Marxist-Strain-in-John-Arden-modifed.docx

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Marxist Strain in John Arden’s Collected Plays

Introduction:

John Arden was born on Oct. 26, 1930 in Barsley in North Central Enland. !ost o" his

wor#s are collaborations with his wi"e and co$dra%atist and actress !arareta &'Arcy. (e has

written )lays as well as no*els. (e )resents the social and econo%ic iss+es o" his society. t's his

talent that e*en his i%)ro*isations beca%e )o)+lar and se*erally )er"or%ed on the stae.

-his research is %eant to "ind o+t )artic+larly John Arden's !arist and socialist

tendency in his collected )lays. !icheal Co*eney in his article John Arden Obit+ary says hi% a

trained architect, well$read !arist intellect+al and ast+te art historian. /)a 3 orna iins in

her article 4laywriht and 4olitical Acti*ist John Arden &ies )ortrayed hi% as one o" the iants

o" %odern literat+re who %ade a %on+%ental contrib+tion to theatre in Britain and reland. /)a

1 (is co%)osition draws "ro%, and )roceeds with, an etraordinary rebellio+s and

discri%inatin con*ention. (e considers that ad%inistrati*e, leal and )olitical instit+tions are

so%e way or another res)onsible o" the social and econo%ic brea#down. (is wor#s ha*e carried

a stron social and )olitical rele*ance and e*en today so%e o" his early wor#s ha*e enor%o+s

sini"icance. /)a 1

Br+ce 5eber writes in his article John Arden, British 4laywriht that Arden was )artic+larly

in"l+enced by Bertolt Brecht. (e was "re+ently connected with John Osborne, Arnold 5es#er

and (arold 4inter, the leadin British 4laywrihts o" 1970s, who were in the "ront line o" a

creati*e rebellion aainst the British class "ra%ewor#. /)a 2



(e has co%)osed se*eral )lays a%on those ha*e chosen a collection o" )lays which ha*e

been co%)osed "or di""erent stae co%)anies. -hese are 8riday's (idin, -he ittle ray (o%e

in -he 5est, -he :oyal 4ardon, Ars ona ;ita Bre*is and ereant !+sra*e's &ance .

t has been )resented in John Arden's )lays that the colla)se o" social and econo%ic

*al+es by the ad%inistrati*e and law en"orcin "orces can be destr+cti*e "or the society. ss+es o"

e%)loy%ent, waes, and ownershi) o" )+blic and )ri*ate )ro)erty, social sec+rity and collecti*e

wel"are ha*e been )ortrayed "leshly. -he rise o" the bo+reoisie and the ca)italists ca+ses

e)loitation o" the wor#in and labo+r classes in di*erse "ields which is +n"ort+nate "or the

dra%atist. orna iins +otes "il% %a#er elia &oolan in her article 4laywriht and )olitical

Acti*ist John Arden &ies who has described John Arden as a %ihty s)irit and eni+s in his art

who has been co%%itted to the iss+es o" social <+stice and wel"are o" the h+%anity. /)a 1

(e raised *oice aainst the social and )olitical "o+l )lay and %is+se. John Arden in his

)lays oes +) aainst social and )olitical sereation and ine+ality, enco+nterin strateic

%ane+*er and class contrasts. (e is aainst ca)italist, i%)erialist and bo+reoisie classes

there"ore he battled "or the )ri*ilees o" the lower classes. (is tho+hts challene the +ne+al,

+n<+sti"iable and e)loitati*e nat+re o" the ca)italist "ra%ewor#. (e see%s searchin "or

tho+hts and a stratey to chane the world we li*e in. (e broadens his *ision and connects local

iss+es to the world iss+es and to the historical )rocesses John Arden rein"orces the wor#in

)eo)le to stri*e "or their "+nda%ental rihts to chane their society. /

www.%arretta&'Arcy.co%.

-his thesis has been di*ided into three cha)ters. All the three cha)ters co*er +) the !arist strain

in John Arden's selected )lays. (ow !arist ideoloy a""ects the Ardenic the%es and dra%atic

)resentation. -hese cha)ters deal with the ad%inistrati*e, leal and social iss+es lyin in the

http://var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_6/http:%2F%2Fwww.margrettaD'Arcy.com

http://var/www/apps/conversion/tmp/scratch_6/http:%2F%2Fwww.margrettaD'Arcy.com



desin o" all the selected )lays. -here is clash o" wills between the lower and the +))er classes.

-he basic str+le is "or the "+nda%ental rihts. -he ad%inistration does not want to lose its hold

o*er the )oor )eo)le see#in "or "ood, social )eace and sec+rity.

John Arden is a !arist and socialist dra%atist who has also been a )olitical acti*ist. (e

hi%sel" has s+""ered the )olitical )roress in an e)loited en*iron%ent. (is obser*ation is "+sed

with )hilanthro)ic ideals "or a de*elo)ed society. (is wor#s are %ainly in"l+enced by !arist

)hiloso)hy. Catherine raha% in her thesis tand)oints-he &ra%at+ry o" !araretta &=Arcy

and John Arden is o" the *iew that he is the )ioneer o" %odern )olitical theatre. (is early

writins ha*e been a )art o" >brea# thro+h? in Enlish -heater in which he "ollowed the

)rod+ction o" John Osborne's oo# Bac# in Aner in 1976. (is dra%at+ries ha*e been a reat

contrib+tion in the )eriod o" Enlish )olitical +)hea*als. -hro+ho+t his literary career his basic

concern is to establish h+%an rihts +ni*ersally. (e yearns "or inde)endence in all "ields o"

social and c+lt+ral li"e.

>One o" the )lays o" this )eriod, er<eant !+sra*e=s &ance, is considered

i%)ortant eno+h to be incl+ded as a set tet "or Enlish "A" le*el ea%s.

B+t, while he was considered a @)olitical@ )laywriht e*en at that ti%e,

Arden hi%sel" ad%its that his @conce)t o" )olitical dra%a was one o" )lays

written +)on )olitical s+b<ects,@ and that his initial s#ir%ishes with theatre

%anae%ents ste%%ed not "ro% any "+nda%ental +estionin o" their

social rae, b+t "ro% his desire to "ind @sorne "ar %ore =electrical= %ethod o"

)+ttin the st+"" across@ /)a



8or this )+r)ose where he e%)loys %any theatrical de*ices he also "ollows !arist

doctrines o" arl !ar and 8riedrich Eneles in his best #nown )lays, dra%at+ries and

i%)ro*isations "or di""erent theatres.

O"ord &ictionary o" Ad*anced earner's de"ines !aris% as

>-he )olitical and econo%ic theories o" arl !ar /11$3 which e)lain chanes and

de*elo)%ents in society as the res+lt o" o))osition between the social classes?.

4eter Barry in Beinnin -heory, An introd+ction to literary and c+lt+ral theory says

abo+t !aris% as

>!arist %odel o" society sees it as constit+ted by a base /the %aterial %eans o"

)rod+ction, distrib+tion, and echane and a superstructure, which is the =c+lt+ral= world

o" ideas, art, reliion, law, and so on. -he essential !arist *iew is that the latter thins

are not =innocent=, b+t are =deter%ined= /or sha)ed by the nat+re o" the econo%ic base.

-his belie" abo+t c+lt+re, #nown as economic determinism, is a central )art o" traditional

!arist thin#in?. /)a 10D

!aris% is a world *iew and %ethod o" societal analysis that "oc+ses on class relations

and societal con"licts, that +ses %aterialist inter)retation o" historical de*elo)%ent, and a

dialectical *iew o" social trans"or%ation. /)a n

arl !ar /11$13, a er%an rationalist, and 8riedrich Enels /120$197, a

er%an social scientist /as he wo+ld now be called, were the <oint a+thors o" this school o"

tho+ht. !ar was the child o" a leal ad*isor howe*er s)ent %ost o" his li"e in o*erwhel%in

neediness as a )olitical o+tcast "ro% er%any li*in in Britain /he was re%o*ed a"ter the 1

=year o" +)sets=. Enels had le"t er%any in 12 to wor# in !anchester "or his "ather=s



b+siness. -hey %et a"ter !ar had read thoro+hly an article by Enels in a diary to which they

both contrib+ted. -hey the%sel*es called their econo%ic theories @ocialis%@ /as o))osed to

=!aris%=, assinin their con"idence in the state "or )+blic ownershi), as o))osed to )ri*ate

)ossession. !ar and Enels re)orted the a))earance o" Co%%+nis% in their %+t+ally

co%)osed Co%%+nist !ani"esto o" 1. -he word @Co%%+nist@ has trans"or%ed its

i%)ortance since !ar and Enels co%)osed the Co%%+nist !ani"esto %ore than 170 years

bac#. /Beinnin -heory 106

Accordin to !arist analysis, class con"lict within ca)italis% arises d+e to intensi"yin

contradictions between hihly )rod+cti*e %echaniFed and socialiFed )rod+ction )er"or%ed by

the )roletariat, and )ri*ate ownershi) and a))ro)riation o" the )rod+ction the "or% o" s+r)l+s

*al+e /)ro"it by a s%all %inority o" )ri*ate owners called the bo+reoisie. As the contradiction

beco%es a))arent to the )roletariat, social +nrest between the two antaonistic classes

intensi"ies, c+l%inatin in a social re*ol+tion. -he e*ent+al lon$ter% o+tco%e o" this re*ol+tion

wo+ld be the establish%ent o" socialis% G a socioecono%ic syste% based on coo)erati*e

ownershi) o" the %eans o" )rod+ction, distrib+tion based on one=s contrib+tion, and )rod+ction

oraniFed directly "or +se. arl !ar hy)othesiFed that, as the )rod+cti*e "orces and technoloy

contin+ed to ad*ance, socialis% wo+ld e*ent+ally i*e way to a co%%+nist stae o" social

de*elo)%ent. Co%%+nis% wo+ld be a classless, stateless, h+%ane society erected on co%%on

ownershi) and the )rinci)le o" @8ro% each accordin to his ability, to each accordin to his

needs?. (!ani"esto )a1

-he researcher will +tiliFe the theoretical )hiloso)hy o" !ar and Enels. As !aris%

e)ands on a realist conce)tion o" societal i%)ro*e%ent it "oc+ses +)on the "inancial eercises

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialization_(economics)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proletariat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Surplus_value



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourgeoisie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_revolution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_mode_of_production

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_each_according_to_his_contribution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Production_for_use


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Communism


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Common_ownership


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_each_according_to_his_ability,_to_each_according_to_his_need


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proletariat



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bourgeoisie

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Social_revolution

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialist_mode_of_production

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_each_according_to_his_contribution








http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Socialization_(economics)



that re+ire "+l"illin the %aterial needs o" h+%an c+lt+re. -he ty)e o" "inancial association or

%ode o" constr+ction is co%)rehended to o""er cli%b to social relations, )olitical and leal

"ra%ewor#s, )ro"o+nd +ality and belie" syste%. -here"ore, the econo%ic "ra%ewor# and social

relations are #nown as a base and s+)erstr+ct+re. As the strenths o" creation /%ost re%ar#ably

inno*ation enhance, eistin ty)es o" social association et to be waste"+l and s%oother "+rther

ad*ance. -hese ine""iciencies show the%sel*es as social inconsistencies as class battle.

