A Matter of Husbands Summary and Exercise [Question & Answer]

Introduction

'A Matter of Husbands' is a one-act play written by Ferenc Molnar. He is widely regarded as Hungary’s most celebrated and controversial playwright. There are three main characters in the play. They are Earnest Young Woman (Alfred’s wife), Sara (a Famous Actress) and Alfred (Lawyer, husband of Earnest Young Woman). It is a very twisted one-act play that depicts the story of Earnest Young Woman. She is married to a lawyer who knows Famous Woman. This play sheds the light on the roles of actors on the stage and in real life and how much they are capable of keeping us in an illusion.

A Matter of Husband

Main Summary of the A Matter of Husband

‘A Matter of Husbands’depicts the story of an Ernest Woman who is married to a lawyer who knows of a Famous Woman. The Ernest Woman comes to the Famous Woman because she believes that her husband is cheating on her with the Famous Woman. The famous woman weaves a tale about how it is a cleverly staged act where the man is attempting to trick his wife to get more affection from her.

When the Famous Woman finally convinces the Ernest Woman that the story is true we find out that the husband was hiding in the closet the whole time.

This play would require only two female actresses. Our group has many strong comedic female actresses that could make these parts very overdramatic. The relationship between the two will need to grow and both of the performers will need to be very comfortable with each other. I don’t think either of the characters in this one-act is particularly likeable. The actor playing the Ernest Woman would need to be very ditzy and gullible and the Famous Woman would have to be very wicked and twisted.

This one-act A Matter of Husbands is somewhat of a set; nothing too flashy but still enough to create a mildly realistic setting. Lighting would be very basic and standard. I think that blocking could add a lot to this piece and add another layer of comedic humour to the piece.

As for costuming, I see the Famous Woman wearing a floor-length gown with matching gloves and a fur coat and the Ernest Woman wearing a frumpy dress with white shoes with the socks sticking out. I think that the costuming will help introduce the characters before they even begin speaking. With a one-act, there is not a lot of time for character development so any way to help reveal something about the characters is necessary.

Summary of A matter of Husbands - II

At the beginning of the play, the Earnest Young Woman is shown on the stage impatiently waiting for the famous actress.  The Famous Actress is called 'Sara'. As Sara enters the stage through the curtain, Earnest Young Woman rushes to her and angrily asks her to return her husband. The Famous Actress boldly denies that she has stolen her husband. She says she knows him because once the contract for a case has been given to him. She asks Earnest Young Woman what makes her believe that Alfred is in love with her. 

Earnest The Young Woman tells her that her husband sends her flowers and writes a love letter. After hearing this, the actress blushes and continues to deny receiving any flowers or notes from him. In order to make Earnest Young Woman believe that she and her husband have a misunderstanding, she now claims that something strange happened. Famous Woman convinces Earnest Young Woman that her husband is playing with her in an attempt to make her jealous and gain her attention and love back. Then, the innocent young lady realizes her mistake and apologizes. Famous Actress calls Alfred from her personal bedroom after the eager young lady exits the stage. In this way, the play ends.

Conclusion

A Matter of Husbands is a play written by Ferenc Molnar. He is the most celebrated and controversial playwright. This is a play of suspense. The Earnest Young Woman comes to the Famous Actress and asks her to give her husband back. She thinks that her husband is in deep love with Famous Actress. She appears there very angrily and asks the Famous actress to return her husband because she complains that her husband is in a love affair with her. She has found the evidence as love letters and flowers. The famous Actress replies that he does so to get more affection and love from his wife. Earnest Young Woman believes the story of the Famous Actress. She fools Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her husband. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs for sorry with her. Earnest Young Woman leaves the stage and the famous Actress calls Alfred to come out of her boudoir.

Exercise of A Matter of Husband

Answer the following questions.

a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress?

Earnest Young Woman asks a favour of returning her husband from The Famous Actress because she loves her husband very much but she comes to know The Famous Actress has stolen her husband from her.

b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with a Famous Actress?

Answer: According to the Earnest Young Woman, her husband sends flowers to The Famous Actress. She comes to know about it from a florist. One day, her husband forgets the love letter on the table, which says her husband is unable to call the Famous Actress and beg an apology offering her thousands of kisses.

c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How?

According to the basic conversation between Earnest Young Woman and famous Actress, it Seems as Earnest Young Woman is convinced by the argument of Famous Actress.

The Famous Actress tells her that Earnest Young Woman’s husband has had a love affair with the actress so she gets jealous and regains love from her. She tells her that many actresses easily accept such proposals for the sake of reunion of the families.

d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding as they are talking about him?

According to the play, the Earnest Woman’s husband appears at the end of the play when the Famous Actress calls him to come out of her boudoir. This means throughout the entire play the Earnest Young Woman’s husband is hiding in the famous Actress boudoir.

e. When do you feel that a Famous Actress is really good at acting?

