The Bishop's Candlesticks

Summary


The Bishop is a very noble person, who is always ready to help anyone in distress. The doors of his house are always open.
But his sister Persona is materialistic. She feels that the simplicity and nobility of the bishop is misused by the people. He is often cheated and taken undue advantage of. Mere Gringoire, the old women who lives on the top of the hill and does no work made such a fool of the bishop by making him sell his silver salt cellars to pay her rent.

One day, past midnight a convict enters the bishop’s house and asks for food at the point of a knife. The convict is rude, hard hearted, rough and suspicious and full of fear. The bishop treats him with kindness and provides him food and shelter.

The convict is tempted to steal the bishops silver candlesticks. But he gets caught and is arrested and brought before the bishop. This candlestick was very dear to the bishop as it was the parting gift presented to him by his mother. But the bishop called the convict his friend. Later he gives the candlesticks to the convict, blesses him and tells him a secret way to Paris. The convict is deeply touched and filled with remorse.

The bishop succeeds in reforming the hardened convict and tells him that the human heart is the abode of God.

Sample Q's And A's

Question (1): Who are Marie and Persome?

Answer: Marie is a young girl who comes to help in the housework. Persome is the Bishop's sister.

Question (2): Where had the Bishop gone? Why was he late for supper?

Answer: The Bishop had gone to Marie's house to look up her mother as she was unwell.

Question (3): What had happened to the salt cellars?

Answer: Mere Gringoire was an old lady who was unable to pay the house rent. The Bishop asked Marie to sell the salt cellar for him. He used the money to pay off the poor woman's house rent.

Question (4): What did the convict first ask for?

Answer: He asked for some food.

Question (5): What does the convict tell him about his life before imprisonment?

Answer: He had a cottage with vines growing. He had a wife but she was ill. They had a bad year and there was no food to eat. He had to steal some food for her.

Question (6): What treatment did the convict receive in prison?

Answer: The convict received inhuman treatment. They whipped him, fed him with unhealthy food, made him sleep on cold hard boards.

Question (7): What effect did such inhuman treatment have on the convict?

Answer: The convict felt hurt and afraid. Soon they broke down his spirit. He became just a number and forgot his earlier life. He even lost the ability to pray, for he says, he lost his soul.

Question (8): What happened to him after his escape from jail?

Answer: The wardens were looking for him. He had nowhere to go, no food to eat. He even had to steal the clothes that he was wearing.

Question (9): How does the Bishop and Persome react when they learn that the candlesticks are stolen?

Answer: Persome reacts violently. She shouts and is very upset. The Bishop is also upset but he blames himself for exposing the convict to the temptation.

Question (10): What does the Bishop tell the sergeant?

Answer: The sergeant sees the convict moving stealthily and arrests him. He brings the convict along with the stolen candlesticks to the Bishop's house. But the Bishop tells him that the convict is his friend and the silver candlesticks were a gift from him.

Question (11): What significant role did the Bishop's Candlesticks play?

Answer: The candle sticks were a dying gift from the Bishop's mother. They reminded him of her. But when the convict received them as a gift, they become symbols of hope and life. The convict would now believe in the goodness of life and lead a steady life