/Beinnin -heory )a 10D

As indicated by !arist ea%ination, class clash inside "ree enter)rise e%eres in John

Arden's )lays beca+se o" heihtenin inconsistencies between *ery )ro"itable %otoriFed and

standardiFed eneration )er"or%ed by the wor#in class, and )ri*ate )ossession in the hold o"

bo+reoisie. As the di""erence ets to be e*ident to the wor#in class, social aitation between

the two o))osin classes increases, cli%ain in a social +)hea*al. ts ea%)le can be traced o+t

in -he ittle ray (o%e in the 5est. -he str+le rose between the nati*e )easants and the

ca)italists which ends with the death o" the stri#er. -he )lay de)icts the history o" ca)italist

+s+r)ation and social str+le o" the inhabitants "or their ele%entary leal and societal rihts.

/-he &ra%at+ry )a 76.

Ad%inistrati*e, leal and )olitical iss+es ha*e also been )resented in Ars ona ;ita

Bre*is. Catherine raha% co%%ents that Arden see%s a%blin with his a+dience by )resentin

so%ethin tho+ht )ro*o#in %a#in the% conscio+s o" their a+to%atic res)onses to the

conte%)orary hee%ony. (e stri*es "or %a#in the% wary o" >the blindness to their own inbred

i%)erialis%? /-he &ra%at+ry )a 70

4eter Barry denotes in Beinnin -heory,

> !arist literary criticis% %aintains that a writer=s social class, and its )re*ailin



=ideoloy= /o+tloo#, *al+es, tacit ass+%)tions, hal"$realiFed alleiances, etc. ha*e a %a<or

bearin on what is written by a %e%ber o" that class. /Beinnin -heory )a 10D

!arist strea# is deter%ined in Arden's art as he deals with society and its )roble%s.

John Arden is a realist. (is )lays are )resented with h+%an sy%)athy. (is characters are li"eli#e.

-hey can be seen in any society. -heir con"licts are also +ni*ersal see#in "or e+ality and

brotherhood. -hey are wra))ed in %onitorial crises harshly )+nched by the *iolence o" their

a+thorities. As !aris% b+ilds on a %aterialist +nderstandin o" societal i%)ro*e%ent, ta#in as

its startin )oint the necessary econo%ic acti*ities are re+ired to satis"y the %aterial needs o"

h+%an society.

orna iins says in her article, 5a#e 8or, teller o" tales, Arden abo+t Arden's best$

#nown )lay, ereant !+sra*e=s &ance, set in the north o" Enland in the late nineteenth

cent+ry, concerns %ilitary %iscreants, astonished by their own )artic+lar *ent+re in an o+tside

war, who ret+rn the carcass o" a "allen close "riend to his *illae with the strane )lan o"

awa#enin the nearby %asses aainst the war with "+rther *iolence. -he co%%on )eo)le are

e)loited and %assacred "inancially who were %ostly in search o" a <ob. -he sol+tion o" their all

)roble%s is ass+%ed in econo%ic wel"are by a))ointin the% as soldiers that is a co%%on trade

in their co+ntry. B+t they are #illed r+thlessly. /)a 1

-he best ea%)le in "a*o+r o" socialist re"or% as co%)ared to i%)erialist and ca)italist

e)loitation can be seen thro+h -he %%ediate :o+h -heatre. t's a collection o"

i%)ro*isations that %ainly "oc+ses +)on the )roble%s o" rish and Enlish )roletariats who are

%iserably see#in "or residence, e%)loy%ent, social sec+rity and )eace. B+t they are destined to

"ace hatred, threats and tort+re by the Enlish ca)italists and leal ad%inistrati*e "orces. /)a n



-his research is oin to be a descri)ti*e st+dy o" John Arden's collected )lays. -he

researcher intends to de*elo) a co%)arati*e content analysis between the basic )hiloso)hy o"

!aris% and the socialist and co%%+nist ele%ents *ers+s ca)italis% and i%)erialis% in Enlish

and rish c+lt+res thro+h his )lays. (ow !aris% re"lects thro+h John Arden's collected

)laysH (ow econo%ics are controllin the %orality o" the society de)icted in John Arden's

)laysH (ow s+)er str+ct+re is de)endent on base o" the societyH (ow Arden's )lays e)lore the

e)loitati*e nat+re o" ca)italistic societyH Ob<ecti*e o" the st+dy is to )ro*e that !arist strains

are inherent in all the collected )lays o" John Arden. (is )lays are stron conde%nation o"

ca)italis% which is horribly disastro+s to the h+%an beins.

Footnotes:

4laywriht and )olitical acti*ist John Arden dies, orna iins,8ri, !ar 30, 2012, 0100

John Arden's Obit+ary, !icheal Co*eney, 8riday 30 !arch 2012 10.19 B- ast %odi"ied on

!onday 2 A)ril 2012 16.06 B-

Beinnin theory, An introd+ction to literary and c+lt+ral theory, Second edition 4eter Barry,I

4eter Barry 1997, 2002

!ani"esto o" the Co%%+nist 4arty, by arl !ar and 8rederic# Enels 8ebr+ary, 1.

John Arden, British 4laywriht, &ies at ,By B:CE 5EBE: , 4+blished A)ril 3, 2012, a%

8al#K-he New Lor# -i%es.

5a#e 8or Mteller o" tales' Arden, by orna iin, 8irst )+blished!on, A)r 2, 2012, 0100

http://www.irishtimes.com/news/playwright-and-political-activist-john-arden-dies-1.491393

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/w/bruce_weber/index.html?inline=nyt-per





tand)oints-he &ra%at+ry o" !araretta &=Arcy and John Arden,Catherine

raha%,Co%)arati*e iterat+re 4rora%,!cill ni*ersity, !ontral,J+ly 1991



CHAPTER:

Ad!inistrati"e Ex#loitation: a clash o$ %ills

5hile readin John Arden, a #een st+dy based +)on socialist *iew can hel) in see#in

!arist strea# in John Arden's )lays. (e tal#s abo+t )eo)le, their society and their )roble%s. (is

)lays are a )resentation o" indi*id+al and collecti*e s+""erin. (is characters "all re)resentation

o" their social set$+) as a whole. -hey s)ea# o" the ton+e o" their )eo)le. Econo%ic crises,

%isery and )ain are )ro%inent the%es in his wor#s. -hat's res+ltant by econo%ic in<+stice,

ad%inistrati*e, leal and )olitical e)loitation. John Arden's )lays see% an a))eal to re"or% the

de*astated state o" a""airs.

8riday's (idin is a realistic )resentation o" ca)italist e)loitation, +s+r)ation, hide and

see# between the owner and the e%)loyees. t re*eals the tr+e and de)lorable "ace o" the

cons+%er society. n this ty)e o" society )roble%s o" the )roletariats are co%%on i.e., on ti%e

)ay%ent o" waes, ded+ction in labo+r ho+rs and incre%ent in salary can be drea%t only.

(y)ocrisy o" the owners re)resents the nastiness o" the ca)italist class not only the )oor and

hel)less labo+rers b+t also the blood relations are de)ri*ed o" their basic rihts and sel"ishly

e)loited. t's a tr+ly %aterialist and sel"ish society where %iht is riht. -he )oor is always

re)ressed so that he %ay not de%and his basic rihts. (e is less "acilitated and %ostly de)ri*ed

o" what he %ay clai% his own.

Bal"o+r's, the character o" a land lord in 8riday's (idin , sister is +n%arried and

o*erae. (er actions show that she has a )ressin +re to be %arried and has inde)endence b+t

her +n%arried elderly brother denies "acilitatin her. (er act o" wearin her %other's weddin

dress shows her wish to be %arried. he has a sy%)athetic heart "or others. he wants to en<oy

her li"e b+t her brother doesn't allow her to do so beca+se the "+l"ill%ent o" her desires %iht



wastae o" %oney. As the narrator o" this )lay she tells abo+t the co%)elled )osition o" the

labo+rers on his brother's "ar%s,

>-wo yo+n %en he had, -hat's Eddie and 5illie -a% , B+t they are yo+n %en nae

laner, -hey'*e d+ and del*e$ John Bal"o+r's land, e*enteen years with ne*er a rise in

waes, And they are l+c#y to et @what they do et?. /8riday's (idin, )a 67

-hey are )aid on e*ery 8riday b+t their lord hides so%ewhere. (e doesn't want to )ay the%. arl

!ar co%%ents abo+t the ca)italist ad%inistration that

>-he a*erae )rice o" wae$labo+r is the %ini%+% wae, i.e., that +ant+% o" the %eans

o" s+bsistence which is absol+tely re+isite to #ee) the labo+rer in bare eistence as a

labo+rer. 5hat, there"ore, the wae$labo+rer a))ro)riates by %eans o" his labo+r, %erely

s+""ices to )rolon and re)rod+ce a bare eistence?.

/!ani"esto, )a 23

n this ty)e o" society the ad%inistrati*e "orces don't allow the )roletariats to li*e

inde)endently. -heir earnins are too li%ited to %eet their day to day needs. -hey are de)ri*ed

o" their "+nda%ental rihts. !ar says, >n bo+reois society, li*in labo+r is b+t a %eans to

increase acc+%+lated labo+r. n Co%%+nist society, acc+%+lated labo+r is b+t a %eans to widen

to enrich, to )ro%ote the eistence o" the labo+rer?. /!ani"esto, 4a 23

n 8riday's (idin, Arden ironically )resents this clash between bo+reoisie and

)roletariats who are e)loited in the hands o" their %aster. (e ironically satiriFes the "e+dal lords

who %istreat their )easants and #ee) their "a%ilies away "ro% the blessins o" li"e. they %a#e

their li"e con<+sted and r+le o*er their %inds. On Bal"o+r's sel"ish and r+thless attit+de, Eddie

says,



E&&E. >&eer oodness he %eets +s nae )lace, B+t he hides awa, "ast, li#e the wee %an

he is, in the ho+se or the barn or the yard or the "ield or +nder the ban# o" the b+% or awa

yonder on the "ell or onywhere canna thin# o" nor tell, 8or 8riday "or Bal"o+r is noe%

b+t the day he's in hidin, And be"ore we et )aid we %a+n "ind hi%. (as he been to the

ban# yetH? /8riday's (idin, )a 67.

