31. What is the name of the butler in the Barthwick household?

a) Roper

b) Marlow

c) Snow

d) Smith

(Answer: b) Marlow

Explanation: Marlow is the butler in the Barthwick household. As a servant of a wealthy family, he plays a key role in reinforcing the social hierarchy of the time. His loyalty to the Barthwicks leads him to testify against Mrs. Jones, despite knowing that she may be innocent. Marlow’s character highlights how working-class individuals often had to align with their employers to maintain their own job security, even if it meant participating in injustice.

32. What class issues are highlighted in The Silver Box?

a) The struggles of the middle class

b) The wealth gap and inequality in justice

c) The challenges of the aristocracy

d) The advantages of capitalism

(Answer: b) The wealth gap and inequality in justice

Explanation: The Silver Box primarily highlights the wealth gap and inequality in justice. The play contrasts the legal treatment of Jack Barthwick, a wealthy young man, and James Jones, a poor worker. Despite both committing theft, only Jones is punished, revealing how the justice system protects the upper class while oppressing the working class. Through this stark inequality, Galsworthy critiques the deep-rooted injustices within society and the favoritism of the law towards the rich.

33. What does Mrs. Jones insist when she is accused of theft?

a) She is innocent and never stole the box

b) She stole it because she needed money

c) Her husband forced her to steal it

d) She does not remember what happened

(Answer: a) She is innocent and never stole the box

Explanation: Mrs. Jones vehemently maintains her innocence when accused of stealing the silver box. She is wrongly blamed because of her low social status, despite having no involvement in the theft. Her protestations of innocence highlight the systemic bias of the justice system, which easily suspects and condemns the poor. She represents the struggles of honest, hardworking individuals who are often unfairly targeted, further emphasizing the play’s theme of class-based injustice.

34. What item is central to the plot of the play?

a) A diamond ring

b) A silver cigarette box

c) A pearl necklace

d) A gold watch

(Answer: b) A silver cigarette box

Explanation: The silver cigarette box serves as the symbolic centerpiece of the play. It represents material wealth and privilege, as well as the unequal justice system that protects the rich while punishing the poor. The theft of the box sets the entire conflict in motion—while Jack Barthwick commits a more serious crime, it is the theft of this minor object by James Jones that leads to serious legal consequences. The box thus becomes a metaphor for the class divide.

35. How does John Barthwick react when he learns of the silver box theft?

a) He tries to cover it up

b) He calls the police immediately

c) He blames his son for the crime

d) He offers to pay Mrs. Jones for the box

(Answer: a) He tries to cover it up

Explanation: John Barthwick, a politician, is more concerned with protecting his reputation than seeking justice. When he learns of the silver box theft, his immediate reaction is to cover it up, ensuring that his family’s status remains untarnished. His hypocrisy is exposed, as he publicly promotes justice and fairness but privately manipulates the legal system to protect his own interests. This reflects Galsworthy’s critique of the upper class’s moral corruption.

36. How does Jack Barthwick’s crime differ from James Jones’s crime in the eyes of the court?

a) Jack is punished more harshly

b) Jack’s crime is ignored while James is punished

c) Both are treated equally

d) Jack is praised for his honesty

(Answer: b) Jack’s crime is ignored while James is punished

Explanation: The court completely ignores Jack Barthwick’s crime while severely punishing James Jones. Despite the fact that Jack stole a purse and wrote a bad cheque, he faces no consequences, while Jones is sentenced to hard labor for stealing the silver box. This stark double standard exposes the corruption of the justice system, reinforcing the play’s central theme—that laws favor the rich while punishing the poor for lesser offenses.

37. What does James Jones argue about wealth and justice?

a) The rich and poor are treated equally

b) The wealthy can escape justice while the poor are punished

c) Justice always favors the innocent

d) The poor deserve harsher punishment

(Answer: b) The wealthy can escape justice while the poor are punished

Explanation: James Jones argues that the legal system is biased in favor of the rich, as wealthy individuals commit crimes without consequences, while the poor are punished for even minor offenses. His frustration reflects the broader societal anger towards the injustices of class-based legal discrimination. His argument reinforces Galsworthy’s message—that justice is not truly impartial but instead skewed by power and wealth.

38. What is the setting for the trial scene in The Silver Box?

a) A private office

b) A police courtroom

c) The Barthwick dining room

d) A public park

(Answer: b) A police courtroom

Explanation: The trial scene takes place in a police courtroom, where James Jones is unjustly convicted. This setting is crucial to the play’s commentary on class injustice, as it visually represents the legal system’s failures. The courtroom becomes the place where wealth exerts its power—Jack Barthwick is not even questioned, while James Jones is treated as a criminal from the start. The setting reinforces the rigid class divisions in society.

39. How does Mrs. Jones’s character demonstrate dignity despite her struggles?

a) She is aggressive and fights for her rights

b) She remains calm and respectful despite false accusations

c) She refuses to help her husband

d) She lies to protect herself

(Answer: b) She remains calm and respectful despite false accusations

Explanation: Mrs. Jones remains composed and dignified despite facing false accusations and the humiliation of arrest. Unlike James Jones, who reacts angrily, she chooses to maintain her self-respect, showing strength through quiet endurance. Her character represents the silent suffering of working-class women, who bear the brunt of injustice but continue to persevere. Her dignity in the face of adversity makes her a tragic yet admirable figure in the play.

40. What is one message conveyed by The Silver Box?

a) The power of forgiveness

b) The importance of honesty in relationships

c) The unfairness of the class-based justice system

d) The value of friendship

(Answer: c) The unfairness of the class-based justice system

Explanation: The primary message of The Silver Box is the injustice of a class-based legal system. The play demonstrates how laws that claim to be impartial actually favor the rich while punishing the poor for crimes of necessity. Through Jack Barthwick’s escape from justice and James Jones’s harsh punishment, Galsworthy reveals the hypocrisy of a system that serves the wealthy and disregards the struggles of the working class. This makes the play a powerful critique of social inequality.