Summary in English & Hindi:
“If I Were You” is a one-act play written by Douglas James. It is a clever and humorous story filled with wit, suspense, and quick thinking. The play revolves around the encounter between Gerrard, a smart playwright, and an intruder who breaks into his house with a dangerous plan. Through intelligence and presence of mind, Gerrard turns the situation in his favor and teaches an important lesson — that intelligence and calmness can overcome any danger.
Detailed Summary:
The play opens in Gerrard’s house — a small cottage where he lives alone. Gerrard is a playwright, a writer who spends most of his time working on scripts for stage plays. He is witty, confident, and has a great sense of humor. One day, while he is preparing to go out, a mysterious man suddenly enters his home. This man is an intruder, armed with a revolver. His appearance and actions clearly show that he is a criminal on the run.
The intruder orders Gerrard to sit down and keep quiet. He reveals his plan — he intends to kill Gerrard and take his identity. The intruder has been watching Gerrard’s house for a long time and believes that Gerrard is the perfect person to impersonate because he lives alone and travels often. The criminal thinks that after killing Gerrard, he can live safely as Gerrard without getting caught by the police.
However, Gerrard’s calm and witty nature completely surprises the intruder. Instead of panicking, Gerrard begins to talk confidently, making sharp, humorous remarks. He tries to understand the intruder’s motive and cleverly begins to play a psychological game. Gerrard tells the intruder that he is not just an ordinary playwright — he is actually a criminal himself, wanted by the police, and uses his house as a secret hideout. He pretends that he too lives under a false identity and is constantly being chased by the law.
Gerrard then claims that the police are expected to arrive any moment, and if the intruder stays, both of them will be arrested. To convince him further, Gerrard tells him that his car is parked outside and that they can escape together through the garage. The intruder, believing Gerrard’s words, lowers his guard. Gerrard then smartly opens the door to a cupboard which the intruder thinks leads to the garage. The moment the intruder steps inside, Gerrard slams the door and locks him in — it was actually a cupboard, not an exit! Gerrard then calls the police to report the incident.
Through his wit and intelligence, Gerrard not only saves his life but also manages to capture the criminal without any violence. The play ends on a humorous note, as Gerrard mockingly tells the intruder that his story might soon become part of his next play.
Character Sketch:
Gerrard – Smart, witty, brave, calm under pressure, and humorous. His presence of mind and confidence turn a dangerous encounter into a moment of triumph.
The Intruder – A cunning criminal but overconfident and foolish. His arrogance and lack of quick thinking lead to his downfall.
Theme:
The central theme of “If I Were You” is the power of intelligence and self-control. The play shows that quick thinking and confidence can help overcome even the most threatening situations. It also highlights how appearances can be deceiving — Gerrard, though gentle and artistic, proves to be braver and smarter than the armed intruder.
Message:
