Norman Mckinnell was an actor and a dramatist. As a playwright he is known for the play. 'The Bishop's Candlesticks' which is an adaptation of a section of Victor's Hugo's "Les Miserables". The play, which is very popular, is based on the theme that love and kindness can change a man rather than violence. The play is about a convict who breaks into the Bishop's house and is clothed and warmed. The benevolence of the Bishop somewhat softens the convict, but, when he sees the silver candlesticks, he steals them. He is captured and brought back. He expects to go back to jail, but the Bishop informs the police they are a gift. The act of the Bishop reforms the convict to a belief in the spirit of God that dwells in the heart of every human being.

Bishops' Candlesticks

The Bishop's Candlesticks is an extremely moving story. The play is based on an incident in Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables.

The story revolves around 3 main characters. A Bishop is a noble and kind hearted soul. He does not mind selling away his silver to pay for a a poor lady's house rent. He seems to have quite a large part of his savings such charity. They are now very poor and have just a pair of silver candlesticks left.

The Bishop's sister is a typical practical lady. She is worried about the future. There is not much money left with the Bishop. The house is running on her money. She learns that the Bishop has sold the silver salt and pepper shakers to pay the house rent of poor Mere Gringoire. This upsets her.

They have had their supper and she decides to retire for the night.

A convict walks in through the open doors. He is desperate. Hungry and having escaped from jail, the convict threatens to kill the Bishop.

The Bishop is calm and controlled. He offers to give him some food to eat. He also listens to his story. We begin to understand the great hardships borne by the convict. He had to steal some bread to feed his ailing wife. He was arrested and sent to jail. Meanwhile his wife died. The poor man was treated cruelly in jail. Finally one day he escaped from jail but was again unable to find any food. That's when he comes to the Bishop's house.

The Bishop gives him food to eat and a place to sleep. The convict is too tempted by the silver candle sticks and steals them.

The sister is extremely hurt and offended by the convicts behaviour. The convict is seen roaming around suspiciously and is caught by the sergeant.

The convict is brought back to the Bishop's house. The Bishop's sister in relieved to get back the silver candlesticks. But the Bishop tells the sergeant that they were a gift from him to the convict. He gives them to the convict and shows him a safe escape route.

Question (1): Who are Marie and Persome?
Question (2): Where had the Bishop gone? Why was he late for supper?
Question (3): What had happened to the salt cellars?
Question (4): What did the convict first ask for?
Question (5): What does the convict tell him about his life before imprisonment?
Question (6): What treatment did the convict receive in prison?
Question (7): What effect did such inhuman treatment have on the convict?
Question (8): What happened to him after his escape from jail?
Question (9): How does the Bishop and Persome react when they learn that the candlesticks are stolen?
Question (10): What does the Bishop tell the sergeant?
Question (11): What significant role did the Bishop's Candlesticks play?

Multiple choice questions:

Question (1): The bishop's candlestick is taken from the original play
1. Pride and prejudice
2. Les Miserables
3. Crime and punishment
4. The convict

Question (2): The bishops sister's name is
1. Patricia
2. Sylvia
3. Persome
4. Catherine

Question (3): The convict was put into prison because
1. he did not pay his taxes
2. he stole some bread to feed his ailing wife
3. he murdered his landlord
4. he was guilty of taking a bribe

Question (4): The convict steals from the bishop's house
1. silver salt and pepper shakers
2. silver coins
3. silver plates
4. silver candlesticks

Question (5): The bishop tells the sergent that
1. the convict should be arrested
2. he had given the candlesticks as a gift to the convict
3. the convict stole many more things from him
4. the convict was a dangerous man

Question (6): The bishop helps the convict by
1. Showing him a safe escape route
2. Allowing him to stay in his house
3. Giving him a job
4. Giving him money

Question (7): The candlesticks were given to the bishop by
1. his mother
2. his grandmother
3. a friend
4. an admirer

Question (8): The lesson to be learnt from the play is
1. Reward all convicts
2. Punish all thieves
3. Goodness dwells in the heart of all human beings
4. You get what you deserve