“Just like George Bernard Shaw” by James Heriot is the twenty-third chapter of The Lord God Made Them All. In this anecdote, proving that the events that inspire a good story don’t have to be earth-shaking, the vegetarian describes one family’s reaction to the news that playwright Bernard Shaw has suffered a mishap. The story uses medical knowledge to illumine an interesting human situation.
Who is George Bernard Shaw?
George Bernard Shaw (1856–1950) was an Irish playwright, critic, and Nobel laureate who spent his life on the British Isles. He wrote more than 60 plays during his lifetime, many of which enjoyed great success in Britain and America, as well as countries all over the world where they were translated into many languages. His plays are still performed regularly today all over the world to wide acclaim, and he remains one of the most celebrated and popular playwrights in history.
Just like George Bernard Shaw poem by James Heriot
Summary of Just like George Bernard Shaw
For James Herriot, a playwright, George Bernard Shaw, who was one of his heroes, recently broke his leg while pruning apple trees in his garden. His broken leg got popularity in entire England. Being a vet, once Herriot was called by Casling family to cure the broken leg of a calf. Casling family farm sets high in Yorkshire. His farm was in an isolated place and difficult to find.
To reach there, one had to walk through gloomy, garlic-smelling places. As Herriot got out of the car, Mr. Casling and his two sons, Alan and Harold welcomed him. Father was sixty years old while his sons were in their thirties. At that time, the calf was in the field. To cure the cow, he demanded a bucket of water. Then, they laid the calf on the sparse turf. Harold stayed by the head (of calf), Alan in the middle, and their father sat by the middle. At that time, the writer felt irritated at such gathering.
Then, the writer dipped a plaster bandage in the water and applied it to a fractured leg. The calf was very small about a month old. While curing the calf, nobody spoke to him. He wanted somebody would say anything. In order to avoid silence, he said the calf was " just like Bernard Shaw ". He was trying to say that like Shaw, the calf also had a broken leg. For about half a minute, nobody responded because they didn't know about Shaw. They thought that he was from a rustic place, Darrowby. Later, the writer told them the fact that Shaw lived in London but they had thought that like them; he was also a farmer. After this incident, the writer thinks that all fame is related so that in the future, he would pay special attention to sharing such facts with the people.
Just like George Bernard Shaw [question answer]
In Just like George Bernard Shaw, what prompts Herriot to start talking to the three farmers about Shaw's broken leg?
Ans: In order to break out silence,
Herriot starts talking to the three farmers about Shaw's broken leg as he was
caring for the fractured leg of the calf.
What is the veterinarian's attitude toward Mr. Casting and his sons in Just like George Bernard Shaw?
Ans: The veterinarian's attitude toward
Mr. Casling and his son is irritating and boring.
What does
the author mean when he says, in the final paragraph, that "all fame is
relative"?
Ans: It is true that all fame is
relative. In the eyes of Herriot, Shaw was so important, and hoped that farmers
know him. A strange thing has happened as he shared Shaw's broken leg, they do
not show any interest to know or hear. It means that they do not know about
Shaw, Fame also bounds with time and place. As time flows, same fame cannot be
with us.
Why do
you suppose Herriot chooses to fall into Yorkshire's speech in his narrative's
closing word?
Ans: I think that Herriot Chooses to
fall into Yorkshire’s speech in order to convey the message what innocent
farmers may think about Shaw.
Why does
the writer use so many technical terms in the anecdote in "Just like
George Bernard Shaw?"
Ans: In Just like George Bernard Shaw,
the writer uses so many technical terms in the anecdote because he is a vet and
has come to cure Mr. Castling's calf.
Sum up,
in a paragraph or two, the reasons for the communication gap between the
veterinarian and the Caslings.
Ans: There are a few reasons for the
communication gap between the veterinarian and the Casling in Just like George
Bernard Shaw. Firstly, Casling family only wants to cure their calf. It was
their property so they only pay attention to their calf. Secondly, being
uneducated and remote area farmers, they as a respect, do not want to talk more
with the writer. Thirdly, as the vet talks about Shaw, they do not know about
Shaw and his popularity.
"All
fame is relative." Do you agree? Why or why not?
Ans: Yes, I agree that all fame is
relative because name and fame are bound to time and place. Almost everyone
dreams about being famous and popular. Most people would like to be admired and
loved by others who surround them, but the price of fame is high.
Celebrities
or famous people are generally very wealthy people, who are able to allow
themselves to have everything that they want. As a consequence, they live in
big, luxurious apartments and houses, spend their money on decorated clothes,
and have expensive cars, and so on. Celebrities ' fortunes let them do not
worry about their future. Not only do they have financial protection for
themselves, but also for their families. In addition, the fame means being
recognized by almost everyone.
Therefore, if you are on top, you will appear everywhere on TV, in magazines or in commercials. It must be a fantastic feeling, when your fans ask you for an autograph or taking photo. However, fame has always been said to be very annoying and all fame is relative and certain.