About the Lesson
The Bishop’s Candlesticks by Norman McKinnel is a powerful one-act play adapted from a key episode in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables. The play centers on themes of compassion, forgiveness, and the transformative power of mercy. Set in the humble kitchen of a Bishop’s home, it tells the story of a convict, hardened by years of imprisonment, who is caught stealing the Bishop’s prized silver candlesticks. The convict’s desperation and anger are met with an unexpected response: the Bishop forgives him and even claims to the police that the candlesticks were a gift.
Through this act of mercy, the play explores the contrast between the rigid, unforgiving nature of the law—represented by the French police officers—and the boundless compassion of the Bishop. The police view the convict as a criminal deserving punishment, but the Bishop sees him as a man capable of redemption. This moment of grace changes the convict’s life, making him reconsider his own morality and offering him a chance at a new beginning.
The candlesticks, symbolic of both material and emotional value, become a metaphor for hope and transformation. The play highlights the moral belief that kindness and forgiveness have the power to reshape even the most troubled souls, offering a deeply human perspective on justice and mercy.
Text /Summary/Critical Analysis
Here are MCQs based on the excerpt from The Bishop's Candlesticks:
Why is Persome displeased with Marie at the start of the scene?
a. Marie burned the soup
b. Marie did not tell her where the Bishop had gone
c. Marie didn’t tend the fire properly
d. Marie broke the silver salt-cellars
What does Persome scold the Bishop for when he returns?
a. For being out too late
b. For neglecting his responsibilities at home
c. For wasting money on trivial matters
d. For selling their family’s silver salt-cellars
Why does Persome think the Bishop shouldn't assist Mere Gringoire?
a. She believes Mere Gringoire is lazy and fakes illness
b. She thinks the Bishop should only support family members
c. She feels they have already helped her enough
d. She doesn’t trust the bailiff
Why does the Bishop sell the silver salt-cellars?
a. To pay for Marie’s mother's medical treatment
b. To help Mere Gringoire pay her rent
c. To buy food for the house
d. To donate to the church
How does Persome feel about the Bishop’s habit of giving away their belongings?
a. She wholeheartedly supports it
b. She feels proud of his generosity
c. She is frustrated and angry
d. She believes he should give even more
What is the importance of the candlesticks to the Bishop?
a. They were a gift from Persome
b. They were passed down from their ancestors
c. They were given by his mother on her deathbed
d. They were gifted by the church
How does Persome react upon learning that the salt-cellars were sold?
a. She is indifferent
b. She feels relieved because they needed the money
c. She is very upset and feels it was too much
d. She understands and supports the decision
What does Persome accuse the villagers of doing?
a. Pretending to be ill to get the Bishop's attention
b. Stealing from the Bishop's house while he's away
c. Lying about their financial troubles
d. Spreading gossip about the Bishop and his family
What does the Bishop give to Marie before she leaves?
a. His overcoat
b. His comforter (scarf)
c. Money for her mother
d. The silver candlesticks
Why does the Bishop feel he can do "so little" to help people?
a. He has lost faith in God
b. He believes he lacks the resources to help
c. He feels Persome holds him back
d. He thinks people deceive him
What is Persome's initial reaction when she sees the convict with a knife?
a. She calmly offers him food
b. She tries to protect her brother
c. She is scared and questions what he's doing with the knife
d. She immediately calls for help
Why does the convict enter the Bishop's house?
a. To steal money
b. To escape from the police
c. To ask for forgiveness
d. To find food after starving for three days
How does the Bishop react when the convict threatens him?
a. He calls for help
b. He stays calm and offers to help the convict
c. He fights back
d. He locks the convict in the house
Why does the Bishop ask Persome for the cupboard keys?
a. To lock away valuables
b. To give the convict food
c. To secure the house from the convict
d. To hide the candlesticks
What does the convict plan to do with the candlesticks at first?
a. Return them to the Bishop
b. Use them as weapons
c. Sell them to start a new life
d. Leave them behind out of guilt
How does the convict describe his experience in prison?
a. A time of self-reflection and redemption
b. A period of being treated like a wild animal, tortured, and dehumanized
c. A peaceful and quiet time
d. A hopeful period of positive change
Why does the Bishop tell the Sergeant that he gave the candlesticks to the convict?
a. To deceive the convict
b. To prevent the convict from being sent back to prison
c. Because he truly gave them as a reward
d. To confuse the Sergeant
What does the convict ask the Bishop to do before he leaves?
a. Forgive him
b. Give him more food for his journey
c. Bless him, as he believes it will help him
d. Help him escape the police
How does the convict respond when the Bishop gives him the candlesticks at the end?
a. He refuses to take them
b. He is amazed and overwhelmed with emotion
c. He angrily throws them on the floor
d. He silently accepts and leaves
What does the Bishop suggest about the path to Paris?
a. It is dangerous and should be avoided
b. It is a lonely path that the gendarmes do not like to patrol at night
c. It is heavily guarded by the police
d. It will lead the convict back to prison
Here are the main questions with their correct answers:
Why is Persome displeased with Marie at the start of the scene?