8riday is the day when Eddie and -a% are )aid "or their wee#'s labo+r b+t Bal"o+r )lays

hide and see# reclinin to )ay the%. -here is se*ere criticis% on the ca)italist )syche co%es

with !iss Bal"o+r' s words, she also wants to et her %oney "ro% her brother beca+se she

>canna b+y the %an %eat witho+t it. (e will na e*en ie it to his ain sister, consider itP?.

/8riday's (idin, )a 66 (er de)lorable condition )resents the )athetic and )oor ad%inistrati*e

state o" a""airs where the o*ern%ent and law en"orcin aencies don't )rotect the basic rihts o"

the wo%en. t's the d+ty o" state that creates and then en"orces the laws in the society b+t no

cannon is shown in this )lay to sa*e the "e%inine rihts. -he society is not in "a*o+r o" wo%en

whether she belons to the wor#in class or she is "ro% ca)italist class. Arden )resents

co%)arison and contrast between Eddie and !iss. Bal"o+r the "or%er is %arried in her own class

b+t the later is in reat %isery that she is de)ri*ed o" e*en this riht to sa*e %oney and )ro)erty

which is inherited by the brother and the sister. Arden sy%)athiFes with the wo%en o" his society

and satiriFes the cr+el attit+de o" the ca)italist establish%ent. (owe*er, he ado)ts a h+%oro+s

and liht %ood to lash on this syste%.

Eddie and -a% search hi% e*erywhere. -hey thin# he has one to the ban# to ta#e

%oney. A"ter the ban# ti%in they #ee) a watch into the yard. B+t, whaen he sees his two

labo+rers waitin "or hi% he retires. Both o" the%, weary with waitin, brin their si%)le "ood

with the% b+t #ee) an eye on the ate. Bal"o+r enter into the in dis+ise o" (acoc# di*ertin



their attention by throwin a stone on the wall. -a% obser*es this b+t he doesn't tell to Eddie. (e

%a#es the% "ool and they are #nowinly be"ooled beca+se they ha*e no other o)tion to wor# and

earn their "ood. -heir li*elihood is in the hand o" their lord no %atter how %+ch and when they

are )aid by hi%. (el)lessness o" the wor#in class is e%)hasiFed by these two characters who

are the re)resentati*es o" 19D0s ca)italist and ind+strialist rish society who ha*e to str+le "or

their li*elihood. -heir lord is +sed to )lay with "eelins and e%otions.

At last, Bal"o+r is "o+nd at his ho%e where Arden )resents his ca)italist reediness +ite

ridic+lo+sly. -he s+btlity o" his e)ression %a#es the sit+ation +ite witty and hilario+s.

>John Bal"o+r, sa"e at last where they canna et a"ter hi% witho+t breach o" ati+ette

trans"ers the wee#ly %oney, co+nts o+t certain ban#notes G these into a cashbo / loc# it,

)+t it away, loc# the c+)board, care"+lly re)lace both #eys on the end o" his watch chain

into the watch chain )oc#et Gthese notes, till now retained +nder a care"+l stern th+%b,

o in their t+rn, wra))ed in an old "old o" dry )a)er, into his wallet, a worn wallet, tiht,

"astened with "ar%er's twine, into the inner breast )oc#et, b+tton it +). ood. it down to

yo+r dinner %ean old de*il.? /8riday's (idin, )a 6D

Bal"o+r's character shows the )+nent "ace o" ca)italist thin#in "or who% %oney is the

stronest bo+nd to li*e satis"actory li"e. (e e*en "inds di""ic+lt to +se %oney "or his own sel"

whereas the hel)less labo+rers don't ha*e another o)tion to wor#. -hey are co%)elled to be

e%)loyed with this lord e*en on %ini%+% and delayed waes. -hey are de)ri*ed o" social

sec+rity ha*in no awareness abo+t their social rihts. !ar says in !ani"esto that bo+reois and

ca)italist society is %eant "or >abolition o" indi*id+ality and "reedo%P? /)a 23 -hey are

denied to own )ro)erty or "ree sellin and "ree b+yin. -hey are not allowed to thin# ece)t their

li*in. -heir tho+hts are +s+r)ed and their abilities are disabled. B+t contin+o+s s+))ression



and e)loitation ca+se rebellion and *iolence. Eddie and 5illie -a% *ainly try to snatch their

waes,

! BA8O:. ?. . ."irst to hoe John Bal"o+r's head G then to <+%) +)on his body G

then to sta%) down +)on his *itals and ri"le his waistcoat )oc#et, there is s+ch

eaeration in the "inale o" this %i%e that 5illie -a% beins to la+h and John Bal"o+r

hears hi% la+h, loo#s ra)idly +) at hi% and then +) at Eddie who at that %o%ent is

eec+tin her dance o" tri+%)h to celebrate his rehearsed ra)ine and is "orthwith

co%)elled by the cold eye o" the %aster to t+rn the dance into the )+rs+it with hoe and

hand o" a non$ eistent was), which %+rders <+st in ti%e to sa*e John Bal"o+r "ro% a

non$eistin stin. John Bal"o+r is not rate"+l and shows that there are %any "+rrows yet

to hoe.? /8riday's (idin, )a D1, D2

-here is no end o" labo+r, Bal"o+r %a#es "+n o" the% and +s+r) their rihts. -he

s)o#es)erson, !iss Bal"o+r, who is also called A+nty etty d+e her o*er ae, she "a*o+rs the%

+ietly. he does not dare to s+))ort the% o)enly. he narrates,

AN- E--L. >e*enteen years o" s+))ressed o))ressed hard labo+r are r+nnin a"ter

Bal"o+r and od #ens what they'll dae to hi% G s+))osin they sho+ld catch hi%. 8or the

"irst ti%e e*er John Bal"o+r is a"raid o" his %en. And yet "or odsa#e they wo+ld ne*er

be so *iolent as to act+ally da%ae hi% G> /8riday's (idin, )a D3

-hese "actors i*e way to re*ol+tion in s+ch )ressed societies. B+t the +))er classes do

not care o" their Fealo+s re*ol+tionary s)irit beca+se they #now how to sn+b and cr+sh the% and

e)loit the% "or their *ested interests. -hey are be"ooled "or the ti%e bein or cr+shed "ore*er.

-hey are blinded by their needs. t is hardly tho+ht abo+t the wants.

-he tr+e "ace and )ractice o" the owners has been shown in these lines,



>-hen a"ter hi% aain and he see#s "or b+sh a"ter b+sh +sin each one "or co*er +ntil he

is "l+shed o+t o" it, dodin hither and thither b+t ne*er in a )anic, +sin his intellience,

which, he is e*er con"ident, is %ore than twice as shar) as theirs.? /8riday's (idin, )a

D

Bal"o+r tries to hide hi%sel" in the b+shes b+t Eddie and -a% s+""erin )o*erty and

e)loited by their lord they #now the tric#y and de*ilish nat+re o" their %aster. -hey "ollow hi%

e*en in the b+shes and the narrator says,

! BA8O:. >&own into a ditch and )+lls a b+sh o*er hi%, they lea) the ditch

witho+t noticin "ind nobody beyond it,.Eddie )+lls o+t tobacco and )a)ers to roll

hi%sel" a wee s%o#e and one "or 5illie -a%. 5illie -a% stri#es a %atch, the wind blows

it o+t. 5illie -a% stri#es another %atch, blown o+t in li#e %anner. (e has b+t one %ore

%atch le"t to hi% in the bo he stri#es it endea*orin to conceal it "ro% the wind

s+cceeds with it in b+rnin the ti)s o" his "iners. C+rses it. &ro)s it. -hro+h the lea*es

in the ditch on to !r. Bal"o+r's "ace. !r. Bal"o+r cries o+t /not *ery s+r)risinly.

/8riday's (idin, )a D

(e is sa*ed by the%. +ch circ+%stances %oti*ate the )roletariats to re*olt aainst

a+thorities otherwise they are co%)elled to li*e in sl+%s. reat %o*e%ents o" ind+strial and

labo+r "reedo% are established. 4eo)le li#e John Arden, lead the% and "iht "or the basic rihts

o" their %iserable %asses. ronically John Arden )resents the li%)ses o" re*ol+tionary thin#in

o" his ae when his own nation is str+lin "or its indis)ensible socio$)olitical rihts. eFFe#

ola#ows#i co%%ents socialist re*ol+tion aainst ca)italis% in his !ain C+rrents o" !aris%,

>-he ad*ance towards socialis% calls "or an econo%ic and )olitical str+le on the )art

o" the )roletariate, . . . the )roletariate %+st "iht "or re"or%s in the sha)e o" labo+r laislation,



de%ocratic instit+tions and hiher waes, . . .ca)italis% will "inally be swe)t away by re*ol+tion,

when econo%ic conditions +nder ca)italis% and the class conscio+sness o" the )roletariat will

ri)e "or this.? /)a D

(owe*er, when Bal"o+r is senseless, his watch chain with the #eys is seiFed by his sister,

>she o)ens the c+)board and then o)ens the cashbo. he ta#es o+t all the %oney G and

there is a "air +antity too G she sits down at the table and en<oys her co+) d' etat. Also in

the c+)board is <ohn Bal"o+r's )ersonal whis#ey. he "ills +) a tea$c+) and she sits and

she drin#sthen she bethin#s her o" an a+ld #ist that lies behind the door. he )+lls it o+t

and o)ens it. he ta#es o+t o" it /wra))ed and ca%)hored what %+st ha*e been her

%other's oriinal weddin dress lon #e)t in *ain "or hersel". t's a lare "+ll s#irted

Edwardian ar%ent, "ar too lare "or her dried body and it oes on *ery easily on to) o"

her ordinary clothes. he holds it +) aainst her. And then she )+ts it on. -hen she sits

down aain and broods on )ossibilities.? /8riday's (idin, )a 1

B+t the hy)ocrite John Bal"o+r reains his #eys by his tric#s and raises the salary o" the

laborers "or the ti%e bein to settle the iss+e. A+nt etty says, >-he de*il s+re had done his

wor# and )+t +s all in %isery.? /8riday's (idin, )a 3 John Arden ends the )lay with a

)itiable note abo+t etty,

>he ta#es o"" the weddin dress and "olds it +) as neat as e*er it was and lays it bac# in

the #ist and )+ts the #ist bac# behind the door and sits down aain in )atience, %o))in

+) s)itted whis#y and watchin that the c+)s do not et bro#en.? /8riday's (idin, )a



-hro+h the character o" !iss Bal"o+r Arden satiriFes the %aterialist thin#in o" his ae

where blood relations ha*e lost their %eanin. n this %oney oriented society he raises the

"e%inist iss+e o" %arriae and )ro)erty. A wo%an is le"t alone to "ace the society. he has not

been allowed to en<oy her li"e beca+se her brother does not let her et %arry with a %an beca+se

it %iht be the wastae o" %oney and conse+ently di*ision o" inherited )ro)erty. John Arden

see%s conde%nin s+ch a society which de%olishes the heart desires o" an indi*id+al, es)ecially

wo%en. i#e !ar he wishes to b+ild s+ch a de*elo)ed society where it %ay not be re+ired to

%a#e se)arate sche%es "or wo%en. -here sho+ld be a society which )ro*ide the% e+al "acilities

and liberty to li*e their li"e accordin to their will.

n 8riday's (idin, the entire action is ridic+lo+s and ironic, no chane is occ+rred

act+ally. -hey ha*e not )ractised this "irst ti%e. t is a %atter o" ro+tine "or the%. John Arden

)resents the *+lnerable state o" social order. Chaos resides a%on the de)endent and )o*erty

stric#en %asses. A "ew characters re)resent the entire society. 4eo)le are s+""erin "ro% their

corr+)ted base and waitin "or an established s+)erstr+ct+re. Ad%inistrati*e and leal t+r%oil

has been e)osed "or so%e constr+cti*e )+r)ose.

