A Matter of Husbands Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

A Matter Of Husbands

Summary

‘A Matter of Husbands’ by Ferenc Molnar is a very twisted one act. It depicts the story of an Ernest Woman who is married to a lawyer who knows of a Famous Woman. The Ernest Woman comes to the Famous Woman because she believes that her husband is cheating on her with the Famous Woman. The famous woman weaves a tale about how it is a cleverly staged act where the man is attempting to trick his wife to get more affection from her. When the Famous Woman finally convinces the Ernest Woman that the story is true we find out that the husband was hiding in the closet the whole time.

This play would require only two female actresses. Our group has many strong comedic female actresses that could make these parts very over dramatic. The relationship between the two will need to grow and both of the performers will need to be very comfortable with each other. I don’t think either of the characters in this one act are particularly likable. The actor playing the Ernest Woman would need to be very ditzy and gullible and the Famous Woman would have to be very wicked and twisted.

This one act somewhat of a set; nothing too flashy but still enough to create a mildly realistic setting. Lighting would be very basic and standard. I think that blocking could add a lot to this piece and add another layer of comedic humor to the piece. As for costuming, I see the Famous Woman wearing a floor length gown with matching gloves and a fur coat and the Ernest Woman wearing a frumpy dress with white shoes with the socks sticking out. I think that the costuming will help introduce the characters before they even begin speaking. With a one act there is not a lot of time for character development so any way to help reveal something about the characters is a necessary.

Understanding the text

Answer the following questions.

a. What favour does Earnest Young Woman ask from The Famous Actress?

Earnest Young Woman asks a favour of return her husband from The Famous Actress because she loves her husband very much but she comes to know The Famous Actress has stolen her husband from her.

b. What, according to The Earnest Young Woman, are the indications that her husband has fallen in love with Famous Actress?

According to the Earnest Young Woman, her husband sends flowers to The Famous Actress. She comes to know about it from a florist. One day, her husband forgets the love letter on table, which says her husband is unable to call the Famous Actress and beg apology offering her thousands of kisses.

c. Is Earnest Young Woman convinced by the argument of Famous Actress? How?

According to the basic conversation between Earnest Young Woman and famous Actress, it Seems as Earnest Young Woman is convinced by argument of Famous Actress.

The Famous Actress tells her that Earnest Young Woman’s husband has done that love affair with the actress so that she gets jealous and regains love from her. She tells her that many actresses easily accept such proposal for the sake of reunion of the families.

d. Where is the Earnest Young Woman’s husband hiding himself as they are talking about him?

According to the play, the Earnest Woman’s husband appears at the end of the play when the Famous Actress calls him to come When Out of her boudoir. This means throughout the entire play the Earnest Young Woman’s husband is hiding in the famous Actress boudoir.

e. When do you feel that Famous Actress is really good at acting?

I feel the famous Actress is really good at acting when she tells the Earnest Young Woman that her husband is playing a game upon her to make her jealous so that she will change her personality and can try to impress him her by any means. She asks for lock of hair, which the Earnest Young Woman brings with her. She says Alfred has that because her hair-dresser may steal and give it to him.

f. How do we come to know that Famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love?

From the final part of the play we come to know that famous Actress and the husband of Earnest Young Woman are in love. Alfred is called to come out of the Famous Actress boudoir. It’s obvious that the Earnest Young woman is fooled and they are in love.

g. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.

A Matter of Husbands is a one-act written by most celebrated and controversial play wright Ferenc Molnar. This play sheds light on the role of actors on the stage and in real life and how much they are capable of keeping us in an illusion.

In the beginning, the Earnest Young Woman rushes to the Famous Actress angrily, asking her to return her husband. The famous Actress boldly denies, that she has stolen her husband. She says she knows him because once the contract for a case has given to him. Earnest Young Woman tells her that her husband sends her flowers and writes love letter. She reads her husband’s love letter for the actress.

Upon the circumstance, the actress smiles and still begins to deny that she has received any flowers or any letters from him. Now she fools Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her jealous and gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs sorry with her. Earnest Young Woman leaves the stage and the famous Actress calls Alfred to come out of her boudoir.

Reference to the context

a. Sketch the character of Famous Actress.