Answer: b. Marie did not tell her where the Bishop had gone
What does Persome scold the Bishop for when he returns?
Answer: d. For selling their family’s silver salt-cellars
Why does Persome think the Bishop shouldn't assist Mere Gringoire?
Answer: a. She believes Mere Gringoire is lazy and fakes illness
Why does the Bishop sell the silver salt-cellars?
Answer: b. To help Mere Gringoire pay her rent
How does Persome feel about the Bishop’s habit of giving away their belongings?
Answer: c. She is frustrated and angry
What is the importance of the candlesticks to the Bishop?
Answer: c. They were given by his mother on her deathbed
How does Persome react upon learning that the salt-cellars were sold?
Answer: c. She is very upset and feels it was too much
What does Persome accuse the villagers of doing?
Answer: a. Pretending to be ill to get the Bishop's attention
What does the Bishop give to Marie before she leaves?
Answer: b. His comforter (scarf)
Why does the Bishop feel he can do "so little" to help people?
Answer: b. He believes he lacks the resources to help
What is Persome's initial reaction when she sees the convict with a knife?
Answer: c. She is scared and questions what he's doing with the knife
Why does the convict enter the Bishop's house?
Answer: d. To find food after starving for three days
How does the Bishop react when the convict threatens him?
Answer: b. He stays calm and offers to help the convict
Why does the Bishop ask Persome for the cupboard keys?
Answer: b. To give the convict food
What does the convict plan to do with the candlesticks at first?
Answer: c. Sell them to start a new life
How does the convict describe his experience in prison?
Answer: b. A period of being treated like a wild animal, tortured, and dehumanized
Why does the Bishop tell the Sergeant that he gave the candlesticks to the convict?
Answer: b. To prevent the convict from being sent back to prison
What does the convict ask the Bishop to do before he leaves?
Answer: c. Bless him, as he believes it will help him
How does the convict respond when the Bishop gives him the candlesticks at the end?
Answer: b. He is amazed and overwhelmed with emotion
What does the Bishop suggest about the path to Paris?
Answer: b. It is a lonely path that the gendarmes do not like to patrol at night
Delve into Details
6.A. Answer the following questions briefly
a. Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/ Why not?
b. Why does Persome feel that the people pretended to be sick?
c. The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does he
mean by this statement?
d. Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
e. Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/ Why not? Why is the convict eager to reach Paris?
f. Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about
this change in him?
g. What did Persome mean by, 'charity begins at home'?
h. What is the reason behind the convict quoting a number as his identity?
i. The role of a 'mother hen' aptly fits Persome. Comment.
6.B. Answer in detail
(a) The Convict goes to Paris, sells the silver candlesticks and starts a business. The business prospers and he starts a reformatory for ex-convicts. He writes a letter to the Bishop telling him of this reformation and seeks his blessings. As the convict, Jean Valjean, write the letter to the Bishop.
(b) People say that the smallest change in perspective can transform a life. What facts from the play would you select to justify the above statement with reference to the Bishop?
(c) Evaluate the roles of Persome and the 12-year-old Sudha Murthy (from how I talk my grandmother to read) in the light of the given quote. “I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.” —Pablo Casals
6.A. Answer the following questions briefly:
a. Do you think the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars? Why/Why not?
Yes, the Bishop was right in selling the salt-cellars because his primary concern was helping those in need. He believed that material possessions had little value compared to the act of showing compassion and providing assistance to the suffering. His decision aligned with his belief in charity and selflessness.
b. Why does Persome feel that the people pretended to be sick?
Persome feels that the people pretended to be sick to take advantage of the Bishop's kindness. She believes they are exploiting his generosity and using false claims to gain his attention and assistance, which frustrates her because she feels they are draining their limited resources.
c. The convict says, “I am too old a bird to be caught with chaff.” What does he mean by this statement?
By this statement, the convict means that he is experienced and wise to the ways of the world, particularly in recognizing deception. He is wary and does not easily trust others, thinking that the Bishop's kindness may be a trap to get him arrested.
d. Why was the convict sent to prison? What was the punishment given to him?
