THE PROGRESS (ONE-ACT PLAY)

Q.1.What is the significance of the title of the play ‘Progress?

Answer: The title holds significance with respect to the central idea of the play. The writer
delivers a thought-provoking message through his play that progress does not mean the
development and brutal use of the weapons of mass destruction. The title is ironic in nature as
it is not about progress rather focuses on the worrisome aspect of destruction of the human
race by the use of latest armament.

Q.2.What is the central idea/ Theme of the play ‘Progress?

Answer: The central idea of the play ‘Progress’ is that we should not favour war as it causes
destruction of mankind on a large scale. We should not give rise to the feelings of hatred, and
enmity through wars. Basically, this play is written after the First World War(1914-1918). The
writer wants to spread the message of humanism through this play as he believes that anything
that is against humanity should be abolished for the peaceful living of all human beings.

Q.3. Describe the climax of the play ‘Progress’.

Answer:

Progress is a play by John Ervine, written in 1919, one year after the First World War. The play's
central idea is that progress does not mean the development and use of weapons of mass
destruction.

The climax of the play "Progress" is a thrilling and intense moment where all the conflicts and
tensions reach their peak. It's the turning point of the story, where the stakes are highest and
the characters face their biggest challenges.

The climax of the play ‘Progress’ happens at the moment when Mrs. Meldon comes to the room
of her brother Professor Corrie and is shocked to see the invention of her brother. As she is
against wars and destructive weapons, she asks her brother to destroy the invention by his own
hands otherwise it would cause much damage to humanity and peace of the world by killing
millions of people.

The main conflict in Progress is ideological. The play is about the conflict between war and
peace, where one character supports humanity and the other is against it.

Q.4. Describe the important elements of the play ‘Progress’.

Plot

The plot of Progress by John Ervine is a conflict between war and peace. The play presents the
crudeness of war and its aftermath, and argues that progress does not mean the development
and brutal use of weapons of mass destruction.

The main conflict in the play is ideological in nature. Mrs. Meldon loves peace and hates war,
while her brother, Prof. Corrie, wants to see the destruction of the world with his bomb
invention.

Corrie rejoices over his invention, which can destroy a vast city in a few seconds. He says that
his invention will make war in future over in a few hours.

Setting

The play Progress by St. John G. Ervine takes place in 1919, one year after World War I, in the
study of Professor Henry Corrie in a remote village in northern England. The play is a one-act
drama that focuses on the characters of Mrs. Meldon and Professor Henry Corrie.

Characters

There are Five Characters in the play. They are Professor Corrie, A Scientist; Mrs. Meldon, his
sister; Tom, her husband, Eddi, her son; Honnah, a servant maid.

Professor Henry Corrie and Mrs. Meldon are major characters in the play Progress.

Professor Corrie is a dedicated and devoted scientist who lives in isolation in a remote village in
North England.

He is a strong believer in war as a means to peace and is happy about his new invention, a
powerful atom bomb.

Corrie is a symbol of tyranny, destruction, selfishness, and materialism. He has cold, humorless
eyes and cruel lines on his face hidden behind a thick beard.

Mrs. Meldon is a 43-year-old widow who lost her husband and only son in the war.

She is a sensitive-looking widow who suffers deeply from her memories. She is not a fretful,
complaining woman who had suffered bereavement. When she speaks of her loss, she does so
with grace and beautiful dignity.
The climax of the play occurs when Mrs. Meldon comes to her brother's room and is shocked to
see his invention.

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