The Best Christmas Present

The Best Christmas Present in the World

                                                                           By Michael Morpurgo

 

Analysis:

·      The chapter ‘The Best Christmas Present in the World’ written by Michael Morpurgo is an account of the life of a soldier, Jim Macpherson and his family in the backdrop of world war I (1914-1919).

·      The story highlights mental condition of a soldier and his viewpoint about the war disclosing the ironical truth that no soldier wants war which is the result of political differences.

·      The story forces us to understand that family of a soldier suffers hugely. Connie, wife of Jim Macpherson loses her memory and leads a life of loneliness, grief, anxiety and helplessness.

·      The letter written by Jim clearly states there are better ways to resolve ways. It also highlights that sports and festivals may unite people across the boundaries and war divides humanity causing loss of lives and property and making children orphans and wives widows.

·      The most beautiful part of the chapter is the celebration of Christmas in the middle of war at no man’s land where the soldiers of German and English armies stop fighting war, share their meal, sweets, drinks, thoughts and opinions and play football to have good time together.

·      The chapter successfully gives a beautiful message of peace, love and universal brotherhood stressing upon the fact that war is futile.

 

Summary / Synopsis:

The story begins with the narrator buying a roll-top desk from a junk shop in Bridport. The man at the shop told that it was made of oak from early nineteenth century. The narrator bought it as others were too expensive. This one was in bad condition with the roll-top in several pieces, one leg clumsily mended, and scorch marks on it. He thought he would repair it. He started working on it at the back of his garage. He removed the roll-top completely and pulled out the drawers. Both fire and water had destroyed the desk. The last drawer was stuck but he used all the force and removed it. There was a shallow space underneath, a secret drawer. There he found a small black tin box and sello-taped to the top of it there was a note, “Jim’s last letter, received on January 25, 1915, to be buried with me when the time comes”. He felt, he should not open the box but his curiosity made him open it. There was an envelope with  the address “Mrs Jim Macpherson, 12 Copper Beeches, Bridport, Dorset.” There was a letter written in pencil and dated December 26, 1914. Jim wrote to his wife Connie when he was in war with Germany. He described what happened on the border on Christmas.

First someone waved a white flag from the trenches of enemy army and shouted, “Happy Christmas, Tommy!”. Someone responded, “Same to you, Fritz! from their side, too. Then waving a white flag someone said, “Don’t shoot”. First, he felt that there was a trick and warned his men to keep their heads down. Then, the German officer waving a bottle suggested to share their schnapps and sausage as it was Christmas and dozens of soldiers started walking towards Jim across no man’s land without any rifle. Little Private Morris was the first to move from their side and then, all along both the borders were walking slowly towards one another meeting in the middle, no man’s land. Jim also joined them. In the middle of the war they were making peace. The name of the Fritz officer, who approached first was Hans Wolf, he was from Dusseldorf and he played the cello in the orchestra. Captain Jim Macpherson also introduced himself as a school teacher from Dorset, England and both wished a Happy Christmas to each other They ate and drank together and talked in almost perfect English though he had never been to England. He had learned of England from school and by reading books in English. His favourite writer was Thomas Hardy and favourite book ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. They discussed the story and characters of the book. He had a wife and a six months old son. All soldiers over no man’s land were smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating. Jim also shared Christmas cake made by Connie. Hans Wolf found the marzipan the best thing and Jim agreed. Ironically, they agreed about everything, but they were fighting war.

Then someone, brought a football and there was a football match between Tommy and Fritz  in the middle of no man’s land. Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson looked on and cheered. Hans said that they could resolve the war through the match as no one dies in a football match with no children orphaned and no widows. Jim agreed but he preferred Cricket as Tommies would surely win the Cricket match.  Fritz won the match by two goals to one. The fun time was over. They wished each other well and hoped to see their family again soon after the fighting ended as every soldier on both sides wanted peace. That night, the Germans sang a carol ‘Silent Night’. His boys joined them in the chorus of ‘While Shepherds Watched’ another carol. They all had good time of peace and goodwill to be treasured forever. Towards the end of his letter, Jim told Connie that surely by the next Christmas the war will be over and they shall be together again soon.

