A Matter of Husbands by Ferenc Molnár

Summary for Class 12 NEB Students

Ferenc Molnár (1878–1952) was a Hungarian playwright and novelist, renowned for his sharp observations of human relationships and social behavior. His stories often explore love, marriage, and moral dilemmas with a combination of wit and psychological insight. A Matter of Husbands is a short story that examines marital relationships, misunderstandings, and the complexities of trust between spouses.

The story revolves around the interactions of married couples and focuses on the dynamics between husbands and wives, highlighting how communication, assumptions, and societal expectations influence their relationships. It showcases the humorous yet serious misunderstandings that can arise in domestic life and explores how pride, jealousy, and miscommunication can escalate minor issues into significant conflicts.

The main characters are:

Characters

• Mr. and Mrs. Lajos – Central husband and wife, whose relationship is tested by misunderstandings.

• Neighbors and friends – Supporting characters who contribute to the narrative by observing, commenting on, or influencing the main couple’s interactions.

Plot Summary

The story begins with the Lajos couple engaged in everyday domestic life. A seemingly trivial incident — such as a remark, a misread letter, or an unexpected visitor — sparks a disagreement. Each spouse interprets the event through personal biases, leading to conflict. Their friends and neighbors notice the tension and sometimes offer advice or commentary, which adds humor and social context to the narrative.

As the story progresses, the misunderstanding grows, revealing the deeper issues in the couple’s communication and the pressures of social expectation. Eventually, the situation resolves when both partners recognize their errors, apologize, or compromise. The resolution underscores the importance of trust, open communication, and empathy in maintaining marital harmony.

Themes

• Marriage and trust – How assumptions and jealousy can disrupt marital harmony.

• Communication – The importance of clear communication in relationships.

• Social perception – How societal norms and neighbors’ opinions can influence personal relationships.

• Human nature – Exploration of pride, misunderstanding, and reconciliation in everyday life.

Moral / Message

The story emphasizes that small misunderstandings can escalate if not addressed and highlights the value of patience, trust, and dialogue between partners. It also reflects the universal challenges of marriage and the role of social pressures in personal life.

Glossary

• Marital (adj.): relating to marriage or the relationship of a married couple.

• Jealousy (n.): feeling of envy or suspicion regarding a partner’s attention or affection.

• Misunderstanding (n.): a failure to interpret or understand something correctly.

• Empathy (n.): the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

• Compromise (n.): a settlement of differences in which each party gives up something.

• Domestic (adj.): relating to the home or family life.

Reference to the Context

a. Sketch the character of the Famous Actress.

The Famous Actress in the play A Matter for Husbands is clever, confident, and manipulative. She is attractive and highly skilled in acting, not only on stage but also in real-life situations. In the play, she is involved with Alfred, the husband of the Earnest Young Woman. When the young woman suspects her husband’s infidelity and confronts the actress, the Famous Actress calmly denies any romantic involvement.

Using her intelligence and persuasive ability, she logically convinces the Earnest Young Woman that her doubts are baseless. Her behavior reveals her insincerity and moral weakness. By interfering in a married couple’s life and disguising the truth, she damages their relationship. Therefore, her character appears morally questionable and self-centred.

b. Shed light on the difference between an ordinary woman and an actress.

The major difference between an ordinary woman and an actress lies in their lifestyle, profession, and public exposure. An ordinary woman usually performs her duties privately without public attention. In contrast, an actress works on stage or screen under bright lights and public scrutiny.

Actresses perform scripted roles and must adjust their behavior according to audience expectations. They are constantly judged by society and are more conscious of public opinion. Ordinary women, on the other hand, live more naturally and independently without pressure to maintain a public image. Thus, an actress’s life is shaped by performance and visibility, while an ordinary woman’s life remains personal and grounded.

c. Do you agree with the Famous Actress’s argument that men use actresses to make their estranged wives jealous? Why or why not?

The Famous Actress argues that men associated with the theatre use actresses to make their estranged wives jealous in order to win them back. While this may sometimes be true, it cannot be accepted as a universal truth.

In many cases, men genuinely form emotional or romantic relationships with actresses. Both men and actresses may deliberately deceive wives to maintain such relationships. In the play, the Famous Actress uses this argument merely as a strategy to protect herself and mislead the Earnest Young Woman. Therefore, her explanation appears more like an excuse than a genuine social observation.

d. How does the Famous Actress make a fool of the Earnest Young Woman?

The Famous Actress deceives the Earnest Young Woman through clever arguments and confident explanations. She cites examples of professionals such as authors, composers, lawyers, and theatre managers to support her claim that men use actresses only to arouse jealousy in their wives.

She further claims that actresses indirectly help save marriages, portraying herself as innocent and helpful. Through these misleading arguments, she convinces the Earnest Young Woman that her husband’s behavior is merely a harmless act. In this way, she successfully manipulates and fools the young woman.

e. What role does the theatre house play as a setting in A Matter for Husbands?

The theatre house serves as an important symbolic and functional setting in A Matter for Husbands. A theatre is a place of performance, illusion, and role-playing, which mirrors the deceptive behavior of the characters.

The conversation between the two women occurs on stage, highlighting how acting extends beyond the theatre into real life. The setting reinforces the central theme that people often wear masks and deceive others. Through this setting, the playwright conveys the message that innocent individuals often suffer due to the cunning nature of others.

f. What do you think about the ending of the play?

The ending of the play is ironic yet appropriate. On the surface, it appears that harmony is restored, as the Earnest Young Woman is convinced of her husband’s loyalty. However, in reality, the Famous Actress continues to deceive her.

The playwright cleverly resolves the conflict without revealing the truth, emphasizing how innocence is easily manipulated. Although the ending seems satisfying, it exposes the harsh reality that cunning individuals often succeed while innocent people suffer. Thus, the ending is effective and meaningful.

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Reference Beyond the Text

a. Write a paragraph describing your favorite actor/actress.

Actors portray diverse characters on screen and entertain audiences through their talent. My favorite actor is Shahid Kapoor. He is admired for his versatility, dancing skills, and strong screen presence. He began his career with the film Ishq Vishk and gradually established himself through dedication and hard work.

Despite early challenges, he never lost confidence. Apart from acting, he is known for his discipline, charity work, and positive attitude. Many people admire his fashion sense and try to imitate his style. His commitment to his craft and ability to portray complex roles make him my favorite actor.

b. Assess the Famous Actress in the light of John Cassavetes’ view on the portrayal of women.

John Cassavetes criticizes the degrading portrayal of women in films, where they are often shown as objects of desire rather than individuals with dreams and depth. He believes such representations ignore women’s emotional and intellectual complexity.

In A Matter for Husbands, the Famous Actress reflects this concern. She is portrayed as manipulative and morally indifferent, involved in a relationship with a married man. Instead of empathizing with another woman, she uses deception to protect herself. Her character lacks emotional sensitivity and reinforces the stereotype criticized by Cassavetes. Thus, his argument applies strongly to the portrayal of the Famous Actress in the play.