8riday's (idin was )rod+ced in 1967. -he whole )lay has been drawn in a liht co%ic

and l+cid way. A "ew characters re)resent the entire rish str+le o" social "reedo%. t can be

obser*ed by their lan+ae and style o" tal#in that they are +ned+cated and bac#ward )eo)le

li*in in co+ntryside b+t doin their best at their "ar%s. At their +ni*ersal re)resentation, these

are the )eo)le who r+n the %achinery o" any co+ntry b+t +n"ort+nately neither o*ern%ent nor

a+thorities nor e*en the b+siness class thin# abo+t their rihts. -hey are e*en not i*en the stat+s

o" h+%an beins. John Arden bein a re*ol+tionary s)irit o" his ti%e shows the reality and try to

establish a need to raise *oice aainst those "orces who e)loit the )roletariats.



Footnotes:

8riday's (idin, An e)eri%ent in the aconic, 1967, !araretta &' Arcy and John Arden.


!ain c+rrents o" !aris%, -he :ise, rowth and &issol+tion by esFe# #ola#ows#i, *ol+%e 2,

-he olden Ae, translated "ro% the 4olish by 4. 8alla.



CHAPTER: &

'eal Ex#loitation: I!#erialis! "s Ca#italis!) hy#ocrisy o$ the authorities

!ar and Enels were )ri%arily interested in so%e as)ects o" i%)erialis%, es)ecially,

>t cannot be said that they arri*ed at anythin li#e a syste%atic *iew o" i%)erialis%, or

that s+ch a *iew can be deri*ed in any straiht"orward way "ro% !ar=s dissection o"

ca)italis%.? /!aris% and %)erialis%, )a 6

8or hi% ca)italis% is e%ered "ro% i%)erialis%,

>%)erialis% had "or s+b$title =-he (ihest tae o" Ca)italis%=, i%)lyin also its "inal

stae.? /!aris% and %)erialis%, )a 39 John Arden's another )lay -he :oyal 4ardon, or

-he oldier who beca%e an Actor, is the )resentation o" !arist iss+es o" i%)erialist crises,

)olitical intri+es, do+ble standards in )olitics, +ne%)loy%ent, hy)ocrisy in "orein a""airs and

social instability o" the art and artists. -he %a<or character o" this )lay is +#e he has been a

soldier aainst the 8rench ar%y b+t d+rin the action o" the )lay he is witho+t ha*in any )roo"

in blac# and white. &+rin the action o" the )lay he "aces the )roble% o" +ne%)loy%ent and

<oins the ro+) o" stae actors as a stae decorator tho+h he has no e)erience o" this wor#. (e

says to the constable,

E. > a% on %y way to ondon to obtain %y dischare "ro% the ar%y in a

re+lar "ashion.

CON-ABE. And no do+bt to et a )ension.

E. ha*e ho)es.

CON-ABE. Ah. B+t ha*e yo+ )a)ersH 5hat's yo+r )roo" o" yo+r identityH



E 4roo"H oo#, %y "riend, a% a %an o" %any trials, ha*e had

e)eriences, O" co+rse '*e not ot )a)ersP

CON-ABE. -hen yo+'re a *arant. ts not allowed.?

/-he :oyal 4ardon, )a 96, 9D

(e is ca+ht by the )olice and >ha*e )+nched in the sto%ach with their tr+ncheons in

the +t sla))ed hi% with the ede o" their hands across the bac# o" his nec#, tri))ed hi% at the

an#les, twisted his ar%s behind his bac#, and enerally red+ced hi% to a state o" se%i$

conscio+sness?. /-he :oyal 4ardon, )a D2 John Arden )inches the leal e)loitation and

lawlessness in British social order. (e e)oses leal discri%ination in law and order and

criticiFes absence o" canon "or those soldiers who ha*e ser*ed their co+ntry witho+t any record.

5ho hel)lessly wait "or reward on their national scene. Ar%y de"ends the state b+t i" state

re"+ses to own the ar%y %en or its heroes and de%ands )roo"s to ac#nowlede their sacri"ices

the %orale o" the ar%y wo+ld be decreased and state wo+ld be destroyed. oldiers de"end the

co+ntry and artists re)resent the c+lt+re o" their nation. Ethics and nor%s are set by the e%)ires

and their %onarchs b+t here they are not en"orced e+ally. ne+ality creates the sense o"

insec+rity a%on the di""erent ran#s o" society. Anarchy is bac#ed +) when *+lar actions or

e)ressions are not allowed to )er"or% on the stae whereas )olice o""icers are "ree to cross the

ethical li%its. n act one, the clown +ses na+hty and nasty words while his tro+sers s)lits

re*ealin yet another )air on +nderneath. -he Constable co%es "orward at this occasion and

)roclai%s,

CON-ABE. >:iht that will do. -hat is the second occasion in this de)lorable

)er"or%ance that *+lar and indecent beha*ior has ta#en )lace. '*e ot it down in %e

noteboo#, it is incontro*ertible. -wice, no less, was breeches %entioned and each ti%e



they was re%o*ed to the scandal o" the )o)+lace. 5hate*er yo+ %iht et away with in

ondon, we do not allow that sort o" thin ro+nd here. Close yo+r show at once and ta#e

yo+rsel*es o+t o" this town.? /-he :oyal 4ardon, )a 91

(owe*er, in the sa%e scene his +nder constable co%es on d+ty in his +nder)ants, which

is +ite l+dicro+s and %oc#in. (y)ocrisy and do+ble standards on the )art o" r+lin "orces

ha*e been e)osed. Co%%+nal %ista#es are eaerated, )olice )lay with their "eelins and they

are e)loited by the a+thority. n act one the +nder constable,

? r+ns a"ter +#e, who "inds no eit the way he is oin and do+bles bac# G only to r+n

into the CON-ABE co%in in the other side. eneral con"+sion and dodin abo+t

the stae. n the co+rse o" this, +#e seiFes the )ie and bottle "ro% the N&E:

CON-ABE and tac#led by the CON-ABE, "ells hi% with a blow "ro% the bottle

and %a#es his esca)e.

N&E: CON-ABE. Oh %y lord, he's hit the ConstableP

!: (NBO--O!. 5ho hasH Bro#en o" short and the screw lost as well, it's

oin to need a blac#s%ith.

N&E: CON-ABE. A blac#s%ith G %ore li#e an +nderta#er $ thin# he has #illed

hi%, wo%anP

!: (NBO--O!. OhP t's !r. (o)#insP t's !r. (o)#ins G who's been bashedP

CON-ABE. /reco*erin. 8elonio+s assa+lt wo+ld be the correct descri)tion 8or a

blow o" this nat+re, o" deliberate in"liction.

ndeed wo+ld o "+rther$

ee, write it down as a case o" atte%)ted %+rder.



-he %+rder o" a baded and b+ttoned Constable

s o" all cri%es o" *iolence by "ar the %ost considerable.

-he %an who wo+ld co%%it it is daner to the tate.

-he aw has rihtly )ro*ided hi% an ineorable "ate.

Na+ht shall )re*ent hi% bein trac#ed down and "o+nd

5hether +)on Enlish ro+nd

Or +)on the soil o" 8rance or )ain.

shall not t+rn aain

-ill ha*e ca+ht hi% and bro+ht hi%

-o the "oot o" the allows.

5here*er he %ay o, re%orseless *eneance "ollows,

n dis+ise, close behind hi%, till with chains and ro)es bind hi%,? /-he :oyal 4ardon,

)a 10, 109

-his scene re"lects the tr+e state o" a""airs. -he anarchic sit+ation )re*ails in the co+ntry.

-he law en"orce%ent aencies and )olice are the re)resentati*es o" the a+thority. -heir d+ty

sho+ld be the en"orce%ent o" the law and order. B+t in John Aden's -he :oyal 4ardon they ha*e

beco%e the whole )ower"+l to decide the "ate o" the co%%on )eo)le. t )resents the tr+e "ace o"

the Enlish )olice. +#e's own dialo+e shows his real sit+ation. (e says,

+#e. >Bein a %an o" so%e initiati*e and considerable sel"$res)ect, "ind %y sit+ation

)artic+larly ir#so%e. n 8landers, yo+'d e)ect it. B+t this is old war%$hearted Enland



that sent %e "orth to "iht and welco%es %e now ho%e aain with iron bars and

tr+ncheons and the sort o" coarse conte%)t.? /-he :oyal 4ardon, )a 109

Bein the lo*er o" art and artist John Arden "re+ently de)icts the )oor condition o" the

theater and stae actors who are not )aid in ti%e yet they are sincere to their wor# and add to the

social and )olitical ca+se o" their co+ntry. %)erialist and ca)italist o*ern%ents %ostly r+n

accordin to the taste and li#in o" their lords. " the #in and %inisters or "e+dal lords are not

interested in "ine arts, they wo+ld s+rely not waste their %oney "or the entertain%ent o" their

)eo)le rather they wo+ld reard it letharic "or the wor#in classes and %a#e it )ossible to

con"ine "ine arts to their co+rts. Bein a soldier +#e does not #now any )artic+lar )ro"essional

s#ill he decides to wor# in a theater co%)any as stae decorator. Es%eralda, an actress in the

co%)any, says to hi%,

E!E:A&A. >-hey e)ect a deal %ore obse+io+sness "ro% an +ne%)loyed

handy%an.

E. A handy%anH On the tra%).

E!E:A&A. On the scro+ne.

E. J+st li#e the%, so where is the di""erenceH Besides, '% not, a% H a% doin a

<ob.

E!E:A&A. Lo+ don't e)ect to et )aidH

E. 5hy notH t's %eas+reable. -i%e s)ent and s#ill laid o+t. -hey do )ay yo+,

s+))oseH

E!E:A&A. Now and then.

