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I Want Something in a Cage
Why did it make Mr. Purcell feel “vaguely insulted”?
Mr. Purcell owned the pet shop and considered himself as a professional man. Customers bought birds and animals from him to keep as pets in their houses. He thought that the man had desired the doves desperately as he had spent all his income on it. That is why he sold the doves to him at a reduced price. Mr. Purcell was annoyed with the man because of his behavior. The man did not show any interest when Mr Purcell started telling him about the care and feeding of doves. Instead, he walked out of the shop and freed the two doves he had bought, throwing away the cage on the road. This made Mr. Purcell feel “vaguely insulted”.
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…. Mr. Purcell heard it no more than he would have heard the monotonous ticking of a familiar clock.” (Read para beginning with “It was a rough day…”)
(i) What does ‘it’ refer to?
(ii) Why does Mr. Purcell not hear ‘it’ clearly?
Why, in your opinion, did the man set the doves free?
Why did it make Mr. Purcell feel “vaguely insulted”?
Do you think the atmosphere of Mr. Purcell’s shop was cheerful or depressing? Give reasons for your answer.
Describe the stranger who came to the pet shop. What did he want?
(i) The man insisted on buying the doves because he was fond of birds. Do you agree?
(ii) How had he earned the five dollars he had?
Was the customer interested in the care and feeding of the doves he had bought? If not, why not?
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