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VIII. (a) Write a note on the inhumanity of various agencies of the society in the play
'Sorry, Wrong Number'.
(b) Does Duy perform his role as a Police Ocer ?
Ans: Introduction
Lucille Fletcher’s radio play Sorry, Wrong Number is a gripping psychological thriller that not
only entertains but also exposes the inhumanity of various agencies in society. The play
revolves around Mrs. Stevenson, a bedridden woman who accidentally overhears a murder
plot on the telephone. Despite her desperate attempts to seek help, she encounters
indifference, bureaucracy, and inefficiency from multiple social institutions. The play also
raises questions about Duffy’s role as a police officer, highlighting the failures of law
enforcement in moments of crisis.
(a) Inhumanity of Various Agencies of Society
The play vividly portrays how different agencies—telephone operators, police, and even
medical services—fail to respond with compassion or urgency. Instead of protecting and
supporting Mrs. Stevenson, they display coldness, routine behavior, and lack of empathy.
1. Telephone Operators
• Mrs. Stevenson’s first line of defense is the telephone system.
• Instead of showing concern, operators treat her call as a nuisance.
• Their mechanical responses and insistence on “proper procedure” reflect how
bureaucracy can overshadow humanity.
2. Police Department
• When Mrs. Stevenson contacts the police, she expects immediate action.
• Sergeant Duffy, however, dismisses her fears, treating them as exaggerations of a
nervous, lonely woman.
• The police’s refusal to act without “concrete evidence” highlights institutional
rigidity and lack of sensitivity.
3. Medical Services
• Mrs. Stevenson tries to reach her doctor for comfort.
• Even here, she faces indifference, as the doctor is unavailable and the staff show
little urgency.
• This reflects how medical services sometimes fail to prioritize emotional needs
alongside physical health.
4. Society at Large
• The play suggests a broader theme: society often neglects vulnerable individuals.
• Mrs. Stevenson, though wealthy, is isolated and ignored when she most needs help.