The story conveys that presence of mind, intelligence, and a calm attitude are stronger weapons than physical power. In life, danger and challenges are unavoidable, but reacting wisely can turn any situation in one’s favor.
เคนिเคจ्เคฆी เคธाเคฐांเคถ:
เค
เคง्เคฏाเคฏ “เคเคซ เคเค เคตเคฐ เคฏू” เคเค เคนाเคธ्เคฏ เคเคฐ เคฐोเคฎांเค เคธे เคญเคฐा เคจाเคเค เคนै เคिเคธे เคกเคเคฒเคธ เคेเคฎ्เคธ เคจे เคฒिเคा เคนै। เคฏเคน เคจाเคเค เคเค เคฌुเคฆ्เคงिเคฎाเคจ เคฒेเคเค เคैเคฐाเคฐ्เคก เคเคฐ เคเค เค
เคชเคฐाเคงी เคुเคธเคชैเค िเค เคे เคฌीเค เคे เคธंเคเคฐ्เคท เคो เคฆเคฐ्เคถाเคคा เคนै। เคฒेเคเค เค
เคชเคจी เคฌुเคฆ्เคงि เคเคฐ เคธूเคเคฌूเค เคธे เคเค เคเคคเคฐเคจाเค เคชเคฐिเคธ्เคฅिเคคि เคो เคนाเคธ्เคฏเคชूเคฐ्เคฃ เคตिเคเคฏ เคฎें เคฌเคฆเคฒ เคฆेเคคा เคนै।
เคเคนाเคจी เคी เคถुเคฐुเคเคค เคैเคฐाเคฐ्เคก เคे เคोเคे เคธे เคเคฐ เคธे เคนोเคคी เคนै। เคตเคน เคเค เคจाเคเคเคाเคฐ เคนै เคो เค
เคेเคฒा เคฐเคนเคคा เคนै। เคเค เคฆिเคจ, เคเคฌ เคตเคน เคฌाเคนเคฐ เคाเคจे เคी เคคैเคฏाเคฐी เคเคฐ เคฐเคนा เคนोเคคा เคนै, เคเค เค
เคเคจเคฌी เคต्เคฏเค्เคคि เคฌंเคฆूเค เคฒेเคเคฐ เคเคธเคे เคเคฐ เคฎें เคुเคธ เคाเคคा เคนै। เคตเคน เค
เคชเคฐाเคงी เคैเคฐाเคฐ्เคก เคो เคงเคฎเคाเคคा เคนै เคเคฐ เคเคนเคคा เคนै เคि เคตเคน เคเคธे เคฎाเคฐเคเคฐ เคเคธเคी เคชเคนเคाเคจ เค
เคชเคจा เคฒेเคा เคคाเคि เคชुเคฒिเคธ เคเคธे เคชเคเคก़ เคจ เคธเคे।
เคฒेเคिเคจ เคैเคฐाเคฐ्เคก เคเคฌเคฐाเคจे เคे เคฌเคाเคฏ เคถांเคค เคเคฐ เคเคคुเคฐाเค เคธे เคฌाเคค เคเคฐเคคा เคนै। เคตเคน เค
เคชเคฐाเคงी เคो เคฏเคน เคตिเคถ्เคตाเคธ เคฆिเคฒाเคคा เคนै เคि เคตเคน เคญी เคเค เค
เคชเคฐाเคงी เคนै เคเคฐ เคชुเคฒिเคธ เคธे เคฌเคเคจे เคे เคฒिเค เค
เคฒเค-เค
เคฒเค เคจाเคฎों เคธे เคฐเคนเคคा เคนै। เคैเคฐाเคฐ्เคก เคเคนเคคा เคนै เคि เคชुเคฒिเคธ เคเคญी เคญी เคเคธเคे เคเคฐ เคชเคนुँเค เคธเคเคคी เคนै, เคเคธเคฒिเค เคฆोเคจों เคो เคคुเคฐंเคค เคญाเคเคจा เคนोเคा। เคตเคน เค
เคชเคฐाเคงी เคो เคฏเคน เคธोเคเคจे เคชเคฐ เคฎเคเคฌूเคฐ เคเคฐ เคฆेเคคा เคนै เคि เคฌเคเคจे เคा เคฐाเคธ्เคคा เคเค เคฆเคฐเคตाเคे เคธे เคนै, เคเคฌเคि เค
เคธเคฒ เคฎें เคตเคน เคฆเคฐเคตाเคा เคเค เค
เคฒเคฎाเคฐी เคा เคนोเคคा เคนै। เคैเคธे เคนी เค
เคชเคฐाเคงी เค
ंเคฆเคฐ เคाเคคा เคนै, เคैเคฐाเคฐ्เคก เคฆเคฐเคตाเคा เคฌंเคฆ เคเคฐ เคฆेเคคा เคนै เคเคฐ เคชुเคฒिเคธ เคो เคฌुเคฒा เคฒेเคคा เคนै।
เคเคธ เคช्เคฐเคाเคฐ เคैเคฐाเคฐ्เคก เค
เคชเคจी เคธूเคเคฌूเค เคธे เคจ เคेเคตเคฒ เค
เคชเคจी เคाเคจ เคฌเคाเคคा เคนै เคฌเคฒ्เคि เค
เคชเคฐाเคงी เคो เคชเคเคก़เคตा เคญी เคฆेเคคा เคนै।
เคธंเคฆेเคถ: เคฏเคน เคจाเคเค เคธिเคाเคคा เคนै เคि เคธंเคเค เคे เคธเคฎเคฏ เคเคฌเคฐाเคจे เคे เคฌเคाเคฏ เคถांเคค เคฐเคนเคจा เคเคฐ เคฌुเคฆ्เคงि เคा เคช्เคฐเคฏोเค เคเคฐเคจा เคนी เค
เคธเคฒी เคธाเคนเคธ เคนै। เคถเค्เคคि เคธे เคจเคนीं, เคฌเคฒ्เคि เคธเคฎเคเคฆाเคฐी เคธे เคนเคฐ เคเค िเคจ เคชเคฐिเคธ्เคฅिเคคि เคชเคฐ เคตिเคเคฏ เคชाเค เคा เคธเคเคคी เคนै।
Character Sketch
Gerrard: Gerrard is a cool, composed, and quick-thinking playwright who lives in a secluded cottage. He is intelligent, witty, and possesses a remarkable presence of mind. When confronted by an armed intruder, he doesn't panic. Instead, he uses his skill with words and improvisation to fabricate a convincing story, turning the tables on the criminal. His character represents the triumph of intellect and calm reasoning over brute force and panic.
The Intruder: The Intruder is a criminal on the run, determined to murder Gerrard and assume his identity to escape the police. He is cunning, resourceful, and dangerous, but not particularly intelligent. He is overconfident in his plan and easily deceived by Gerrard's quick wit. His overreliance on his gun and lack of foresight make him a perfect foil for Gerrard's cerebral agility, highlighting that brains can indeed outsmart brawn.
