Question

How does Sir Oliver Surface test the true natures of his nephews?

• A. By asking them directly about their intentions
• B. By disguising himself and observing their reactions
• C. By hiring a private investigator to follow them
• D. By reading letters they wrote to each other

Answer 1

Answer:

B. By disguising himself and observing their reactions

• In The School for Scandal, Sir Oliver Surface wants to discover the true natures of his nephews, Joseph and Charles. To do this, he returns from India and adopts different disguises, ensuring that neither nephew will recognize him. He uses these false identities to interact with each nephew separately. By observing how they respond to his disguised personas, Sir Oliver can determine their true character.

For example:

• He presents himself as a poor man in need of assistance to Joseph, who, driven by greed, is willing to help him only if there's something to gain.

• He presents himself as a benevolent man to Charles, who, in contrast, treats him kindly despite being unaware of any material benefit.