12th Standard English

Lesson-1

The Two Gentlemen of Verona

Introduction :

The Two Gentlemen of Verona by A.J.Cronin is a touching story about love, devotion, sincerity, sacrifice, and the maturity displayed by two little boys even during the hardest circumstances of their lives.

Encounter with the Boys:

The narrator and his companion first meet the boys selling wild strawberries on the outskirts of Verona. One was Nicola aged 13 and the other was his younger brother Jacopo aged 12. They had brown skin, tangled hair, and worn-out clothing. Despite their shabby appearance, their dark earnest eyes and sincerity attracted the narrator.

Versatile Workers:

In the following days, the narrator sees the boys doing various jobs. In the summer days, under the hot sun they sold fruits, polished shoes, conducted tourists around the town, ran various errands for visitors, and hawked newspapers until midnight.

Narrator’s Curiosity:

What struck the narrator most was their willingness to work. Jacopo was lively as a squirrel and Nicola’s smile was steady and engaging. Yet in both these childish faces there was a seriousness which was far beyond their years. They didn’t seem to spend much on food or clothing. Their meal consisted mostly of black bread and figs and they had on worn-out clothes. When asked about their earnings, Nicola is reluctant to disclose their purpose. Before leaving the town the Narrator asks if he could do anything for the boys. Jacopo reveals they visit Poleta every Sunday. The narrator offers to drive them, despite Nicola's initial hesitation.

Visit to the Countryside:

The narrator drives the boys to a large villa in Poleta, which turns out to be a hospital. The boys quickly disappear inside, and the narrator follows out of curiosity. A nurse welcomes the narrator and leads him to a cubicle where Nicola and Jacopo sit by their sister Lucia's bedside. Lucia, about twenty, is recovering from tuberculosis of the spine. He refrains from intruding on them and asks the nurse about them. The nurse explains that their father, a singer, died early in the war, and a bomb destroyed their home. Left alone, they struggled through starvation and cold. During the German occupation, the boys joined the resistance. After the war, they found Lucia ill and brought her to the hospital. Despite the scarcity of work in Verona, the boys manage to earn and make regular payments for her treatment and she is making good progress. The narrator then waits in the car until the boys return, he did not say a word as he knew they would prefer to feel that they had safely kept their secret

Conclusion:

The narrator is deeply moved by the boys' devotion and sacrifice. Their resilience and selflessness provide a profound hope for humanity, showcasing the nobility of their spirit despite the hardships of war. These qualities indeed make the little boys, the True Gentlemen of Verona.