The Famous Actress is a young, renowned, and beautiful actress who is envied by the ordinary woman. On the outside, she looks innocent and harmless but in reality, she is mean and wicked. She is cunning and deceitful as seen in the way she concocts a story to sway the woman from believing that her husband was having an affair with her. She also lives an immoral life as seen in the conclusion of the story where it was revealed that Alfred, the ordinary woman’s husband was actually in her house.

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

In the story, “A Matter of Husband”, the ordinary woman is portrayed as a simple-minded and timid person who was easily deceived by the false story told by the actress. She had come to the actress in tears completely sure that her husband was having an affair with the actress. However, the actress told a story to her of how her husband was trying to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Without asking questions, the ordinary woman believed her and bought into the story. In the end, it was revealed that her husband was actually in the actress’s room. This shows that the actress was cunning while the ordinary woman was timid.

c. According to Famous Actress, men associated with theatre use the theatre actresses to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back. Do you agree with her argument? Why? Why not?

Yes I agree with her argument. A men associated with theatre mostly have an ordinary, simple-minded and timid wife who can be easily deceived by the false story. In the act too, Alfred was hiding in the actress’s room so as to regain the love he had for her by doing things to get her jealous. Thus, men take advantage of the cunning actress to make their estranged wives jealous so as to woo them back.

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

Famous Actress makes a fool of Earnest Young Woman by saying that a misunderstanding may have arrived between her and her husband. She makes Earnest Young Woman believe that her husband has been playing with her to make her jealous and gain her love back. Then, the Earnest Young woman innocently realizes her misdeed and begs sorry with her.

e. The conversation between the two women takes place on the stage of the theatre. What role does the theatre house as a part of setting play in A Matter for Husband?

The scene is a drawing room and the design and colorings are exotic and suggestive of the apartment of the famous Hungarian actress in which this dialogue takes place. When the curtain rises the Earnest Young Woman is discovered, poised nervously on the edge of a gilt chair. It is plain she has been sitting there a long time. For perhaps the fiftieth time she is studying the furnishings of the room and regarding the curtained door with a glance that would be impatient if it were not so palpably frightened. At last the Famous Actress enters through the curtained door at the right which leads to her boudoir.

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

The ending of this play ‘A Matter of Husbands’ is totally perfect. And it is quiet justify the ending of the play .The writer does the ending of this play is very pertness. He finishes all the nonplus of the character of the play. All the characters are satisfied to one another. The film actress and advocate are very satisfied in the end of the play. They clear the hurdle between them. They ensure to her that they have no affair it is only drama for you. In the end of the play the young woman is very happy about her husband. The film actress and the husband of young woman live together without any obstacle. The ending of the play is too good but full of irony. The film actress narrates to young woman that her husband really loves her but in reality he has no love for his wife. He only cheats his wife.

So, end of the play ‘A Matter of Husbands’, we can assume that “All is well the end is well.” Innocent people always suffer by shrewd people because they are often sincere by hearts but the cunning people always take advantage by their innocence.

Reference beyond the text

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

My Favorite Actor

I like Johnny Depp, an American actor known for his portrayals of unique characters, such as Captain Jack Sparrow in “Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.” With the film’s success, it revealed new doors and nominations for his career. The film also opened a new door for me. Since the film Johnny Depp has become my favorite actor. I admire Depp as an actor because of his talent, generosity, and devotion. Johnny Depp is one of the most talent actors I’ve seen. He is perhaps one of the most versatile actors of his day and age in Hollywood. Not only is he extremely talented, but he is also a generous man. He is part of several charitable causes. He supports Make A Wish Foundation, and donates frequent packages to the children. Johnny Depp is also a devoted person. He is exceedingly devoted to his family. His favorite activity is to be home playing with the children. There aren’t many actors like Johnny Depp, and I admire him even more for standing out against the rest. He is a gifted actor, kindhearted, and a devoted person. Johnny Depp is my favorite actor, and I admire him not only as an actor but as a person.

Facing Death Exercise : Summary and Question Answers

Facing Death

Understanding the Text

Answer the following questions.

a. Where does the play take place?

The play takes place in Monsieur Durand’s dining room. He lives there with his three daughters as the owner of a boarding house, widower and former railroad worker.

b. Why do the grocery, the baker and the butcher send their bills to the Durand household?

