21. What is John Barthwick’s profession?

a) Lawyer

b) Politician

c) Doctor

d) Banker

(Answer: b) Politician

Explanation: John Barthwick is a wealthy and influential politician in The Silver Box. As a member of the British upper class, he represents moral hypocrisy and privilege. While he advocates for liberal values in public, his actions contradict his principles. He protects his son, Jack, from legal consequences, while allowing the poor, like James Jones, to be harshly punished. His character serves as a critique of politicians who speak about justice but fail to uphold it in practice.

22. What political party does John Barthwick belong to?

a) Conservative

b) Socialist

c) Labour

d) Liberal

(Answer: d) Liberal

Explanation: John Barthwick is a Liberal politician, which is significant because the Liberal Party at the time advocated for social justice and equality. However, Barthwick’s personal actions contradict his political beliefs. Instead of promoting fairness, he protects his son from justice while allowing an innocent woman to suffer. This highlights Galsworthy’s critique of political hypocrisy—many leaders claim to support the poor and marginalized but fail to act when it matters.

23. What item does Mrs. Jones’s husband find and claim as his own?

a) Gold watch

b) Crimson silk purse

c) Silver bracelet

d) A stack of money

(Answer: b) Crimson silk purse

Explanation: James Jones, struggling with poverty and frustration, finds a crimson silk purse and keeps it for himself. This act is driven by desperation and resentment toward the wealthy, who he believes steal in their own way but never face punishment. His actions mirror those of Jack Barthwick, who also steals but faces no consequences. The purse symbolizes injustice, as the law quickly punishes the poor man while ignoring the crimes of the rich.

24. What is the main conflict introduced in The Silver Box?

a) A love triangle between characters

b) A murder investigation

c) Theft and social inequality

d) A political scandal

(Answer: c) Theft and social inequality

Explanation: The play’s main conflict revolves around theft and the injustice of social inequality. While both Jack Barthwick and James Jones commit theft, only Jones is punished. This contrast highlights Galsworthy’s critique of the legal system, which favors the wealthy elite while punishing the poor for minor crimes. The play uses parallels between the two thefts to demonstrate how justice is not blind—it is influenced by social status and wealth.

25. Which character first suspects Mrs. Jones of stealing the silver box?

a) Jack Barthwick

b) Marlow, the butler

c) John Barthwick

d) Detective Snow

(Answer: b) Marlow, the butler

Explanation: Marlow, the Barthwick family’s butler, is the first to suspect Mrs. Jones. His suspicion arises not from evidence but from class bias—as a poor woman working in a wealthy home, she is an easy target for blame. Marlow’s actions reflect how servants were often forced to align with their wealthy employers, even at the cost of truth and justice. His testimony against her helps perpetuate the false accusation, leading to her unjust suffering.

26. Why does Detective Snow arrest Mrs. Jones?

a) She confesses to the theft

b) She is found with the stolen silver box

c) She tries to escape

d) She attacks an officer

(Answer: b) She is found with the stolen silver box

Explanation: Mrs. Jones is wrongfully arrested because the stolen silver box is found in her possession. However, the reality is that her husband, James Jones, stole it, and she was completely unaware. This arrest exemplifies the unfair treatment of the working class, as Mrs. Jones is immediately assumed guilty without a fair investigation. Detective Snow’s role demonstrates how law enforcement often targets the poor while ignoring crimes committed by the wealthy.

27. What is Jack Barthwick’s attitude towards his actions?

a) He is remorseful

b) He finds it amusing and irresponsible

c) He tries to justify his behavior

d) He seeks forgiveness

(Answer: b) He finds it amusing and irresponsible

Explanation: Jack Barthwick shows no remorse for his actions. He laughs off his crime and behaves carelessly, knowing that his father’s wealth and influence will protect him. This reflects the privilege of the upper class, who commit crimes without facing real consequences. Jack’s indifference serves as a sharp contrast to James Jones, who steals out of desperation and faces severe punishment. This comparison further highlights the hypocrisy of the legal system.

28. Why is Mrs. Jones’s family in financial trouble?

a) James Jones lost his job

b) Mrs. Jones is a widow

c) Their house burned down

d) They lost money in a failed business

(Answer: a) James Jones lost his job

Explanation: Mrs. Jones and her family are struggling because James Jones lost his job, leaving them with no source of income. This financial hardship pushes him to steal out of frustration and desperation. Galsworthy uses this situation to emphasize the economic struggles of the working class, who often turn to crime as a last resort. The play suggests that poverty is not a moral failing but a result of systemic inequality, making James’s punishment even more unjust.

29. What ultimately happens to James Jones?

a) He is sentenced to hard labor

b) He is set free

c) He is given probation

d) He escapes from court

(Answer: a) He is sentenced to hard labor

Explanation: James Jones is sentenced to hard labor, despite the fact that Jack Barthwick also committed theft and faced no punishment. This verdict is the play’s most damning criticism of the legal system, showing that justice is applied unequally. While Jack is protected by his father’s wealth, James is condemned due to his poverty. The contrast between their fates is Galsworthy’s ultimate statement on class-based legal injustice, making the audience question the morality of the system.

30. What does the young woman accuse Jack Barthwick of doing?

a) Writing a false cheque

b) Stealing her purse

c) Threatening her life

d) Destroying her property

(Answer: b) Stealing her purse

Explanation: Jack Barthwick steals a young woman’s purse while drunk, an act that mirrors James Jones’s theft of the silver box. However, while James is quickly caught and punished, Jack’s crime is covered up by his father, who pays the woman off to keep quiet. This moment is crucial to the play’s theme of legal hypocrisy—it demonstrates how money and influence can erase crimes committed by the wealthy, while the poor face severe consequences for similar offenses.