E. B+t yo+ stay with the%H



E!E:A&A. h'*e no choice. was born into the b+siness. And don't #now any

other.

E. None at allH

E!E:A&A. None at all.? /-he :oyal 4ardon, )a 120

ocial and )olitical +nrest a""ects the %asses in all "ields whether it is theatrical stae or

the ar% "orces on the "rontiers. E%)ires and their "orein relations with their neihbo+rin

co+ntries draw the social i%ae o" their )eo)le. n -he :oyal 4ardon, a theater co%)any is

selected by the Enlish #in to entertain the 8rench a+dience on the %arriae cere%ony o" the

Enlish )rince with 8rench )rincess. -hey are i*en a *ery little a%o+nt by the %inister o"

Enlish #in to o to 8rance by shi). -hey ha*e to re)resent their co+ntry hel)lessly. John Arden

ironically satiriFes the attit+de o" two ri*al co+ntries with the co%%on %an o" each others state

as well as the stat+s o" wo%en who is chosen to be sacri"iced "or the )olitical settle%ent between

the two ene%ies. Both #ins ad*ise their children not to ta#e this %arriae e%otionally beca+se

at any ti%e it can be bro#en on "+l"illin the state %oti*es. -his is a )olitical %arriae )ro)osed

in the )lay to cease war on the border and resol*e the )olitical %atters. 5here the Enlish actors

ha*e to "ace hatred and treachery o" their ri*al 8rench actors. -hey are i*en )oisono+s "ood by

the 8rench actors and de)ri*ed to )er"or% in "ront o" the 8rench #in. -his is an e""ort to destroy

their i%ae in "ront o" the #in and win the )riFe "ied by the 8rench #in. +#e bein

e)erienced in these %atters sa*es hi%sel" and Es%eralda "ro% eatin this li"e ta#in "ood. Both

o" the% )er"or% in "ront o" the 8rench #in. (is s)eech shows that %ore or less )oliticians and

the o*ern%ents are res)onsible "or the social and %oral decay o" the )+blic. +#e's words

de%onstrate the sit+ation on the "ront line, in act 2 he )roclai%s as a soldier in "ront o" the

Enlish in,



+#e. >tar*in tho+h we were and tired and ill

5e ne*er did "oret o+r soldier's s#ill

5e #e)t o+r boots clean and o+r bayonets briht,

5e wa*ed o+r banners and we %arched +)riht,

5e dared the 8rench to %eet +s and to "iht.

And when we %et we "o+ht till none co+ld stand

O+r bodies now lie in a "orein land,

&e"eated, they ha*e said. B+t we #now better

5e obeyed o+r eneral's

orders to the better.

" bla%e there is to be G indeed we did not win G

Bla%e not yo+r loyal soldiers, racio+s #in, b+t bla%e those %inisters, who sittin war%

at ho%e

ent +s across the seas, +n"ed, +nclothed, alone,

-o do o+r d+ty the best way that we co+ld.

5e did it, sir, by )o+rin o+t o+r blood.

-here is no %ore to say.? /-he :oyal 4ardon, )a 12,29

Ad%inistrati*e drawbac#s ca+se anarchy in the state. ins and leaders )lay their )olitics

with co%%on )eo)le who ha*e to s+""er their "ate. %)erialist and ca)italist thin#in do allow

%ore than one %asters in a state to r+le o*er the )oor and hel)less co%%on %an whereas



socialist and !arist tho+hts do not "a*o+r s+ch cr+elty. t s+))orts brotherhood and

)arallelis%. J+stice and social sec+rity is )re"erred "or e*ery h+%an bein. t's the corr+)ted

class syste% which *aries the en"orce%ent o" law and order "ro% class to class and co%)els the

d+ti"+l o""icers to e)loit the co%%on %asses. At the end o" the )lay the Constable sins,

CON-ABE.>t is no +se to be a )olice%an

-he "orce o" anarchy wins all the ti%e

did not li#e what saw aro+nd %e

did not li#e it so called it cri%e.

5ith a tr+ncheon and a brace o" handc+""s

did %y best "or Order and awP? /-he :oyal 4ardon, )a 17

Nonetheless, -he :oyal 4ardon de)icts so%e cr+cial "acets o" i%)erialist and ca)italist e%)ires.

(e see%s criticiFin the corr+)tion and chaos in socio$)olitical a""airs. A clear co%)arison

between the royal and co%%on classes can show that how )olitical and econo%ic +nrest dist+rbs

the co%%on )eo)le tho+h the nobles are not a""ected as %+ch.

John Arden's concern with the social iss+es %a#es hi% !arist ideoloist who is rie*ed

"or the %iseries o" the co%%on )eo)le and raises *oice aainst the in<+stice and %istreat%ent.

(e )resents )+blic and indi*id+al )roble%s realistically. Arden's another )lay -he ittle ray

(o%e n -he 5est is an a+thentic a))eal to re$ea%ine the instit+tions o" the society. t's a )lea

to rede"ine the )illars o" society li#e law and order, <+stice and ad%inistrati*e nor%s. -he

)roble% o" the riht o" )+blic and )ri*ate )ro)erty in a ca)italist c+lt+re has been shown in this

)lay thro+h the British colonial cr+elties on the rish society. -he nati*es o" reland s+""er the



"orein atrocities to %a#e the drea% o" a social wel"are state tr+e b+t +n"ort+nately they are

%is+sed and de)ri*ed o" their "+nda%ental rihts. !ar re%ar#s,

>n bo+reois society ca)ital is inde)endent and has indi*id+ality, while the li*in )erson

is de)endent and has no indi*id+alityand the abolition o" this state o" thins is called

by the bo+reois, abolition o" indi*id+ality and "reedo%P...By "reedo% is %eant, +nder

the )resent bo+reois conditions o" )rod+ction, "ree trade, "ree sellin and b+yin. B+t i"

sellin and b+yin disa))ears, "ree sellin and b+yin disa))ears also. -his tal# abo+t

"ree sellin and b+yin, and all the other >bra*e words? o" o+r bo+reois abo+t "reedo%

in eneral, ha*e a %eanin, i" any, only in contrast with restricted sellin and b+yin,?

/ !ani"esto, )a 23

Accordin to the British colonial law the rish )eo)le has no riht o" inheritance. -hey

ha*e no riht to own any )iece o" land, e*en their ho%es and acres where they wor# their whole

li"e wo+ld be leally owned by so%e Enlish landlord. n act one, in the year nineteen "i"ty nine,

-E:EA and EA!, an rish co+)le, are worried abo+t the inheritance o" their acres and

ho+se on the death o" their British land lord, ord Ballydehob, in ondon. -hey ha*e s)ent their

whole li"e at this )lace and s+))ose this land as their own )ro)erty b+t leally they are only the

care ta#ers. -heir dialo+es show their ho)es as well as hel)lessness,

EA!. >&o yo+ #now what a% a"ter thin#inH thin# the lot o" it co+ld belon to

none other than +s.

-E:EA. +re it always belons to +s.

EA!. 5ere there not O'earys set "ir% on this ro+nd si h+ndred years ao when

there wasn't an Enlish landlord west o" the hannonH



-E:EA. Lo+ will ne*er et a lawyer to establish yo+ that. E*ery corner o" e*ery

)arara)h o" e*ery law in the co+ntry was re*elled +) by so%e Enlish%an. O+r old rish

lawyers and their old rish boo#s all drowned in the ocean by order o" Cro%well, or

Q+een EliFabeth, or one o" Me%$ it's all "inished, we can't o bac# to it.? /-he ittle ray

(o%e, )a 199

-he land is o""icially inherited to an Enlish%an +nder the colonial law in reland, Ba#er

8ortesc+e, who beco%es their new landlord and +ses their )ro)erty "or his )ersonal interests

%a#in the% ser*ants. Bein )oor and de)endent -eresa ets worried "or their "+t+re and

%oti*ates her h+sband to o aainst their lord. -hey tal#,

-E:EA. >s yo+ or %ysel" then that will stand +) to the (o+norable Ba#erH

EA!. tand +) to hi% or do whatH

-E:EA. tand +) to hi% and de%and that in o+r "ar% +)on this land he shall )ay

%oney and he shall ta#e )ain to )rotect o+r li*es and )rod+ce "ro% the wind and the rain.

&id yo+ say a s%all siloH (e co+ld well a""ord the cost. And send hi% that hos)ital R$ray

o" yo+r chest.

EA!. t wo+ld be as well "irst to et hold o" a lawyer. et the lawyer then write to

hi% a letter that wo+ld be stron he writes in his own letters e*ery line o" a lawyer G why

sho+ld not a lawyer as well do riht as do wronH )on the %atter o" riht this "ar% is

o+r own.? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 21, 217

ea%+s dares to clai% his riht on the enco+rae%ent o" his wi"e which is a shoc# "or

Ba#er 8ortesc+e who #nows the words )olitics. -hro+h his tric#ery and dece)ti*e words Ba#er

8ortesc+e %a#es ea%+s aree to say,



EA!. >Oh !r. Ba#er, sir, all want, sir, is to en<oy "or the rest o" %y li"e the riht"+l

roo" abo*e %y ho+se, sir, %y own ho+se, sir, %y wi"e and "a%ily, %y bit o" land G yet

yo+ tell %e yo+'d t+rn %e o+t to be %y way lie in a ditch to star*e and die the sa%e as

%y reat$rand"ather . . . !y od ne*er tho+ht a decent Enlish entle%an wo+ld do

%e s+ch reat h+rt.? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 230, 231

n a %ale do%inant and corr+)t society -eresa is +ite dishearten with this act o" ea%+s she

also sins this doc+%ent and says,

-E:EA. >Oh sha%e +)on ea%+s O'eary,

5hat ha*e yo+ areedH

Lo+'*e handed o*er yo+r land and yo+r ho+se

5itho+t any need

Lo+ wi"e and yo+r children,

Lo+r li"e yo+ ha*e i*en away

8or a )ortion o" )a)er

i#e the )ay that's the wae o" a sla*e.

Lo+ are wea#, yo+ are sic#,

A %ere wrec# o" a %an on the ro+nd

Ali*e yo+ will ne*er rise +) i" yo+ cannot stand now.

-he children who lo*ed yo+

!+st brea# and "orsa#e yo+ and o



8ar o*er the ocean "ro% the ho%e that their "ather has sold.

t is not as tho+h

-he )olice and the baili""s arri*ed

5ith bl+deons and ri"les

-o dri*e +s all o+t in the niht G

5e'd ha*e then had o+r )ride

5e co+ld "iht the% and %aybe we'd win

5hat )ride in a %an

5ith one s%ile and one threat he i*es inH

EA!. /tr+lin to his #nees. Oh od "ori*e %e,

-eresa, dear od, what sho+ld we doH 8or a start, we do this

(e stri#es a %atch and b+rns the doc+%ent. t ne*er ha))ened, so. t is "orot. -E:EA.

t is re%e%bered at the ti%e when we least shall want it.? /-he little ray (o%e, )a

232, 33

(e sins the doc+%ent witho+t considerin the "+t+re o" his "a%ily a"ter his death.

