Question
1. How did Prince Dimitri turn the tables on his
disloyal guards?
or Q.
Discuss the significance of the title ‘The Death Trap’?
Prince
Dimitri, the young ruler of Kedaria, had a rivalry with Karl dynasty. Dimitri’s
enemies hatched a plan to assassinate him. They were ready for the right
moment. Of his three regiments of guards, the Kranitzki regiment was loyal to
the enemy. Three officers of the regiment, Colonel Girnitza, Major Vontieff and
Captain Shultz planned to murder Prince Dimitri as soon as his loyal Andrieff
regiment left the guard.
Dr Stronetz, a dear friend and personal physician of Prince offered
him a drug so that he can die. The prince refused and said that he would meet
death on his own terms. The doctor tried to save him by telling the
conspirators that the prince would die of heart disease within six days.
The murderers, fooled by the doctor’s words decided
to wait.
The doctor revealed the prince that he had a terminal heart condition
and Dimitri decided to use the drug. At the last moment, he turned the tables
on his would-be killers by offering them drugged wine. All of them died in a
tragic climax. Prince Dimitri could never escape the death-trap, but he
successfully set a death-trap for his would-be assassins. Thus, the title of the
play is apt/ appropriate/ justified. Hence, the title is very significant.
Question
2. Analyze the character of Prince Dimitri.
Prince Dimitri is the protagonist in the one-act play, "The
Death Trap", written by Saki, H.H. Munro. He is the ruler of Kedaria. His
dynasty had a long-standing rivalry with Karl dynasty. Dimitri was the last
surviving member ruling the kingdom. His enemies conspired to kill
him. He bravely faced the situation and utilized the
circumstances to eliminate his would-be
assassins.
He
knew that he was helpless as his loyal regimental guards would be away. He had
no weapons to defend himself. No one was allowed to see him except his friend
and physician, Dr Stronetz. Prince Dimitri is a practical man. Though he is
quite young, he is mature and accepted his fate. He informed his position to
the doctor. He denied the drug offered by the doctor saying that he would meet
death on his own terms. This shows the courage of Dimitri.
When the doctor revealed that he had terminal heart disease, he
decided to end his life with the drug. He told the doctor that he was a monarch
and he did not like to be kept waiting by death. This shows that he is imperious
and proud. He was quick-witted. He offered drugged wine to his disloyal
officers and killed them.
Question
2. Analyze the character of Dr Stronetz.
Dr
Stronetz was a close friend and personal physician of Prince Dimitri. Dimitri’s
enemies hatched a plan to assassinate him, and they were ready for the right
moment. When Dr Stronetz came to know of the conspiracy, he offered a drug to
Dimitri as he could do nothing. He reasoned that the prince should not be
allowed to be butchered in cold blood. He took pity on the prince. He was
quick-witted. When the assassins entered to murder Dimitri, he saved him by
telling them that the prince would not live more than six days because of his
heart problem. The murderers were fooled by the doctor’s words and decided to
wait.
As a doctor, he was quite efficient. He was
sure of Dimitri’s heart problem as soon as he examined him. He was instrumental
in making the prince kill his would-be killers. Though the prince died as he
drank the drugged wine, his wish was fulfilled as he could kill the
conspirators. After all, the drug given by him saved the prince as it killed
his enemies. It also saved the prince from dying a miserable death by a weak
heart. Thus, Dr Stronetz was compassionate, loyal and friendly to Dimitri. He
was a quick-witted, efficient physician.
Courtesy:
https://telugulo-english.blogspot.com/2016/03/the-death-
trap.html?showComment=1582307232282#c4115408044480488990
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