Question

Derry and Mr. Lamb both are victims of physical impairment, but their attitudes towards life are completely different. Explain. 
 

Hint:

Use contrasting adjectives effectively: Pessimistic vs. Optimistic, Withdrawn vs. Welcoming, Bitter vs. Cheerful, to clearly highlight the difference in their attitudes.

Answer 1

Contrast the character traits and coping mechanisms of the two central figures in Susan Hill's play.

In the play "On the Face of It", both Derry and Mr. Lamb suffer from severe physical impairments. Derry has one side of his face heavily disfigured by acid, while Mr. Lamb has an artificial tin leg, having lost his real leg in a bomb explosion during the war. However, their reactions to their disabilities are diametrically opposite.
Derry is a young boy who has allowed his physical tragedy to scar his psychology. He is deeply bitter, cynical, and suffers from an immense inferiority complex. He constantly obsesses over what others think of him and isolates himself, believing the world is a cruel place that hates him. He equates his physical burn with a ruined life.
On the other hand, Mr. Lamb is a mature, profoundly optimistic individual who takes his impairment in his stride. He is completely unbothered by the neighborhood kids calling him "Lamey-Lamb." Instead of shutting himself away, he keeps his garden gates open for everyone, welcoming company. He focuses on the beauty of nature, loves reading books, and believes in celebrating life rather than mourning a lost limb. Mr. Lamb's positive outlook ultimately acts as a catalyst, completely transforming Derry's pessimistic view of the world.