(owe*er, the ti%e co%es and a""liction ca+ses ea%+s' death. !iserable )liht is that when a

%an li*es a )lace o" his own he has ho)e "or li"e and )roress b+t riht a"ter losin his own ho%e

a sense o" loss and disa))oint%ent o*erla)s hi%. ea%+s' widow and yo+n children are also

de)ri*ed o" their ho+se beca+se law does not allow the% to own their own ho+se. (owe*er, ti%e

has chaned and the new eneration is well aware with the new re*ol+tionary s)irit. -hey #now

the di""erence between riht and wron. -hey also #now how to et their rihts. -his )oor and



*+lnerable "a%ily re)resents the inn+%erable rish "a%ilies who re%ain +nable to sa*e their land

and s)end their li"e in this drea% to clai% the land where they li*e or wor#, their own

n nineteen sity G eiht, 4adraic says,

4A&:AC. >ea%+s O'eary %y "ather so s+ddenly dead in the :eional (os)ital "or

nine years now he was bent and bowed o*er li#e the li%b o" a %o+ntain thorn alternate

breath he co+hed +) blood? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 23

ea%+s' %iserable li"e ends in des)air. A"ter his death 4adraic wants to sell his ho+se

and acres to et his %other and sister with hi% to !anchester where he does <ob "or %any years.

B+t his sister oibhan re%inds hi%,

OB(AN. >yo+ can't sell the "ar% so lon as the ownershi) is in dis)+te. 4A&:AC.

&is)+teH 5ho dis)+tes itH

OB(AN. (arroate the (ono+rable Ba#er, who do yo+ thin#H

4A&:AC. Ah no, he owns the Chalet, the -intawnd+b was always o+rs. And Ba#er G

8ortesc+e ne*er had a le to stand on in that %atter G s+re, i" he owned it, wo+ldn=t we

always ha*e )aid hi% rentH

OB(AN. don't #now b+t do #now he clai%s it, all "i"teen acres. o we can't sell.

And what's %ore we can't lea*e. As lon as we stay )+t we are we are assertin o+r own

clai%, and there is nothin he can do ece)t he has always done G let +s li*e here and

wor# the "ar%. Anyway, %a%%y won't lea*e +nder any circ+%stances. %ay tell yo+ so

that's that.? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a. 236, 3D

.ea%+s' son 4adraic and da+hter iobhan are deter%ined to "iht "or their ho%e. John

Arden criticiFes the Britain's i%)erialist laislati*e syste% which has de)ri*ed its colonies o"



their basic rihts. (e satiriFes the ca)italist bo+reoisie who is res)onsible "or the )itiable )liht

o" the )roletariats who are e)loited and deraded in their hands. n -he ittle ray (o%e n

-he 5est, Ba#er 8ortesc+e an Enlish landlord clai%s his leal riht and sends a co+rt letter to

this rish "a%ily to lea*e their ho+se. (e has tric# "+lly +s+r)ed their inherited )ro)erty. n

-eresa's words he reards it as,

-E:EA. >ord Ballydehob always said the historical riht, the %oral riht he always

)+t it, was o+r own, and he ne*er insisted we$>

-he yo+n and enth+siastic 4adraic re)lies,

4A&:AC. >!oral historical there is no riht in reland b+t the riht o" Enlish law

carried o*er "ro% the old days. Let da%%it we do ha*e a constit+tion in this co+ntry,

%aintains as a basic )rinci)le the interity o" the rish "a%ily and all the children o" the

nation. t %+st )re*ent a %an sinin o*er e*ery riht o" his own children to so%e

ca)italist across the water$@ /-he ittle ray (o%e, 4a 239

John Arden see%s )leadin "or a desirable Mbase' which %ay establish a s+)erstr+ct+re'

"or a )roressi*e society. (e ad%ires a society which can liberate the indi*id+al and )rotect the

collecti*e interests. Arden +nco*ers so%e %ore as)ects o" the ind+strialist classes. -eresa'

dialo+e e)oses another side o" +))er and "e+dal classes. he says,

-E:EA >Oh Mit's a))arent. M-is the %an with the lon )+rse s)reads his "eet across this

land his boots that lea*e no roo% "or the tread o" anyone else he o)ens +is )+rse and di)s

in his hand, )+lls it o+t aain tiht$ clenched bein "+ll to the bend o" his th+%b and

those "ew "or who% he o)ens it are the sa%e "ew e*ery ti%e.? /-he ittle ray (o%e,

)a 20



(er all ho)e is her son who can sa*e her shelter and de"end her basic riht. -he %ista#e

co%%itted by her h+sband is deter%ined to be resol*ed by her son. 4adraic see#s "or <+stice and

says,

4A&:AC. >Ah "or od's sa#e a bit o" co+rae co%es easy to anyone G the bloody

)racticality'll "inish %e be"ore '% started. (a*e we no leal )a)ers whate*erH &o we

#now any lawyersH? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 21

4adraic's socialist ideals %a#e hi% Arden's %o+th)iece with a desire o" social )ros)erity when

he says in the sa%e scene,

4A&:AC. >-here %+st be so%ethin in this land G

Not to "ind it o+t, )ic# it +),

J+st li#e that, o+t o" hand $

B+t ne*er will credit

-hat the )eo)le's drea% o" )ower

J+stice, dinity, at last

Are risin +) on e*ery shore

Ece)t the one that we inhabit $ P

4arnell, and the del+si*e )ast G

!anchester Gtal#, oh yes, li#e withered winter rass

Lo+ la+h at the one and sneer at the other.

B+t sister and sister, brother and brother G



5e are the )eo)le and the land belons to +sP? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 22

B+t they can only tal#. -hey can not )ay or do anythin. (aan's dece)ti*e sy%)athy and

!+lholland's tric#ery in*ol*es 4adraic in socialist tal#s and Ba#er 8ortesc+e ta#es ad*antae o"

this )ro)aanda aainst O'eary's. (e calls to win G Co%%ander &osblac# and in"or%s,

BAE: 8O:-ECE. > a% only endea*orin to hel)P will contin+e, i" yo+ )er%it.

A re)resentati*e o" the tor%ont o*ern%ent has already identi"ied the so$called ci*il rihts

ca%)ain as nothin %ore than a "ront "or the :A. And the :A he has identi"ied as a "ront "or

international C$O$!$!$$N$$$! and we all #now what that is. At least do ho)e yo+ do

%ean, thatMs what yo+'re )aid "or. Now ha*e no do+bt that yo+ will already ha*e considered

the )robability o" :A bases o" s+))ort and s+))ly bein established so+th o" the border to

%aintain the s+b*ersion in the north. -he +estion is whereH . . . &osblac# a% this *ery

%o%ent i*in yo+ the answerP ilnaslee*een G "o+r syllables, and cra%%ed to the bri% with a

)riest$ ridden %alinant %ob o" $$ da%nable de"a+lters, e*aders o" rent, and s+atters +)on

)ro)erty to which they ha*e absol+tely not a shadow o" titleP <+st tho+ht 'd let yo+ #now . .

also tho+ht an o""icer as hihly )laced as yo+ are in the occ+lt %ilie+ o" %ilitary intellience

wo+ld be a little %ore "orthco%in whenan old G as yo+ %iht say G associate condescends to

*ol+nteer so%e in"or%ation.? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 270

4adraic in*ol*es in social wel"are o" his co+ntry with (aan and !+lholland

+n#nowinly that are %ani)+latin aainst hi%. -here is drea% o" inde)edence, )eace and

sanct+ary in the yo+th"+l eyes o" 4adraic. (is character sy%boliFes the the yo+n irish blood

who can not co%)ro%ise with the "orein %asters, who can not sell their li*es and ser*ices "or

the basic needs. 5ho wants to co%)ete with the world and wal# on the o" )roress. Jhon Arden's

socialist ideoloy is )rono+nced by his %o+th answerin to the British aent B+tler !cree#. ,



4A&:AC. / in a s+dden o+tb+rst. >5hich o+tside o" the :e)+blican !o*e%ent is o" no

interest whate*er to wor#in$ class oraniFations any whereP nternationalis% o" the

wor#in class G as "ar as we o, it %eant nothin b+t do as yo+ are told by the Brits$$$

beca+se beod didn't they in*ent itP -ol)addle and 4eterloo . . .1 ood od, we want yo+

o+t o" here G we do not re+ire ad*ice as to how best to retain yo+r in"l+ence in the %ost

)ainless )roletarian "or%P? /-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 266

(e str+les "or the e+ality and "raternity o" the wor#in class to "or% a social state b+t

the corr+)t and bribed leal syste% #ee)s hi% away "ro% <+stice and social co%"ort. (is case "or

his )ro)erty is delayed and he has to )ay the lawyers by sellin his belonins. -his ti%e he

decides to sale his )onies. B+tler !crea# ad*ises hi% to sell his )onies at Ennis#illen. Co%in

bac# on his way he is ca+ht by the ar%y %en and acc+sed as an aent o" :A. (e says,

4A&:AC /sins. >n the %iddle o" the bloody wee# three )onies had sold to a certain

Orane O""icer who "illed %y )+rse with old. t+rned %y e%)ty *an aro+nd and "or

ho%e did set "orth. !y od destroy the day on which entered in the North.? t is

B+tler !cree# who in"or%s the s)ecial "orces on )hone, th+s, ? :oyal lster

Constab+lary, Ennis#illenH )ecial O)erationsH -hn# yo+ . . . ns)ectorH B+tler !cree#

ilnaslee*een. !r i%era*e's yo+n "riend has one to the "air. A lare red horsebo,

(aan and on Contractor, n+%ber NS! 32. Lo+ ha*e thatH . . . Lo+ will )ass it on.?

/-he ittle ray (o%e, )a 2D0

Ca)italist hy)ocrisy and words )olitics is ironically satiriFed at the end o" the

)lay. nnocent yo+th has been e)loited with cons)iracy and de%olished conse+ently.

8e+dal lords )lay e*en with the dead body o" the yo+n %an by )ro*in hi% a traitor

who belons to the le"t win "orces and will be a reat threat "or the colonial o*ern%ent.