As Durand hasn’t paid their bills for a long time, the grocery, the baker and the butcher send their bills to Durand’s household. As a consequence, they couldn’t provide any further items until the bills were paid.

c. Why does Monsieur Duran spend money on candles when he doesn’t have money to buy even bread?

As a strange scenario, Monsieur Durand spends money on candles when he doesn’t have money to buy even bread. This is because he wishes to burn the candles on the death anniversary of his late loving son, Rene, who died in his childhood. From the death of his son, Durand was heartbroken.

d. Why did Monsieur Duran sell his life insurance?

Monsieur sold his life insurance to pay off the loan to his debtor. He was in the worst condition and the debtor was furious with him for not paying his money.

e. Why has Monsieur Duran paid fire insurance?

He wants to compensate for his daughter’s financial difficulties. Thus, to file compensation he has paid fire insurance. He wants to burn down his own house and claim compensation, with the proceeds going to his daughters.

f. How did Monsieur Duran and Mrs. Duran run out of their inheritances from both the sides?

Monsieur Durand and Mrs. Duran ran out of their inheritances from both sides due to recklessness and stupid speculation of Mrs. Duran. Both of them lost their parental and maternal assets.

g. Why does Monsieur Duran tell a lie about his birthplace?

Monsieur Durand tells a lie about his birthplace because he used to love a woman before his marriageable age. To marry that lady, he left his hometown and migrated to Switzerland. He tells a lie to protect his and his wife’s reputation. Also, he had fought against his homeland from the side of Switzerland. So he wanted to mask his humiliation. Therefore, he tells a lie.

h. What business is Monsieur Duran running to make a living?

Monsieur is running a lodge to make a living. He turned his house into a lodge and restaurant. His visitors may stay with him there. He made it like such a hotel with a good facility to earn money.

i. What plan does Monsieur Duran have to help his daughters with money?

Monsieur Durand plans to burn his house and commit suicide to help his daughters with money, which will come as compensation for burning. He paid for fire insurance to claim compensation after he will burn his own home. He wishes to give his life for the sake of his daughters.

j. How does Monsieur Duran die?

Monsieur Durand dies by committing suicide. He drinks poison and sets his own house on fire at the end of the play. The motto behind this was to help his daughters with money which will come as compensation for fire insurance policy which he had paid earlier.

Reference to the Context

a. Sketch the character of Monsieur Duran.

Monsieur Durand is the leading character of the one-act play ‘Facing Death’ written by August Strindberg. In this play, he is portrayed as a widower, the owner of the lodge and a former railway worker. He is financially weak and he has three daughters. They all live in the lodge. He has turned his living house into a lodge to make a living. In this play, Durand is a loving, caring and protective father who has a fragile relationship with his daughters. Due to bankruptcy, his living is being hard. He isn’t even receiving love from his daughters as they always despise him and blame him. But it is shown in the play that despite the hatred and dislike of his daughters, he gave his life for the sake of his daughters. Also, he is a devoted husband and keeps worrying about his dead son. He is a sad hero who deals with financial hardships before tragically giving his life for the sake of his daughters.

b. How do we know that the Duran family has reached a dead end?

By watching the sequence of his downfall and his miserable condition, we know that the Durand family has reached a dead end. Mr. Durand’s family is completely bankrupt and is spending their life in the lodge, which he turned into his own house to make a living. They already have lost ancestral property.

Mr. Durand’s household has been borrowing money from others for years so he is full of debt. There are bills in his name and he is unable to pay those bills. His condition is going worse and he has nothing to do. His daughters hat him and blame him all the town for that miserable condition though it was because of their mother’s recklessness and stupid speculation.

His family is dying of hunger and starvation. His relationship with his daughters is not good. His debtors are forcing him to pay their bills whereas Durand is surviving by eating rat food. And in his mind, he has a plan to kill himself and burn his house. By this sequence of action, we know that the Durand family has reached a dead end.

c. ‘The mother, though already dead, seems to have had a great influence on the daughters, especiallyTheresa.’ Do you agree?

Yes, I must agree with this sentence as the mother, though already dead, had a great influence on the daughters, especially Theresa. When she was alive she used to teach the hate towards their father. She forcefully made them obey her. Most of the time she blamed her husband and taught the same to the daughters.

