Refund

Summary of  Refund

Refund is a one-act humorous play written by Fritz Karinthy. The play is a satire on the education system and exposes how students can pass examinations without real knowledge.

The play is set in a school office where Wasserkopf, a former student, comes to demand a refund of his tuition fees. He claims that after completing his education, he has not learned anything useful and has failed in practical life. He argues that since the education system failed to prepare him for real life, he deserves his money back.

To prove his point, the teachers decide to test Wasserkopf in different subjects like history, geography, mathematics, and languages. Surprisingly, he answers all the questions correctly, but his answers are based on memorization, tricks, and guesswork rather than true understanding. His responses show that the education system encourages rote learning instead of practical knowledge.

In the end, although Wasserkopf performs well in the test, his argument proves that the education system is flawed. The play ends humorously, highlighting the gap between education and real-life skills. Refund criticizes the mechanical nature of education and stresses the need for meaningful and practical learning.

Understanding the Text

a. Why does Wasserkopf demand a refund of his tuition fees from the school?
Wasserkopf demands a refund of his tuition fees because he claims that his long years of schooling taught him nothing useful. He believes that even after eighteen years of education, he has become incapable and unsuccessful in practical life. Therefore, he argues that the school should return his money.

b. Why does Wasserkopf consider himself good for nothing?
Wasserkopf considers himself good for nothing because he fails repeatedly in real life. He is unable to get a proper job and blames the education system for not teaching him practical knowledge. According to him, his education has made him useless instead of skilled.

c. What did the teachers decide to do when Wasserkopf asked for a refund?
When Wasserkopf asked for a refund, the teachers decided to re-examine him in different subjects. They planned to test his knowledge again to prove that the school had taught him properly and that he deserved his certificate.

d. Why did Wasserkopf give ridiculous answers? Why did the teachers accept these answers?
Wasserkopf gave ridiculous answers deliberately so that he could fail the examination and get his tuition fees refunded. However, the teachers accepted his answers by giving strange explanations. They did this to protect the reputation of the school and to prove that Wasserkopf was educated.

e. How does the Mathematics Master describe Wasserkopf’s character?
The Mathematics Master describes Wasserkopf as a clever, cunning, and troublesome person. He believes that Wasserkopf is deliberately trying to fail the examination to get his money back and enjoys irritating the teachers with his rude behaviour.

f. How did the teachers outwit Wasserkopf?
The teachers outwitted Wasserkopf by turning his plan against him. Although he tried to fail by giving wrong answers, the teachers declared his answers correct. In mathematics, when he correctly calculated the refund amount, the teacher praised him as a genius and declared him successful. Thus, Wasserkopf failed to achieve his aim.

g. What is the final judgment on Wasserkopf’s demand for a refund?
In the end, Wasserkopf does not get any refund. The principal announces that he has passed the re-examination with distinction in all subjects. As a result, his demand for a refund is completely rejected.

Reference to the Context

a. “It’s possible I’ve changed. What the hell…! Your class records will show I’ve got a right to come here.”

i. Who is the speaker? Who is he speaking to?
The speaker is Wasserkopf. He is speaking to the principal of his former school.

ii. Why does the speaker say these words?
The speaker says these words because he is unhappy with the education he received from the school eighteen years ago. He believes that his education has not helped him in real life and claims he has the right to demand a refund.

iii. Where is the speaker at this moment?
The speaker is in the principal’s office.

b. Dialogue extract

i. What is the proper response to “How do you do?”
The proper response is “How do you do?” or “I am fine, thank you.”

ii. Is Wasserkopf’s response polite enough to the staff?
No, Wasserkopf’s response is not polite. He uses rude and insulting language toward the staff.

iii. How does Wasserkopf rebuke the staff?
He rebukes the staff by calling them “loafers” and asking them rudely who they are.

iv. What does the principal mean by “How dare you –”?
The principal means that Wasserkopf has crossed the limit by insulting the teachers and behaving disrespectfully.

c. Explain the following line of the play: “Because I didn’t get my money’s worth, that’s why!”
This line is spoken by Wasserkopf. He uses it to justify his demand for a refund. According to him, the education he received was useless and did not help him earn a living. Therefore, he feels that the school failed to give him value for the money he spent on education.

d. What is the theme of the play?
The theme of the play is a satire on the education system. It criticizes rote learning and shows how education fails to prepare students for real life. The play highlights the gap between theoretical knowledge and practical skills.

e. Sketch the character of Wasserkopf.
Wasserkopf is a rude, short-tempered, and dissatisfied man. He blames others for his failures and takes no responsibility for his own mistakes. He lacks discipline, respect, and practical skills. Although he considers himself clever, his behaviour shows foolishness. He tries to cheat the school to get a refund but is finally outsmarted by the teachers.

Reference Beyond the Text

a. The play is a satire on the present-day education system. Do you think our education system does not prepare students for life? Discuss.
Yes, I believe that our education system does not fully prepare students for real life. Most of the time, education is focused on memorisation and passing examinations rather than on developing useful skills. Students are trained to remember answers and reproduce them in exams, but they are not taught how to apply knowledge in practical situations. Many subjects are taught only in theory, with very little connection to real-life problems. Because of this, students often lack confidence, creativity, and problem-solving ability when they enter the real world. Education should prepare students to face challenges, make decisions, and become independent, but the present system fails to do so.

b. Our education system focuses on memorisation rather than creative thinking. Do you think the knowledge imparted has practical relevance? Who is responsible?
In most cases, the knowledge imparted by the education system has little practical relevance in daily life. Students learn facts, definitions, and formulas but do not understand how to use them. The government is mainly responsible for this problem because it designs a curriculum that gives more importance to theory than practice. Teachers are also responsible, as many of them teach only to finish the syllabus and prepare students for exams. Students themselves share the blame because they focus only on marks and certificates instead of true learning. Therefore, the government, teachers, and students must work together to make education more practical and meaningful.

c. Most students learn only for examinations rather than knowledge. Do you think certificates help in future careers?
No, certificates alone do not help much in future careers. Certificates only show that a student has passed an examination, but they do not prove real knowledge or skills. Many students with high degrees remain unemployed because they lack practical abilities and experience. Employers look for skills, creativity, and problem-solving ability, not just academic certificates. Without proper knowledge and training, certificates become just pieces of paper. True success in life depends on skills, understanding, and continuous learning rather than memorising answers for exams.