(is death is considered a reat achie*e%ent o" the ar%y. -his is all done only "or a )iece

o" land. -i%e and aain John Arden e%)hasiFes +)on the sic# i%)erialist, ca)italist and

anarchic thin#in which do not allow anyone to enter in its s)here and wants to r+le o*er

land as well as the so+ls o" the innocent and inorant )eo)le.

aw and order is on the stac# in er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, too. !+sra*e is aainst

anarchy b+t he hi%sel" destroys )eace and order o" the society. (e is sn+bbed by !rs (itchcoc#

a"ter the "inal %assacre,

!: (-C(COC. >All can see is Croo#ed Joe Bl+deon ha*in his dance in the

%iddle o" "it"y &raoonsP t's ti%e yo+ learnt yo+r li"e , yo+ bi )ro+d ser<eant. isten

last e*enin yo+ told all abo+t this anarchy and where it ca%e "ro% G li#e, scribble all

o*er with li"e or lo*e, and that %a#es anarchy. :iht H

!:A;E. o on.

!: (-C(COC. -hen +se yo+r oic G i" yo+ can. oo# at this road here we are,

and we'd ot li"e and lo*e then yo+ ca%e in and yo+ did yo+r scribblin where nobody

as#ed yo+. Aye, it's arsy$*ersey to what yo+ said, b+t it still an anarchy, isn't itH And its

all yo+r wor#.

!:A;E. &on't tell %e there was li"e and lo*e in this town.

!: (-C(COC. -here was. -here was h+ery %en, too G "ihtin "or their "ood.

B+t yo+ bro+ht in a di""erent war.

!:A;E. bro+ht it in to end it.



A--E::C88E. -o end it by its own r+les no bloody ood. he is riht yo+ are wron

yo+ can't c+re the )o by "+rther whorin.? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 102

Jhon Arden idealiFes co%)lete )eace "or all classes o" society. (is characters also yearn

"or this drea%. -heir str+le is colla)sed b+t they still ha*e an +re and ho)e to li*e and lo*e

their land. (e criticiFes the r+de and hard attit+de o" the ad%inistration at di""erent )laces. n the

last act o" er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, a"ter the %assacre the o""icer says to the !ayor and

4arson,

O88CE:.? aw and order is establishedH . . .

!y conrat+lations, all? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 9

Co%%on #illin has no %eanin and sy%)athy "or the%. -hey are ha))y on their sa"ety and

en<oy beer at the bar. -hey don't say e*en a sinle word "or the )oor dead so+ls. aw and order

is )reser*ed "or the% only. n Aner and A"ter, John :+ssel co%%ents,

>-he )lot concerns the arri*al o" a ro+) o" deserters, led by er<eant !+sra*e,

in a northern town in the 10s, ostensibly recr+itin b+t act+ally to teach the town"ol# a

lesson abo+t war.? /)a 92

-he lesson is ta+ht +iet harshly and the s+r*i*ers ha*e to <oin the dance to celebrate the

establish%ent o" law and order. Joh Arden concerns with the attit+de towards cr+elty and the

need o" )eace. 8or hi% a sense o" )eace and sec+rity is the %ost i%)ortant to achie*e total <+stice

and e+ality "or a socialist society. As a !arist he does not co%)ro%ise with little <+stice and

less )eace. -he base o" a de*elo)ed society de)ends +)on the en"orce%ent o" law and order

otherwise co%%on %an has to +ndero horrible chanes as it is )resented in er<eant !+sra*e's

&ance or in -he ittle ray (o%e in -he 5est.



Footnotes:

!aris% and %)erialis%, st+dies by ;. . iernan 19D, 8irst )+blished 0D1T by

Edward Arnold /4+blishers td. 27 (ill treet, ondon 5 1 R B.

Aner and A"ter by John :+ssel -aylor, re*ised edition 1969.


-he :oyal 4ardon, or -he oldier 5ho Beca%e An Actor, 1966, John Arden and !araretta &'

Arcy.

-he ittle ray (o%e in the 5est, An Anlo$rish !elodra%a, 19D2, , John Arden and

!araretta &' Arcy.

er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, An n$historical 4arable, with co%%entry and Notes by EN&A

EE!N.



CHAPTER *:

S+CIA' E,P'+ITATI+-: "iolence "s "iolence

-he socialist tendency in John Arden's art raises "ro% his co%%+nist and !arist

interests. (e always )resents society and its )roble%s that he obser*ed thro+h his act+al

e)erience. (e shows li"eli#e )eo)le witho+t any eaeration. -heir crises are also oriinal. 8or

ea%)le, n his Ars ona ;ita Bre*is, !arist strain li%)ses thro+h the characters' socio$

econo%ic )redica%ent. (is characters ha*e an +re to i%)ro*e their li*in by their wor# b+t

%al$settle%ent in an +ns+itable socio$)olitical, corr+)t and e)loited settin they are no %ore

)+))ets in the hands o" their leaders and so called ca)italists. Econo%ic instability and

+ne%)loy%ent annihilate the eneral ha))iness a%on the relationshi)s and ca+ses bro#en

"a%ily li"e. !en and wo%en are bo+nd in %onetary relations. -hey are sla*e to their desires and

wishes. Corr+)tion and trade *aries in all de)art%ents o" social and %oral li"e. E*en ed+cation is

+sed "or +tilitarian ai%s and )ro)aanda in "a*o+r o" )oliticians. !ar co%%ents on this #ind o"

bo+reois society > . . . ed+cationP s not that also social, and deter%ined by the social

conditions +nder which yo+ ed+cate, by the inter*ention direct or indirect, o" society, by %eans

o" schools . . .? /!ani"esto, )a 2 (+%an consideration has lost its %eanin and %an's li"e is

*al+ed with %oney. -he *ery "irst lon s)eech o" the school head%aster on the ann+al school

day, is +ite +tilitarian, he says,

(EA&!A-E:. >t has been a *ery ood year and we ha*e all %ade a lot o" %oney and

thin# we %ay sa"ely conrat+late o+rsel*es +)on that. ;ery ood.? /Ars ona, )a

D



-hese ty)es o" socio$)olitical and ca)italist ad%inistrations don't )ay attention towards art and

artists that is also a )ro%inent "ashion in Arden's ti%es. -he head%aster )roceeds his s)eech by

raisin another iss+e, he contin+es,

>One )oint, one )oint, howe*er, +)on which a% not so co%)lacent. -he contin+ed

absence o" an Art Class in the school. t %ay be ob<ected that the Art Class is not

necessary. ha*e heard it said that it wo+ld )rod+ce a n+%ber o" wo+ld$be Beatni#s$ as

belie*e they are called in %y yo+n days we +sed to say bohe%ian. 5hate*er the na%e

the res+lt is the sa%e$ +ntidy, laFy, dirty, *er%ino+s, dr+n#en, dr+$addicted, )eo)le with

beards, need a hairc+t, need a wash, need disin"ectant, need a ood sensible old$"ashioned

ho+sewi"e to scr+b the%,. . . ?

-he head%aster and the art %aster's dist+rbed s)eeches re"lect the social dist+rbance and

con"lict o" *al+es. chools are r+n by ca)italist ad%inistration and the co%%on wel"are and s)irit

o" )ractical learnin is a*oided. n ca)italist and i%)erialist o*ern%ent ed+cation beco%es

b+siness, disci)line is i*en %ore i%)ortance than learnin, eneral trainin and wel"are is

inored, es)ecially "ine arts are inored. ne%)loy%ent and lac# o" career )lannin dist+rbs

indi*id+al li"e and brea#s %atri%onial ha))iness. As !ar e)resses his *iew, >-he bo+reoisie

has torn away "ro% the "a%ily its senti%ental *eil, and has red+ced the "a%ily relation to a %ere

%oney relation. /!ani"esto, 4a 16

-he loss o" society is a+%ented by constr+ctin its base on econo%ic ro+nds where

li"e is en<oyed only by those who are blessed wealth and old. Econo%ic insec+rity and

+ne%)loy%ent ca+se di*orces in s+ch society. -he art %aster's wi"e is ha))y that her h+sband

has "inally ot <ob in a school. he welco%es hi% at ho%e b+t her attit+de abr+)tly chanes on

hearin his dis%issal "ro% <ob, she says,



58E. > wo+ld not be i*en the orders as tho+h a% the ser*ant irl. wo+ld ne*er

ha*e %arried yo+ i" ha*e #nown that was not to share yo+r trials and disa))oint%ents,

yo+r cri%es and yo+r ine)tit+des what is it yo+ ha*e done wron todayH? /Ars ona,

)a 7

(e re)lies,

A:- !A-E:. > ha*e done nothin wron. a% h+nry, that is all. a% h+nry and

thirsty. (ad not %arried yo+. wo+ld ha*e enlisted as a soldier. wo+ld ha*e s+b%itted

%ysel" to the lories o" disci)line and bea+ti"+l disco%"orts o" #ha#i sere. wo+ld ha*e

en<oyed the %anly co%)anionshi) o" the barrac# roo%, the lowin br+talities o" the

non$co%%issioned o""icers, and the rio+rs and hardihood o" the early %ornin drill

)arade. Art has "ailed %e. !arriae has "ailed %e. -he world is +nlaced, :owena,

+nlaced, +nbraced, and "allin a)art, at e*ery b+tton hole.? / Ars ona, )a 7

(is "r+stration and ill+sions "ind their destination when he <oins -erritorials ar%y.

n"ort+nately, he %ista#enly beco%es a )rey in the hands o" the ad%inistration. (e is #illed by a

shot o" head%aster d+rin their h+ntin e)edition. On his shot one o" the h+nters says +ietly,

A QE- ;OCE A!ON -(E CO!4ANL. > #now they are %en, b+t do not wish

these others to #now that too, beca+se it wo+ld be a ood <o#e to see how lon it ta#es

the% to tell the di""erence between a tree, a -erritorial, and a deer?. /Ars ona, )a 7D

(is %+rder is ta#en "or ranted and the %+rderer is not )+nished. 4oor )eo)le are as

ani%als. (+%an li"e is o" no i%)ortance. ense o" e+ality is absent. !an is *al+ed with %oney

and ran#s. -he o*ernors say,



O;E:NO:. >5ho did this terrible thinH t does not %atter, the chie" constable is o"

o+r )arty and the woods are the ord ie+tenant's. 5ho will co%"ort the widowH?. /Ars

ona, )a 7

(is death is treated re%orselessly as a )+))et. -he head%aster says,

?(e died in the #nowlede that he was "+l"illin his *ocation. (e was so still that we

were certain he co+ld only be a sta had he %o*ed we wo+ld ha*e #nown he was a

%an?. /Ars ona, )a 79

A +iet *oice a%on the co%)any raises,

> #new all the ti%e he was a %an, b+t tho+ht it best to #ee) +iet. Now thin# it e*en

better, tho+h a% the Chie" Constable.