After the death, Mr. Durand remained silent all his life because he didn’t want his daughters to question their mother’s goodness. But due to their mother’s teaching, his daughters keep hating him. They thought and blamed their father that he was the root of their financial hardships.

And especially Theresa, the most influenced by her mother is the one who always showed rude behaviour to the father. She threw the matches away when he tried to burn tobacco. Similarly, she snatches the glass of milk from him. She was cruel towards the father and never showed respect and love.

d. Discuss the relationship between Monsieur Duran and his wife.

Monsieur Durand and his wife don’t have a sound relationship. Mrs. Durand always used to blame her husband even though she had wrecked the familial property herself. Due to her rash gambling and stupid speculation, she ruined the inherited property. She used to misuse money on lottery tickets from the family budget. She threatened her husband with becoming a prostitute for money after being beaten. She taught all her daughters to hate their father and load them with negativity. She played the main role in diverting her daughter’s mindset against their father.

e. ‘Money determines the relationship between characters in this play.’ Elaborate this statementwithexamples from the play.

‘Money determines the relationship between characters in this play.’ This sentence is so truthful in this play. In the play ‘facing death’, money is highlighted as the main asset and set up was made accordingly. It is shown that money is very important in the life of Monsieur and his daughters. Money is the cause behind all difficulties and issues among his family. Mr. Durand’s family’s financial difficulties have led the entire family to live a miserable existence. There was a lack of many vital requirements in his family. The relationship between husband and wife and between father and daughters have become worse due to lack of money. The family faced starvation. Due to their poor economic condition, they were even unable to purchase bread. In the play, it is portrayed as Mr. Durand is eating rat food. Because of no money, he is unable to provide necessities for his daughters.

Even more, the lack of money brought hatred to the girls against the father. Due to their economic downturn, they are compelled to turn their house into a lodge. The characters’ connection is being determined by money. The baker, the grocery and the butcher are refusing to provide him with items. Most of the time, his daughter blamed him and showed impolite behaviour toward him. Thus the protagonist had been through a lot due to lack of money.

f. Monsieur Duran kills himself so that his daughters would get 5000 francs as the compensation from theinsurancecompany. What does his plan tell us about him?

Monsieur Duran killed himself so that his daughters would get 5000 francs as compensation from the insurance company. This plan of his tells us about their love, care and concern toward his daughter.

Mr Durand is a sad hero of the play who lives his life in tragedy, hatred and starvation. in the play ‘facing death, it is shown that he commits suicide by consuming poison and setting his house on fire to obtain compensation from the fire insurance company which will help his daughter’s financial condition. he spends his whole life in economic hardship and downturns. As a result of the economic crisis, he has always been blamed by his wife and his daughters. His plan for his daughters’ well-being illustrates that he is a loving, caring and kind father who is serious and concerned about his daughter’s future.

g. Discuss Facing Death as a modern tragedy.

Modern tragedy generally refers to the oppression of the hero. It deals with the tragic events of society rather than fortune or fame. It came with a sad ending and shows the downfall of the hero. The play ‘facing death’ is a modern tragedy as it ends with the tragic death of dad hero Monsieur Durand. Modern tragedy, since used from the twentieth century, deals with various real problems rather than being obsessed with ideology. It deals with socio-economic conditions, mental health or destruction, common problems of people. The two main factors of modern tragedy are realism and naturalism.

The common man of modern society is the protagonist of modern tragedy. Anyway, it deals with the individual problems of a common man like family problems, financial problems, and socio-cultural problems to mental problems like loneliness and depression. The character becomes the victim of these problems and deals with hatred all around them.

The socio-cultural problems, fate, economic class, gender and loneliness around them embrace the character. Thus, we can say facing death is a modern tragedy as these all characters match with the protagonist of the play.

Mr. Durand is a common man and his life is full of crises. He has suffered through financial hardships and starvation. His relationship with his wife and daughters is not smooth even though he loves them very much. All of his daughters hate him. He doesn’t have money to buy even bread and he had to turn his house into a lodge to make a living. And at the end, he kills him with poison and even burns his own house for the welfare of his daughters. This sequence of the downfall of Mr. Durand demonstrates facing death as a modern tragedy.