The narrator decided to find Connie as the letter is supposed to be buried along with her dead body. He drove to Bridport, it was just a few miles away. Reaching there he asked about the whereabouts of a Mrs Macpherson. An old man there knew her well and told him that she was a bit muddle-headed as she was a hundred and one years old. She had been in the house when it caught fire due to candles. She used candles as electricity was too expensive for her. She was saved by a fireman and since then she was in Burlington House Nursing Home. Reaching there he told that he was a friend of Mrs Macpherson and wanted to meet and give her a Christmas present. There, the people were busy in Christmas celebration and singing carols. The matron approached with a paper hat on her head and offered him a mince pie. She told, Mrs Macpherson was resting that day as she was unwell and confused. She took him into a conservatory. Connie was sitting in a wheelchair. He told her that the box belonged to her. He opened the tin box and gave it to her. Her eyes were fixed on his face. Her eyes lit up as she seemed to recognise it and there was a glow of happiness on her face. He explained how I had found it, but she wasn’t listening. But she stroked the letter tenderly with her fingertips. With eyes filled with tears she caught his hand and said, “You told me you’d come home by Christmas, dearest, and here you are”. Addressing him Jim she said it was the best Christmas present in the world. She had read the letter, every day. The letter had always made her feel that Jim was with her but that day she wanted to hear it in his own voice thinking him to be Jim, her husband. She said, after reading the letter they would enjoy tea, Christmas cake and marzipan since he had always loved marzipan. 

Important Question Answers

Q 1. How did the German and the British soldiers celebrate Christmas?

Ans. Christmas celebration was begun by the German army as someone from them waved a white flag and shouted, “Happy Christmas, Tommy! Someone from English army also responded, “Same to you, Fritz! Then, the German officer, Hans Wolf approached first and waving a bottle suggested to share their schnapps and sausage with them as it was Christmas and dozens of soldiers started walking across no man’s land without any rifle. All from both the borders walked towards one another met in the middle. Captain Jim Macpherson also joined and both wished a Happy Christmas to each other. They ate and drank together and talked in almost perfect English though he had never been to England. He talked about his English, his favourite writer, Thomas Hardy and favourite book ‘Far from the Madding Crowd’. All soldiers over no man’s land were smoking, laughing, talking, drinking and eating. Jim also shared Christmas cake made by Connie and the marzipan which Hans found as the best thing. In the middle of the war they made peace for some time and celebrated Christmas.

Q2. How is football, according to Hans Wolf, a better way to resolve war?

Ans. After sharing food, drink and cake they had good time with Football. There was a football match between Tommy and Fritz in the no man’s land. Hans Wolf and Jim Macpherson looked on and cheered. The Fritz won the match by two goals to one. Hans while enjoying the match said that they could also resolve the war through the match as no one dies in a football match. No children become orphan and no wives become widows. The result of the Football match could decide the fate of war and strife could be resolved without any casualty. Jim agreed and ironically, they both despite being enemies, agreed on everything. But, they were fighting and they could not decide whether war should be there or not and how it could be resolved.

Q3. Explain the sentence, ‘We agreed about everything and he was my enemy’.

Ans. This sentence was written by Jim Macpherson in his last letter to his wife, Connie Macpherson. He described what had happened between him and the German Officer, Hans Wolf. They both shared food and drink and wished happiness to each other. When Hans said Marzipan is the best thing they had, he agreed. He also agreed that the matter of war could be solved through a football match and again Jim agreed. They both agreed on everything though Hans was his enemy as he was a soldier in German army and fighting against his country, England. Ironically, the soldiers fighting in war don’t consider each other as enemies and both want the war to end as early as possible.