I feel the famous Actress is really good at acting when she tells the Earnest Young Woman that her husband is playing a game upon her to make her jealous so that she will change her personality and can try to impress him by any means. She asks for a lock of hair, which the Earnest Young Woman brings with her. She says Alfred has that because her hair-dresser may steal and give it to him.

f. How do we come to know that a Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love?

From the final part of the play we come to know that the famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love. Alfred is called to come out of the Famous Actress boudoir. It’s obvious that the Earnest Young woman is fooled and they are in love.

g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.

A Matter of Husbands is a one-act written by the most celebrated and controversial playwright Ferenc Molnar. This play sheds light on the role of actors on the stage and in real life and how much they are capable of keeping us in an illusion.

In the beginning, the Earnest Young Woman rushes to the Famous Actress angrily, asking her to return her husband. The famous Actress boldly denies that she has stolen her husband. She says she knows him because once the contract for a case was given to him. Earnest Young Woman tells her that her husband sends her flowers and writes love letters. She reads her husband’s love letter for the actress.

Upon the circumstance, the actress smiles and still begins to deny that she has received any flowers or any letters from him. Now she fools Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her jealous and gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realises her misdeed and begs for sorry with her. Earnest Young Woman leaves the stage and the famous Actress calls Alfred to come out of her boudoir.

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Reference to the Context

a. Sketch the character of a Famous Actress.

The Famous Actress is a young, renowned, and beautiful actress who is envied by the ordinary woman. On the outside, she looks innocent and harmless but in reality, she is mean and wicked. She is cunning and deceitful as seen in the way she concocts a story to sway the woman from believing that her husband was having an affair with her. She also lives an immoral life as seen in the conclusion of the story where it was revealed that Alfred, the ordinary woman’s husband was actually in her house.

b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress.

In the story, “A Matter of Husband '', the ordinary woman is portrayed as a simple-minded and timid person who was easily deceived by the false story told by the actress. She had come to the actress in tears completely sure that her husband was having an affair with the actress. However, the actress told a story to her about how her husband was trying to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Without asking questions, the ordinary woman believed her and was brought into the story. In the end, it was revealed that her husband was actually in the actress’s room. This shows that the actress was cunning while the ordinary woman was timid.

c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?

Yes, I agree with her argument. Men associated with theatre mostly have an ordinary, simple-minded and timid wife who can be easily deceived by the false story. In the act too, Alfred was hiding in the actress’s room so as to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Thus, men take advantage of the cunning actress to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back.

d. How does a Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman?

Famous Actress makes a fool of Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her jealous and gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realises her misdeed and begs sorry with her.

e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house as a part of the setting the play in A Matter for Husband?

The scene is a drawing room and the design and colourings are exotic and suggestive of the apartment of the famous Hungarian actress in which this dialogue takes place. When the curtain rises the Earnest Young Woman is discovered, poised nervously on the edge of a gilt chair. It is plain she has been sitting there a long time. For perhaps the fiftieth time she is studying the furnishings of the room and regarding the curtained door with a glance that would be impatient if it were not so palpably frightened. At last, the Famous Actress enters through the curtained door at the right which leads to her boudoir.

f. What do you think about the ending of the play?

The ending of this play ‘A Matter of Husbands’ is totally perfect. And it justifies the ending of the play. The writer does the ending of this play very pertness. He finishes all the nonplus of the character of the play. All the characters are satisfied with one another. The film actress and advocate are very satisfied at the end of the play. They clear the hurdle between them.

They assure her that they have no affair, it is only drama for you. At the end of the play, the young woman is very happy about her husband. The film actress and the husband of a young woman live together without any obstacles. The ending of the play is too good but full of irony. The film actress narrates to a young woman that her husband really loves her but in reality, he has no love for his wife. He only cheats on his wife.

So, at the end of the play ‘A Matter of Husbands, we can assume that “All is well, the end is well.” Innocent people always suffer from shrewd people because they are often sincere in their hearts but cunning people always take advantage of their innocence.

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Reference Beyond The Text

a. Write a paragraph describing your favourite actor/actress.

My Favourite Actor

I like Johnny Depp, an American actor known for his portrayals of unique characters, such as Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” The film’s success, it revealed new doors and nominations for his career. The film also opened a new door for me. Since the film, Johnny Depp has become my favourite actor. I admire Depp as an actor because of his talent, generosity, and devotion. Johnny Depp is one of the most talented actors I’ve seen. He is perhaps one of the most versatile actors of his day and age in Hollywood. Not only is he extremely talented, but he is also a generous man. He is part of several charitable causes. He supports the Make A Wish Foundation and donates frequent packages to the children. Johnny Depp is also a devoted person. He is exceedingly devoted to his family. His favourite activity is to be home playing with the children. There aren’t many actors like Johnny Depp, and I admire him even more for standing out against the rest. He is a gifted actor, kind-hearted, and a devoted person. Johnny Depp is my favourite actor, and I admire him not only as an actor but as a person.

A Matter of Husbands by Ferenc Molnár Exercises

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions. 

a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress? 