The convict was sent to prison for stealing food to save his dying wife. He was sentenced to ten years of hard labor, during which he was treated harshly, dehumanized, and chained like an animal.
e. Do you think the punishment given to the convict was justified? Why/Why not? Why is the convict eager to reach Paris?
No, the punishment was not justified. Although the convict committed a crime, it was driven by desperation to save a loved one. His extreme punishment of ten years of hard labor was disproportionate to the crime. The convict is eager to reach Paris because it is a large city where he can blend in and escape detection by the authorities, offering him a fresh start.
f. Before leaving, the convict asks the Bishop to bless him. What brought about this change in him?
The convict asks the Bishop to bless him because the Bishop’s kindness, forgiveness, and selflessness deeply affected him. Instead of condemning him, the Bishop treated him with dignity, which softened the convict’s hardened heart and made him realize the value of goodness and redemption.
g. What did Persome mean by, 'charity begins at home'?
By saying "charity begins at home," Persome meant that the Bishop should prioritize their own household’s needs before helping others. She feels that by giving away everything, the Bishop is neglecting the well-being of their home and causing unnecessary hardship for them.
h. What is the reason behind the convict quoting a number as his identity?
The convict quotes a number as his identity because, in prison, he was stripped of his humanity and individuality. Instead of being seen as a person, he was reduced to a mere number (15729), a symbol of the dehumanization and lack of dignity he experienced during his imprisonment.
i. The role of a 'mother hen' aptly fits Persome. Comment.
Persome fits the role of a ‘mother hen’ because she is extremely protective of the Bishop and their household. She worries about him, tries to manage their limited resources, and gets upset when she feels that the Bishop’s generosity puts their own well-being at risk. Her concern for the Bishop often comes across as sternness, but it stems from a deep sense of care.
6.B. Answer in detail:
(a) As the convict, Jean Valjean, write the letter to the Bishop:
Dear Monseigneur,
I hope this letter finds you in good health and peace. I am writing to you with a heart full of gratitude and a story of redemption that I owe entirely to you. After leaving your home, I traveled to Paris, where I sold the silver candlesticks you so generously gave me. With that money, I started a small business, and through hard work, it has prospered.
However, my true success lies not in the wealth I have accumulated, but in the new path I have chosen. Inspired by your kindness, I have opened a reformatory for ex-convicts like myself. Here, I provide them with shelter, work, and a second chance—something I never thought possible before meeting you.
Your act of mercy showed me that even the most hardened heart can change, and I strive to pass on that same kindness to others. I now live not as number 15729, but as Jean Valjean, a man who seeks to uplift others.
I humbly ask for your blessing as I continue this journey of reformation and redemption.
With deepest gratitude,Jean Valjean
(b) People say that the smallest change in perspective can transform a life. What facts from the play would you select to justify the above statement with reference to the Bishop?
The play illustrates the transformative power of a shift in perspective through the convict’s journey. The Bishop’s kindness and mercy completely alter the convict’s outlook on life. Initially, the convict is hardened, cynical, and distrustful of humanity after his brutal experiences in prison. He believes that the world is harsh and that people are only out to betray him.
However, when the Bishop forgives him for stealing the candlesticks and even gives them to him as a gift, the convict’s perspective changes. This single act of compassion makes the convict see that there is still goodness in the world. The Bishop’s view that people, even those who have committed wrongs, deserve a second chance transforms the convict from a bitter man into someone capable of redemption. This change in perspective not only redeems the convict but inspires him to lead a life of goodness and reformation.
(c) Evaluate the roles of Persome and the 12-year-old Sudha Murthy (from How I Taught My Grandmother to Read) in the light of the given quote: “I feel the capacity to care is the thing which gives life its deepest significance.” —Pablo Casals
Both Persome and the 12-year-old Sudha Murthy exhibit the capacity to care, but in different ways. Persome’s care is expressed through her protectiveness of the Bishop. She is concerned that his excessive charity might leave them with nothing, and though her concern sometimes comes off as harsh, it is rooted in a deep affection for her brother. She believes that in taking care of their household, she is safeguarding their future, which shows her practical side of caring.
In contrast, the 12-year-old Sudha Murthy demonstrates her care through empathy and responsibility when she teaches her grandmother to read. Her act of teaching arises from her love and respect for her grandmother and a desire to empower her. Through this small, selfless act, she helps transform her grandmother’s life, giving it new meaning and independence.
Both characters show that caring for others is a profound way to give significance to life. Whether it’s protecting loved ones like Persome or helping others achieve their dreams like Sudha, the capacity to care highlights the importance of human connections and compassion