Reference Beyond the Text

a. Write a few paragraphs describing the role of the father in the family.

While both parents are equally important, a father is an instrumental and key figure in the modern family. This is because he is the head of the family. Other tasks and roles performed by a father are unique and defined basing on the cultural background of the community that he comes from. However, from culture to culture, the fundamental tasks that are required of manhood are basically the same.

A father should always be there for his wife and children to provide the much needed love and support. Showering them with lots of cash does not necessarily indicate love and support. He should be ready to give them an ear, comfort them and spend quality time as well as quantity time with them. This is crucial in creating an emotional tie, a prerequisite for strong and healthy family relationship.

A father figure can significantly influence the life and wellbeing of their child. In families where the father figure is present, the father serves as one of the first male role models and male relationships the child will encounter. Children are extremely sensitive and observant beings and internalize relational experiences. These early interactions with their father serve as a blueprint for what a relationship with a man looks like and impacts both the father-son relationship, and the father-daughter relationship. This means that unhealthy relationships with a father figure can significantly impact not only the child’s psychological wellbeing, but their unconscious relational choices as they become adults.

The father therefore plays the role of loving and supporting his spouse and offspring.

Understanding the Text

Answer the following questions.

a. Why have Gore and Jitman come to see Laxminarayan?

Gore and Jitman have come to see Laxmi Narayan because they want to tell him about the death of King Ranabahadur’s bull.

b. What, according to cowherds, is the reason behind the death of Male?

According to cowherds, the reason behind the death of the male was that he couldn’t eat more grass and couldn’t digest fine rice and a split gram soup.

c. Why does Ranabahadur want to see the bull himself?

Rana Bahadur wants to see the bull himself because he wants to see and examine the condition of the bull. He wants the bull to be cured if possible at Gauchar, Kathmandu so it doesn’t need to be transported to a hill.

d. Why does Laxminarayan run ahead of the convoy at Thulo Gauchar?

Laxminarayan runs ahead of the convoy at Thulo Gauchar because he wants to convey the message to cowherds to tell them to take care of the bull. He urges to massage the bull’s back feet and wave the fan at the bull. In actuality, he wants to show king Rana bahadur shah that they are taking care of the bull. If not, the king would become angry and he would punish them.

e. Why do Gore and Jitman cry when the king declares that Male is dead?

Gore and Jitman cry when the king declares that male is dead to show their supposed sympathy and affection for the bull. They cry in a pompous manner, seeking the king’s forgiveness. They want an excuse from the king’s punishment. Otherwise, the king may become enraged and may punish them, making them responsible for the bull’s death.

f. How do we learn that the bull is dead?

There are various indications of the bull’s death. The conversation between cowherds, Laxminarayan and the king clearly indicates the death of the bull. Alongside the physical appearance of the bull as his eyes are motionless, tail has loosened, it was breathless and ears were dropped down and he was unable to eat anything.

g. How does the play make a satire on the feudal system?

The play ‘the bull’ written by Bhimnidhi Tiwari is one of the mirrors of the feudal system and its terrific act. The horrible acts towards ordinary people by the feudal system have been tried to show as it was then in the play. The domination and dehumanization towards ordinary people have been tried to portray in the play. The feudal system at its best is cruel and doesn’t value the people. In the play, the survived cowherds are presented in such a panic even though they have survived by the mercy of their lord. The play shows that the king’s animal receives more respect, comfort and care than the people there. The people there are living in terror and they are hiding their reality in order to save their lives in front of the king. Thus the play satires on the feudal system showing that the oppression and dehumanization of king’s worker.

h. Write down the plot of the play in a paragraph.

The play ‘The Bull’ was written by well-known Nepali poet and dramatist, Bhimnidhi Tiwari. The plot of this play shows the emotional connection between bull and King Rana Bahadur Shah.

Reference to the Context

a. Discuss the late eighteenth-century Nepali society as portrayed in terms of the relation between the king and his subjects as portrayed in the play.

As we know, during the eighteenth century the monarchy system was prevalent in Nepal. Nepal was ruled by the shah dynasty. They were used to being strict and so is the Nepalese society. People’s choices were under the king’s or ruler’s dominance. They weren’t free to conduct their lives.

