AN ANGEL IN

DISGUISE

Made by Mihika and Stephanie

Guided by Vasantha Ma’am
X-A (2018-19)
THEME

– Theme- love, kindness, human feelings and bereavement

– Author’s message- to help others, we should be kind, sympathetic and tender
– Main theme- People can change and feel love for others.
Love conquers all.
Love can win over anything in the world.
SUITABILITY OF THE TITLE

– The title ‘An angel in disguise’ is symbolic.

– Maggie is the angel in disguise for the Thompson family. She brings love and joy
for the Thompson family, thereby acting as an angel in disguise for them.
– Joe Thompson is the angel in disguise for Maggie because he was the man who
gave the girl a complete new life. When there seemed to be no hope for the
little girl, Joe reached to her like an angel.
SETTINGS

– In the backdrop of a poor, rural village where everyone has problems of their
own.
CHARACTERIZATON OF
MAIN CHARACTERS

•Maggie
•Mr. Joe Thompson
•Mrs. Jane Thompson
MAGGIE

– Maggie- youngest in the family

tragically crippled from falling from a window two years prior – unable to leave her
bed
– Symbolizes innocence and dependency- considered as a burden in the first glance
– described as a weak person
– Turns out to be a blessing for Mr. Thompson, becomes angel in disguise
– she changes the character of Mrs. Thompson
– her sweetness with love, patience and gratitude was a honey to Jane Thompson's
soul
MR. THOMPSON

– Kind hearted, rough wheelwright who had a tender heart

– He liked children- was pleased to have them come to his shop
(where sleds and wagons were made or mended for the village lads)
MRS. THOMPSON

– bitter, angry, cruel, harsh, short-tempered with little compassion (before

Maggie entered her life)
– Kind, loving and caring (after Maggie entered her life)
 (How)
Mother’s death she fell on the threshold in a drunk state
Mother’s status despised, mocked, angrily denounced

CHILDREN

JOHN KATE MAGGIE

Between 10 and 11
Oldest(12years) Youngest and diseased.
Active girl
Stout boy Out of her, some thing 2 years ago, fell from
Can earn his living clever can be made. window, injured her
with any farmer. spine. Can’t leave her bed
unless lifted by
somebody.
 • Taken by farmer Jones
JOHN • He would use his help in the farm

• Taken by Mrs. Ellis

• Looking out for bound girl, it was charitable of
KATE her to take Kate even if she was not of much
use for many years.

• Pitying glances were cast on her

MAGGIE • Sad eye and patient face touched many hearts
but no one wanted a bed ridden child.

next day of the death = day of burial

After burial was done:
• Farmer Jones placed John in his wagon, drove away. Satisfied that he did his part.
• Mrs. Ellis drew the tearful children apart, they didn’t say a proper good bye
 Crossing the
Brought
Wrapped Maggie Lifted her field
her
in clean bed cloth in his strong arms between hovel and
outside the house
his home

Joe Thompson’s wife (Jane) childless, not of a saintly temper.

Maggie’s room in in Joe’s house- small chamber, first floor

Mrs. Thompson’s reaction on seeing Maggie for the first time --- anger and astonishment.
• Joe’s reaction to his wife’s remark --- Generally he kept silent and non-combative but now he had
firmly-set countenance and a resolute pair of eyes. Spoke in anger saying that women’s heart are
sometimes very hard.

• Maggie’s look at Joe when he entered the room --- tenderly, gratefully, pleadingly with her large,
bright eyes.

• Joe’s reaction to the look Maggie gave him --- experienced a surge of tender emotions, heart swelled
in his bosom and his heartbeats quickened because he was overcome with love and pity for Maggie.

• Joe’s notice about Maggie in the light of the lamp --- thin face, attractive face full of childish sweetness
which suffering had not been able to obliterate.
Reason given by Joe for not sending her to the poorhouse:
• She can’t walk, somebody’s arms must carry her
• He can’t send her to the poorhouse unless the guardian has seen her, granted
permission.

Mr. Thompson’s observation from the shop:

• A light shining through the window in Maggie’s chamber
• She lay on a little raised pillow
• Lamp shining upon her face
• Mrs. Thompson was sitting by the bed and talking to Maggie
• Mrs. Thompson’s back was towards the window (so that her countenance was
not seen)
Result of the meet- no temper in her voice

Food served to Maggie- toasted slice of bread, softened with milk and butter and
added a cup of tea
(reason)
Mrs. Thompson’s Temper it was dark, cold and miserable for a long
time, had nothing to love and care for,
became sore, irritable, ill tempered, self afflicting
MORAL

– Story carries a message about –

1. love, kindness and human feelings
2. Helping others – poor, hopelessly diseased
3. Being kind, sympathetic and tender
REASON FOR KEEPING MAGGIE
AT HOME BY MRS. THOMPSON

• Weak and helpless.

• In reality, Jane developed a soft corner in her heart for Maggie.
• The sweetness in Maggie melted her heart.
WHY A PRECIOUS BURDEN?

• Maggie, the sick young girl is the precious burden literally and
metaphorically.
• To think literally, for Joe Thompson, it felt like a heavy burden to
carry a child.
• Precious because she is a human being and not a lifeless mass.
• Metaphorically, the girl was precious too, as she brought love and
happiness to the childless family.
LIGHT SHINING THROUGH THE
WINDOWS CONSIDERED A GOOD
OMEN
• It indicated that his wife might be there taking care of
Maggie.
• Mrs. Thompson wasn’t happy with her husband’s
decision of bringing the sick girl home. And the light
shining through the windows gave him hope that his wife
might have developed some soft corner for the girl.
JOE’S RESPONSE TO HIS WIFE WHEN
SHE ASKED HIM TO GO STRAIGHT
AWAY TO THE POOR HOUSE
• Quoted from the Bible how Christ had also said that kindness to children would
not go unrewarded.
• He invoked her emotions and feelings of pity and sympathy by asking her to
imagine the plight of Maggie who had lost her mother and the loneliness, pain
and suffering which was her fate.