1815. The
Bishop of Digne, a kind and generous man, lives in a modest dwelling next to
the local prison. His sister, Persome, is more practical and sometimes resents
his generosity.
The play opens with Persome lamenting the Bishop's habit of
giving away their possessions to the poor. Their last valuable items are a pair
of silver candlesticks, which Persome insists the Bishop should keep.
A convict, Jean Valjean, who has been imprisoned for
nineteen years for stealing bread, arrives at the Bishop's door seeking shelter
for the night. Initially hesitant, the Bishop, guided by his Christian
principles, welcomes the convict and offers him food and a bed.
During the night, Valjean, hardened by years of mistreatment
in prison, steals the Bishop's silver candlesticks and flees.
The next morning, the police arrive with Valjean, whom they
have apprehended with the candlesticks. They are about to take him back to
prison when the Bishop intervenes. To the astonishment of the police and
Valjean, the Bishop claims he gave the candlesticks to Valjean as a gift and
scolds Valjean for forgetting the other silver candlesticks he had supposedly
given him.
The police, confused but respecting the Bishop's authority,
leave. The Bishop then takes the two other silver candlesticks and gives them
to a bewildered Valjean, urging him to use the money to become an honest man.
He tells Valjean that he has bought his soul for God and that Valjean now
belongs to God.
Valjean, deeply moved and shaken by this unexpected act of
grace, is left to contemplate the Bishop's words and the possibility of a new
life. The play ends with Valjean's internal struggle and a sense of hope for
his future.
Structure:
* One-Act Play: The
play is concise and unfolds in a single continuous scene, maintaining dramatic
tension and focus on the central conflict and transformation.
* Exposition: The
opening establishes the setting, introduces the main characters (the Bishop and
Persome), and hints at the Bishop's character and the family's financial
situation. The arrival of Valjean introduces the central conflict.
* Rising Action: The
tension builds as Valjean's suspicion and desperation are evident. The Bishop's
unwavering kindness despite Valjean's gruffness sets the stage for the pivotal
moment. Valjean's theft of the candlesticks escalates the conflict.
* Climax: The arrival
of the police with Valjean and the Bishop's unexpected lie form the climax of
the play. This is the turning point where the Bishop's extraordinary act of
forgiveness takes place.
* Falling Action: The
police depart, and the Bishop gives Valjean the remaining candlesticks,
reinforcing his message of redemption and offering Valjean a path to a new
life.
* Resolution
(Open-ended): The play concludes with Valjean's internal struggle and the
powerful impact of the Bishop's actions. While Valjean's future is not
explicitly shown, the audience is left with a sense of hope and the
understanding that the Bishop's kindness has profoundly affected him.
Key Structural Elements and Their Impact:
* Unity of Time and
Place: The single setting and the action unfolding in a relatively short period
contribute to the play's intensity and focus.
* Limited Characters:
The small cast allows for a concentrated exploration of the dynamic between the
Bishop and Valjean.
* Dialogue-Driven:
The play relies heavily on dialogue to reveal character, advance the plot, and
explore the themes of justice, mercy, and redemption.
* Symbolism: The
silver candlesticks are a central symbol, representing both material value and
the Bishop's spiritual wealth and generosity. Their transformation from stolen
goods to a gift signifies the potential for Valjean's transformation.
* Dramatic Irony: The
audience knows Valjean has stolen the candlesticks, creating dramatic irony
when the Bishop claims he gave them as a gift. This heightens the emotional
impact of the Bishop's actions.
In essence, the structure of The Bishop's Candlesticks is
tightly woven to deliver a powerful and moving story about the transformative
power of compassion and the potential for redemption, even in the most hardened
of individuals. The single act format and focused character interaction amplify
the impact of the central moral message.
Key Characters
* The Bishop: A
selfless and compassionate man who embodies Christian values and extends
kindness to everyone, regardless of their background.
* Jean Valjean (The
Convict): A hardened ex-convict, initially filled with bitterness and
resentment due to his unjust imprisonment and harsh treatment.
* Persome: The
Bishop’s sister, who is more practical and concerned about their financial
situation, contrasting with the Bishop’s generosity.
* Marie: The Bishop’s
servant.
* Sergeant and
Soldiers: The police officers who apprehend Valjean.
1.
The Bishop’s Cottage – The main setting of the
play, where the Bishop lives with his sister Persome. It is a simple yet warm
home, reflecting the Bishop’s humble and charitable nature.
2.
The Kitchen – Where Persome and the maid talk
about the Bishop’s generosity.
3.
The Dining Room – Where the Bishop offers food
to the convict and where the candlesticks are placed.
4.
The Bishop’s Bedroom – Where the Bishop rests,
and from where the convict steals the silver candlesticks at night.
5.
The Prison – Mentioned in the convict’s
backstory; he was imprisoned for stealing food and suffered greatly there.
6.
The Police Station – Where the convict is taken
after being caught with the stolen candlesticks.
7.
The Church – Indirectly mentioned as part of the
Bishop’s religious duties and his belief in kindness and charity.
These places help shape the narrative by emphasizing the
contrast between the warmth and kindness of the Bishop’s home and the harshness
of the outside world that the convict has endured.
Themes
* Forgiveness: The
play emphasizes the transformative power of forgiveness and its ability to
inspire change in even the most hardened individuals.
* Redemption: It
showcases the possibility of redemption and second chances, highlighting that
people can change their ways when shown compassion.
* Compassion and
Kindness: The play underscores the importance of empathy and kindness in
breaking down barriers and fostering positive change in others.
* Justice vs. Mercy:
It explores the conflict between strict adherence to the law and the
application of mercy and understanding.
* The Nature of Good
and Evil: The play suggests that external factors and treatment can
significantly influence an individual’s character and that inherent goodness
can be awakened through compassion.
Paraphrased
The play The Bishop’s Candlesticks by Norman McKinnell is a
touching story about kindness, forgiveness, and redemption. It is inspired by
an episode from Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables and revolves around a
compassionate Bishop and a hardened convict.
The Bishop’s Generosity
The story takes place in the Bishop’s cottage, where he
lives with his sister, Persome. The Bishop is known for his extreme generosity,
often giving away his belongings to help those in need. Persome, however, is
worried about how much he sacrifices for others, believing that people take
advantage of his kindness.
One evening, a ragged and exhausted man arrives at the
cottage. He is an escaped convict who has suffered greatly in prison. The
Bishop welcomes him without hesitation, offering him food, warmth, and shelter
despite the convict’s rough and suspicious nature.
The Convict’s Story and the Theft
As they talk, the convict shares his tragic past. Years ago,
he was sentenced to ten years in prison for stealing food to feed his starving
wife. Instead of receiving compassion, he was treated cruelly, making him
bitter and distrustful of the world.
Although the Bishop treats him with kindness, the convict
remains skeptical. He notices a pair of silver candlesticks on the table—one of
the Bishop’s most valued possessions, given to him by his mother. Desperate and
believing that money is the only way to survive, he steals the candlesticks and
runs away in the middle of the night.
The Bishop’s Act of Mercy
The next morning, the police arrest the convict and bring
him back to the Bishop’s house. They catch him with the stolen candlesticks and
assume he is a thief. However, the Bishop surprises everyone by telling the police
that he had given the candlesticks to the convict as a gift. The police,
respecting the Bishop’s word, release the convict.
The convict is deeply moved by this unexpected act of mercy.
For the first time in years, he experiences true kindness. Before leaving, the
Bishop hands him the candlesticks and encourages him to start a new life as an
honest man. The convict, transformed by this generosity, walks away with
renewed faith in humanity.