The same similarity is portrayed in the play ‘the bull’. It shows a horrible society in which people are compelled to lavender the terror of kings or lords. Their masters treated them horrifically. Also if they or their opinion went against the masters, they were punished. This play shows the miserable life condition of Nepalese society.

People were not given even fundamental rights. They were deprived of political and financial knowledge. They were bound by patriarchal rules and ideals. The society was purely male dominated. Men’s were allowed to marry multiple wives. In this play, Laxminarayan also has seven wives. And the king had complete control over the lives of common people.

b. What does the relation between Laxminarayan and his wives tell us about the society of that time? To what extent has the Nepali society changed since then?

Laxminarayan is the main character of the play and a Forty years old legal officer and king’s bull’s doctor. Taking the scenario of his relationship with his wives, he has seven wives. Yet he is not satisfied with all of them and he is planning to marry his eighth wife. He calls his wives with different nicknames. This practice of having more wives shows about the male dominant society. Men’s are allowed to marry multiple wives whereas women’s are compelled to live their life under the full dominance and violence of their husband. Women’s were illiterate and unconscious about their rights. People and especially women’s are deprived of political and financial knowledge. Child marriage was prevalent at that time. The society was reliant under male supremacy.

But the Nepalese society has altered this situation dramatically since then. The current situation of Nepali society and especially Nepali women is significantly better. Human rights and women rights are there to protect them with their basic rights. The literacy rate of women has also increased substantially. They were in a higher power of economic and political authority. The concept of equality and equity is operational in Nepalese society. Many of the patriarchal traditions like child marriage and prathas are at the end. Many organizations are working for the betterment of women. Overall the society is significantly changed.

c. Shed light on the practice of chakari as portrayed in the play. Have you noticed this practice in your society?

The practice of chakari was prevalent and very popular during the king’s rule. During the royal system, there used to be a craze or we can say majority of people were involved in the chakari of their leaders, monarchs and lords. Chakari was famous for gaining wealth or gifts from the king. They aimed to please the king by doing chakari and receiving the wealth. They do chakari in the hope of their advancement of life and living but meanwhile there are serious consequences if they do not perform correctly.

The practice of chakari was shown very perfectly in the play too. The play’s main character Laxminarayan and cowherds Gore and Jitman are frequently seen as doing the chakari of their king .Laxminarayan was once also punished due to his bad deed of speaking in loud voice in front of the king. They used to be very anxious from the deed of kings. When the bull dies, Laxminarayan is so aware of the king’s anger and punishment so he picks his moves carefully to save his and cowherds life from severe punishment. In the play it is shown that they are calling the bull by “the bull sir“. Therefore the action of Laxminarayan and cowherds demonstrates the chakari they are doing.

d. How does Laxminarayan outsmart Rana Bahadur?

Laxminarayan outsmarts Rana Bahadur with his great trickery. Laxminarayan is 40 years old, one of the legal officers and doctor of the king’s bull. As Gore and Jitman inform him about the death of the king’s bull, he rushes to the king’s palace. He has the amazing talent of flattering the king away from his emotion. He knew king will be angry and enraged by the death of bull, so Laxminarayan didn’t inform immediately. Rather than telling the truth immediately, he tells the bull about the bull’s sickness to the king. He even tells cowherds to massage and wave fans at the bull. By this action the king believes the bull died due to sickness despite excellent care and treatment. It helps to protect the lives of cowherds. This way Laxminarayan flattered the king and protected the life of his and cowherds from the king’s severe punishment.

e. Sketch the character of Laxminarayan.

Laxmi Narayan Dahal is one of the main characters of the play ‘the bull’. he is forty years old, one of the legal officers and king’s bull’s doctor. He is married to seven wives. It is shown that he is still unsatisfied with all of them despite having seven different women at home. He is planning to marry eighth wife. When he learns about the king’s bull’s death, he flatters the king using his intellectual moves. Instead of telling the news immediately, he tells the king about the bull’s sickness first. When king arrives to the cowshed at thulo Gauchar to see his bull, Laxminarayan tells the cowherds to massage and wave fan to the bull in order to please king and save his life .due to this act of Laxminarayan and cowherd, they were saved from king’s punishment. Therefore, we can say Laxminarayan was a cunning man and he unmastered the king with his trickery.