15. REFUND FRITZ KARINTHY (degree first year)

15. REFUND

FRITZ KARINTHY

INTRODUCTION:-

Refund was written by Fritz Karinthy one of the most famous Hungarian writers. His works such as You Write Like this, A Trip around My Skull and Professor, won him a lot of recognition. Refund was adopted by the American playwright Percival Wilde for a general audience. Refund brings out the extraordinary sense of parody, word play in karinthy’s literary art.

EXPLANATION:-

The play is about a good- for- nothing fellow called Wasserkopf who goes back to the school in which he had studied and demands a refund of the fees he had paid. He claims that he had learnt nothing at school.

Wasserkopf, a former student of a school, tells the principal that as he has not learnt anything.  He is entitled to a refund. A re-examination says, would prove his claim that he had not gained any knowledge.

The principal is taken a back. He describes the matter with the teachers. All of them are puzzled. The maths teacher says that all the teachers must ensure that Wasserkopf some has passes in the examination. Even if Wasserkopf gives wrong answer, he should not be failed. Otherwise other students too might ask for a refund. All agree to this suggestion. Thus, while Wasserkoff is determined to fall, the teachers are equally determined to make him pass.

The teachers understand that Wasserkopf objective is to fail in the re-examination as he wants a refund. So they decide before hand that they should accept whatever answers Wasserkopf may give and ensure that he passes.

The History teacher asks Wasserkopf how long the thirty seven meters. All the teachers unite to justify their answer. The physics teacher asks a question about optical illusions. In reply Wasserkopf call the teacher on ------. but this is accepted as the correct answer. The Geography teacher asks what the capital of Brunswick province is Wasserkopf answer that the answer is “same”. The teachers claim it is the right answer.

The teacher ask very easy questions. Though Wasserkopf gives ridiculous answers they justify every answers. The mathematics teacher then asks a meaningless question and Wasserkopf gives an equally meaningless answer. The mathematics teacher says that Wasserkopf has failed. She tells Wasserkopf to calculate the amount of that should be refunded. Delighted, Wasserkopf makes calculations and reaches the figures of 6,450 crowns. The mathematics teacher then says that his calculation was actually a question in the test. She says that Wasserkopf is a mathematical genius. The teacher declares that Wasserkopf has passed the exam. In this way they succeed in activity Wasserkopf.

CONCLUSION:-

A single exam is used to assess the capabilities of the student. Then too, fivolus excessively elaborate questions may be asked. The career of the student hinges on his performance in this exam. The dramalist polices from at teachers too. Some teachers are not bothered about the welfare of the students. They may also be under tremendous pressure to make undeserving students pass as their job and promotion may depend on the “pass percentage” of students.