Answer: Earnest Young Woman is a simple and straightforward lady who asks a favour of returning her husband from Famous Actressbecause she loves her husband and her husband is in deep love with her. 

b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous Actress? 

Answer: According to the Earnest Young Woman, her husband sends flowers to Famous Actress. She comes to know about it from a florist. He also writes love letter to her which is found by her when he has forgotten to take it with him. 

c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How? 

Answer: From the play, we come to know that there is a basic conversation between Earnest Young Woman and FamousActress. It is found that Earnest Young Woman is fully convinced by the argument of Famous Actress. She tells her that her husband has shown a love affair with her so that she gets jealous and regains love her. She also adds that many actresses accept the proposals like her husband for the reunion of the family. She is convinced by the argument. She is also hopeful to get her husband back. 

d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding as they are talking about him? 

Answer: In the play, Alfred, the Earnest Young Woman’s husband has been hiding in the boudoir and he appears at the end of the play when the Famous Actress calls him to come out. Throughout the whole play, the Earnest Young Woman's husband has been hiding in the famous Actress's bedroom. 

e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at acting? 

Answer: Until the end of the play, it is full of suspense. I feel the Famous Actress is really good at acting when she tells the Earnest young woman that her husband has pretended to love to her or to show love affairs so that Earnest Young Woman gets jealous and regains love from Famous Actress. 

f. How do we come to know that the Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love? 

Answer: At the end of the play, we come to know that the Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love. When Alfred is called to come out by the Famous Actress, he comes out of the boudoir of Famous Actress. From the situation, it's clear that they are in love. 

g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph. 

Answer: 

A Matter of Husbands is a play written by Ferenc Molnar. He is the most celebrated and controversial playwright. This is the play of suspense. The Earnest Young Woman comes to the Famous Actress and asks her to give her husband back. She thinks that her husband is in deep love with Famous Actress. She appears there very angrily and asks the Famous actress to return her husband because she complains that her husband is in a love affair with her. She has found the evidence as love letters and flowers. The famous Actress replies her that he does so to get more affection and love from his wife. Earnest Young Woman believes the story of the Famous Actress. She fools Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her husband. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs sorry with her. Earnest Young Woman leaves the stage and the famous Actress calls Alfred to come out of her boudoir. 

Reference to the context 

a. Sketch the character of a Famous Actress. 

Answer: The Famous Actress is a young, renowned, and beautiful actress who is envied by the ordinary woman. On the outside, she looks innocent and harmless but in reality, she is cunning and wicked. Her deception may be apparent in the way she tells a lady that her spouse is cheating on her with someone else. She also lives an immoral life as seen in the conclusion of the story. It is revealed that Alfred is in her bedroom which proves that they have immoral and unethical relations. 

b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress. 

Answer: In the story, "A Matter of Husband", the ordinary woman is portrayed as a simpleminded and timid person who was easily manipulated by the actress's fabricated story or false story. She comes to the Famous Actress in tears completely sure that her husband is having a love affair with her. The Famous Actress makes a story to her about her husband. According to her, her husband is trying to regain love by doing things to get her jealous. Without asking questions, the ordinary woman believes her story and she is convinced too. In the end, it is revealed that her husband is in the actress's room. This shows that the actress is cunning while the ordinary woman is timid. 

c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not? 

Answer: No, I don’t agree with her argument that the men associated with theatre mostly use the actresses of theatre to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Theatre performers have ordinary, simple-minded and timid wives who can be easily deceived by the false story. In this play, Alfred’s wife is so simple-minded who is easily deceived by the cunning actress. Her husband also gets a chance to take advantage to stay in the room of the Famous Actress. 

d. How does Famous Actress make a fool of Earnest Young Woman? 

Answer: Famous Actress makes a fool of Earnest Young Woman by saying that her husband wants to get love from her. She makes Earnest YoungWoman believe that he wants to gain love from her so he is playing such a trick to make her jealous. As a result, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misunderstanding and apologizes to her.

e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house as a part of the setting of the play in A Matter for Husband? 

Answer: The theatre house is suitable for the setting of the play. It has the appropriate environment for the two women to take part in the conversation. When the curtain rises the Earnest Young Woman discovers the edge of a gilt chair. It is plain she has been sitting there a long time. At last, the Famous Actress enters through the curtained door at the right which leads to her boudoir. In the context of a private room inappropriate to share private issues. 

f. What do you think about the ending of the play? 

Answer: The play ‘A Matter of Husbands’ is totally perfect. It has an elusive and twisty ending. The last scene of the play is most remarkable and touchy. In this play, it is clearly shown that skilful people always take advantage of simple-minded innocent people. At the end of the play, the young woman becomes very happy with her husband because her husband wants to get love from her according to the Famous Actress. In the play, the Famous Actress is able to cheat on her easily. 

The Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young woman live together without any obstacle. The ending of the play is romantic but full of irony. From the ending of the play ‘A Matter of Husbands’, we can think that innocent people are always suffered by cunning people because they are often sincere by hearts but the cunning people always take advantage of their innocence.