Summary of The Hundred Dresses – I

Introduction:

The story of the Hundred Dresses is believed to be based on personal experiences of the author El Bsor Ester aka Eleanor Estes. It is about an immigrant girl who is teased by her classmates. Her name is Wanda. She claims that she has one hundred dresses. Her classmates make fun of her as her claim is evidently false. They think that her name is funny. The truth about her hundred dresses revealed when she submitted her hundred different drawings of colorful dresses in a drawing competition.

Summary:

The important characters of the story are Wanda Petronski and her classmates Peggy and Madeline. Wanda Petronski is a Polish immigrant, and she has arrived in America with her family. She attends an American school. Her classmates find her name to be strange because it is an uncommon name.

Wanda is a poor girl and she always comes to school in a faded blue dress. She is a quiet girl. She sits in the corner seat of the last bench along with boys who do not get good marks. She comes to school with mud-caked feet. She doesn’t have friends. Other girls of the class, led by Peggy and Maddie make fun of Wanda. Peggy is a rich girl. She is the most popular girl and Maddie is her best friend. They mockingly ask Wanda about her dresses and shoes. Wanda answers that she has one hundred dresses and sixty pairs of shoes. Wanda never complains of their teasing.

The story also represents the viewpoint of Maddie, who is the best friend of Peggy, the main player in the daily taunting and teasing of Wanda. Maddie is also a poor girl though she is not as poor as Wanda. They wait for Wanda’s arrival to school to make fun of her. Maddie doesn’t like the game of teasing Wanda. At the same time, she doesn’t have the courage to stop the game. She fears that she might be the next target of the game. She wants Peggy to stop making fun of Wanda.

Peggy is not a cruel girl. She has no ill intentions in teasing Wanda. She doesn’t want to hurt Wanda. She wants to know why does Wanda lie about her dresses and shoes. She readily accepts the fact that Wanda is the best in drawing after looking at the wonderful collection of Wanda’s drawings of dresses.

The truth about Wanda’s hundred dresses is revealed on the day the teacher announced the results of the drawing competition. The room is filled with one hundred drawings each one worthy of winning.  True to Wanda’s words, she has one hundred dresses and all lined up. Peggy and Maddie, along with other students of the class are awestruck. They feel bad that they have not treated Wanda nicely.

This story tells us that we should not judge people by our standards. We should not mistreat anyone for being different or weird. We have to understand that people are different in several aspects. We have to accept them as they are. We have our own weaknesses and strengths.

Meanings:

Scuffling of feet =  noisy, dragging movements of the feet on the ground

Didn’t hang right =  didn’t fit properly

Hopscotch =  a game in which children hop into and over squares marked on the ground

Nudge =  a gentle push

Incredulously =  showing unwillingness to believe

Courteous =  polite, respectful

Stolidly =  calm, dependable, and showing little emotion and animation

Shrieks =  scream

Exaggerated =  overemphasize

Her eyes dull =  having eyes wanting brightness, liveliness, and vivacity Absentmindedly =  distracted Shuddered =  shake, tremble

Disguise =  to give a different appearance to conceal its identity Scarcely =  hardly; barely

Trimmings =  decoration

Sash =  a long strip or loop of cloth worn over one shoulder or round the waist, especially as part of a uniform or official dress

Pretended =  not genuine

Admiration =  respect and warm approval Drizzling =  rain lightly

Hurried =  quick Gasped =  catch one's breath with an open mouth, owing to pain or astonishment.

Ledge =  shelf

Windowsill =  ledge or sill forming the bottom part of a window

Dazzling =  extremely impressive, beautiful, or skillful

Lavish =  gorgeous

Murmured =  say something in a low or distinct voice

Admiringly =  in a way that shows respect or warm approval

Assembled =  gather together in one place for a common purpose