10 Previous Year Questions & Solutions
1. How does Gerrard convince the intruder that he is also a criminal on the run? (2019)
Answer: Gerrard convinces the intruder by spinning a quick, credible story. He claims that he too is wanted for murder, which is why he lives a secretive, orderly life and is expecting a trouble-free getaway. He says his suitcase is packed and a man is coming to help him escape. He warns the intruder that if he kills Gerrard, he will hang for two murders instead of one. This story plays on the intruder's own fears and makes Gerrard seem like a fellow criminal, not an innocent victim.
2. Describe the intruder's plan. Why did he choose Gerrard to impersonate? (2020)
Answer: The intruder's plan was to murder Gerrard, dispose of his body, and then assume Gerrard's identity to live freely without fear of the police. He chose Gerrard because he found they shared a similar physical build and basic appearance. He had observed that Gerrard lived alone, was a bit of a mystery, didn't meet many people, and owned a car—all factors that would make the impersonation easier and less likely to be detected.
3. What were the "special features" of Gerrard's life that attracted the intruder? (2022)
Answer: The "special features" that attracted the intruder were the aspects of Gerrard's life that made him an ideal target for impersonation. Gerrard lived alone in an isolated cottage, ordered his groceries by phone, had a car for escape, was unmarried, and didn't interact much with neighbors. His reclusive and orderly lifestyle meant fewer people knew him well, making it easier for the intruder to step into his shoes without raising immediate suspicion.
4. How does Gerrard finally trap the intruder? (2023)
Answer: Gerrard traps the intruder by pretending his story is true. He offers to show the intruder the getaway car and the man who is coming to help. He leads the intruder to a door, telling him it's the door to the garage. In reality, it is a cupboard. As the intruder steps forward to look, Gerrard pushes him inside, slams the door, locks it, and then uses the intruder's own gun to threaten him, thereby completely reversing their positions.
5. "This is your big surprise." What was the surprise? How had Gerrard prepared for it? (2018)
Answer: The "big surprise" was Gerrard turning the tables and capturing the intruder instead of being murdered by him. Gerrard had prepared for it by thinking on his feet. He had quickly fabricated a story about being a criminal, created a sense of urgency about a police raid, and used his knowledge of his own house (the cupboard) as a trap. His preparation was entirely mental and improvisational, relying on his wit to create a believable scenario that lured the intruder into a false sense of security.
6. Why does Gerrard say, "I said it with bullets"? What does it reveal about his character? (2021)
Answer: Gerrard says this line sarcastically when the intruder questions his claim of having killed someone. It reveals Gerrard's sharp wit, sense of humor, and ability to stay composed under extreme pressure. Even when facing death, he doesn't lose his ironic detachment. This quick, clever retort helps maintain the credibility of his fabricated persona as a hardened criminal and showcases his intellectual dominance in the situation.
7. Compare and contrast the personalities of Gerrard and the intruder. (2019)
Answer: Gerrard is calm, intelligent, witty, and uses his brain to solve problems. He is a planner (as a playwright) and an improviser. The intruder is aggressive, physically dangerous, but not very smart. He relies on his gun and a crude plan. Gerrard represents cool-headed intellect, while the intruder represents hot-headed brute force. The contrast is between thought and action, with the story demonstrating that careful thought can outmaneuver reckless action.
8. What is the significance of the title 'If I Were You'? (2020)
Answer: The title 'If I Were You' is highly significant as it captures the core of Gerrard's strategy. Throughout the confrontation, he puts himself in the intruder's shoes to understand his motives and fears. He then uses this understanding to devise a trap. The phrase is also ironic because, by the end, Gerrard essentially forces the intruder into a situation where he must think "if I were you," i.e., if I were as clever as Gerrard. The title highlights the themes of identity swap and intellectual role-play.
9. How does the play create and sustain suspense till the end? (2022)
Answer: The play creates suspense from the moment the intruder enters with a revolver. The threat of murder is immediate. Suspense is sustained as Gerrard talks his way out, keeping the reader guessing whether his story is true. The turning point where he pushes the intruder into the cupboard is the climax, but suspense remains until we know he has locked the door and called the police. The quick dialogue and the constant power shift between the two characters keep the tension high throughout.
10. What is the moral of the play 'If I Were You'? (2023)
Answer: The play conveys that intelligence and presence of mind are our greatest weapons in a crisis. It teaches that panic is the enemy and that keeping calm allows for clear thinking. Gerrard's victory shows that one can overcome a physically superior threat by using wit, observation, and the ability to think under pressure. The moral is to never underestimate the power of a quick and clever mind, as it can turn the most dangerous situation to one's advantage.