(EA&!A-E:. (ere is the %oney. !rs !iltiades. Lo+ sho+ld be )ro+d o" yo+r

h+sband?. /Ars ona, )a 79

(is dead body is sold by his wi"e as she is co%)ensated with eno+h %oney by the

ad%inistrati*e res)onsible. No leal ea%ination is co%"orted to the )oor so+l o" the %+rderer.

(e is anno+nced a %artyr and his wi"e is satis"ied with %oney.

58E. >-han# yo+ *ery %+ch. Now can ha*e all those thins that was +nable to en<oy

be"ore beca+se o" the )oor )ay o" the teachin )ro"ession with the %oney she b+ys

clothes, "ood, wine, a new ho+se and she en<oys hersel" in "ast cars with inn+%erable

yo+n %en, all %ore handso%e and less con"+sed than her late h+sband. n the %iddle o"

her en<oy%ent she %eets his "+neral on the way to the ra*eyard?. /Ars ona, )a 79

John Arden see%s la%entin on the hard heartedness o" %aterialistic a))roach o"

ca)italist and "e+dal society where relations are i*en least i%)ortance and %oney is the base o"



all relations. 5ealth is the sy%bol o" res)ect ha*in the %aical )ower to sa*e relations and

enae%ents. 4eo)le s+""er in the society on the cost o" their relations. -hey are destined to li*e

in anarchy and sacri"ice their li*es.

:ole o" wo%en in a ca)italist, i%)erialist and anarchic society is also e%)hasiFed

thro+h the character o" school %aster's wi"e. he beco%es the re)resentati*e o" her social circle

in which she +nderoes by a sense o" insec+rity that is lin#ed with econo%ic sa"ety. +ch

societies re%ain disable to )ro*ide )rotection to their wo%en. -hey ha*e to l+r# "ro% one %an to

another. arl !ar co%%ents that in bo+reois society, >stat+s o" wo%en is as %ere

instr+%ents o" )rod+ction?. /!ani"esto, )a 27 As a !arist idealist Arden conde%ns wo%en

as )rostit+tes and "a*o+rs s+ch a society that sec+res the rihts o" wo%en and i*es the% e+al

stat+s to li*e and earn.

-his ty)e o" social and %oral con"lict is also "o+nd in er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, Annie

who wor#s in a bar as an attendant as well as a whore, she is always in search o" a %an. n act

two scene one, she is ha))y on the arri*al o" "o+r soldiers who will %ost )robably stay in !rs.

(itchcoc#'s ho+se where she wor#s, she says to Baree,

ANNE / in a s+dden o+tb+rst . >-hen yo+'d do well to see they stay "o+r nihts beca+se

'll not o with %ore nor one in one niht, no, not "or yo+ nor "or all o" Ey)tP?/ er<eant

!+sra*e, )a 1

)ar#y tries to i%)ress her, b+t she )re"ers the handso%e (+rst and arees to *isit his

bedroo% that niht. n act two scene three when she is re"+sed by (+rst she tries to i%)ress

Attercli""e who re"+ses her, tellin how his own wi"e too# a reen rocer as a lo*er, lea*in hi%

too e%bittered "or lo*e. (owe*er,



>Annie is too +)set to res)ond to )ar#y, b+t e*ent+ally they con"ide in each other, and

)ar#y decides that each has been h+rt eno+h by senseless deaths, and that these can be

better atoned "or by li*in, not "+rther s+""erin.? / er<eant !+sra*e, )a 10

ocio$econo%ic conditions are res)onsible "or the )itiable e%otional and social

circ+%stances o" the wo%en. ociety is not "a*o+rable "or the%. -hey are not )ro*ided by social

rihts and sec+rity. -hey ha*e to see# their way in the social strea% to sec+re the%sel*es. -hey

are the *icti% o" %ilitary *iolence. -hey are )reyed by their circ+%stances Annie hersel" asserts

when Baree insists her to tell abo+t the nat+re o" the soldiers, she says,

ANNE. > 'll tell yo+ "or what a soldier's ood

-o %arch behind his roarin dr+%,

ho+t to +s all M(er co%e

'*e #illed as %any as co+ld$

a% sta%)in into yo+r "at town

8ro% the war and to the war

And e*ery irl can be %y whore

J+st watch %e lay the% s+ealin down,

And that's what he does and so do we,

Beca+se we #now he'll soon be dead

5e stra) o+r ar%s ro+nd the scarlet red

-hen send hi% wee)in o*er the sea.

Oh he will o and a lon lon way.

Be"ore he oes we'll %a#e hi% )ay



Between the niht and the net cold day$

By od there's a whole lot %ore co+ld say$> /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 1

Bein a !arist h+%anist John Arden is also *ery %+ch concerned with the %ilitary

iss+es, their )resent and "+t+re. !ilitant e)loitation and *iolence a%on the ar%y has been

e)osed. ocial e)loitation is "+sed and interlin#ed with )olitical, reliio+s and %ilitant's se+al

harass%ent. 4eo)le are )ersec+ted on all )ossible ro+nds as tho+h they ha*e no riht to li*e

witho+t the will o" their lords. n the start o" act two, scene one, )ar#y )roclai%s by sinin that

he was rie*ed on his recr+it%ent in the ar%y as he had to lea*e his belo*ed b+t with the )assae

o" ti%e,

4A:L. >-hey %ade +s drill and %+ster

And stand o+r sentries ro+nd

And ne*er tho+ht 'd lay aain

A irl +)on the ro+nd

B+t soon we were )araded

And %archin to the war

And in e*ery town the irls lay down

And cried o+t "or %ore.

And when we'd lode in billets

5e'd beer in e*ery can

And the landlords wi"e and da+hters learnt

J+st how to lo*e a %an. /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 39



-he hard heartedness and br+tality o" ar%y is e)osed in the sense o" wider choice when Annie

o""ers (+rst to *isit hi% at niht he bras.

(:-. /boast"+lly. >Ah, the last had was a %a<or's da+hter. '*e ot standards.

o*ely.? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 7

Arden see%s to say that war is the %ost %iserable "or the wea# classes o" society

es)ecially "or wo%en and children who ra)ed who le"t to s+""er )ain a"ter the death o" their %ale

)artners. Nobody s+))orts or )rotects the%. Conse+ently, the society de*elo)s whores li#e the

character o" Annie or widows li#e the character o" !rs. (itchhoc#. n act two scene three, when

(+rst re"+ses Annie as he is in"l+enced by the reliio+s s)eech o" !+sra*e. he says,

ANNE. >. . . yo+ are <+st the sa%e as the rest o" Me% G the (+nry Ar%yP Lo+ eat and

yo+ drin# and yo+ o? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 79

A %ilitant *iolence *erses wo%an is %ainly )resented in er<eant !+sra*e's &ance.

Only ser<eant's character re)resents the tr+e %ilitary s)irit. (is stone heartedness and strictness

to his ca+se, whether it's ood or bad, s+its to his <ob. Others are s)irit+ally wea# and less

co%%itted to their ca+se. Arden has been a #een obser*er in )resentin di""erent ran#s o" ar%y.

(ow they e)loit innocent ci*ilians and how they the%sel*es ha*e been e)loited by their

a+thorities. -he whole act two, scene three is dedicated to the )hysical l+st o" soldiers. And the

scene ends on )ar#y's %+rder.

n -he :oyal 4ardon, the character o" +#e )resents the %ilitant e)loitation by the state.

(e is %istreated by the )olice. (is identity as an ar%y %an is threatened witho+t ha*in )roo" o"

his ser*ices. +ch an ea%)le can be seen in er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, in act one scene one,

tired and irritated )ar#y )roclai%s,



4A:L. >One day was dr+n#, boys, on the Q+een's (ihway

5hen a recr+itin )arty co%e beatin that way

was enlisted and attested be"ore did #now

And to the :oyal Barrac#s they "orced %e to o.? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 9

Arden criticiFes the British recr+it%ent syste% o" his ti%e which doesn't chec# the

willinness and ca)abilities o" a )erson be"ore recr+itin in ar%y. !ilitant anarchis% ca+ses an

air o" hatred a%on the %asses. n the sa%e act Baree, who carries the% with their wea)ons on

his *an, calls the soldiers, M blood red bloody roses M. -hey are the roses that s%ell "o+l. -hose

are +sed "or "+nerals only. John :+ssel -aylor +otes John Arden's words abo+t colo+rs, he says,

>As Arden once wrote Mthe colo+rs are )ri%ary. Blac# is "or death, and "or the coal%ines. :ed

is "or %+rder, and "or the soldier's coat the collier )+ts on to esca)e "ro% his blac#.... >/Aner

and A"ter, )a 93

-he +se o" Mred' and Mscarlet', blac# and white colo+rs is "re+ent as sy%bols in the )lay. -hey

sy%boliFe the "ort+ne o" the nati*es. -he%es o" *iolence and )aci"is% are also )resented thro+h

the%.

n Arden's )lays society is )resented as a whole. A+thoritarians and ad%inistration is

so%ehow res)onsible "or the econo%ic and social colla)se o" *al+es which has ditched the

co%%on %an in %isery and "r+stration. :eliion has )layed its e+al )art in this deteriorated

de*elo)%ent o" society as the ad%inistration and leislati*e "orces are in"l+enced by the ch+rch.

n act two o" er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, !rs. (itchcoc#, who is r+nnin a bar. he is sittin

with 4arson and worried abo+t her b+siness which has been dist+rbed d+e to the ind+strial crisis

in their %inin *illae. 4eo)le ha*e sto))ed *isitin her bar as they are short o" %oney a"ter their



clash with the %ine owner who reclines to increase their daily waes. he re+ests "or the

acce)tance o" )+blic de%ands so that her b+siness %ay also r+n b+t he says,

4A:ON. >-he ch+rch is not a s)ec+lati*e ban#, yo+ #now, to s+bsidise )ot$ho+ses.

!: (-C(COC / s+l#ily . Always a res)ectable ho+se, re*erend.

4A:ON. 5hatH

!: (-C(COC. Always a res)ectable ho+se, re*erend.

Aye. " not, why renew the licenceH Lo+ are a %aistrate, yo+ #now, yo+ co+ld ha*e

s)o#e aen %e on %e a))lication. B+t yo+ didn't.? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 1, 17

Ne*ertheless, he says that it's +ite ood that )eo)le sho+ld not drin# in a Mrerettable

ind+strial con"lict' beca+se Mthen there is less li#elihood o" their bein in"la%ed to acts o"

*iolence'. he la+hs and says,

!: (-C(COC. >Eh, i" we can't ha*e a la+h, we'll star*eP?

(e shortens their disc+ssion by sayin,

4A:ON. >Lo+ are i%)ertinent. ha*e nothin %ore to say.?

he "inally "ills his ear with these words,

!: (-C(COC. >Ah, b+t co%e to yo+ beca+se yo+'re ch+rch, yo+'re charity. o

on, re*erend, tell the !ayor to aree with his %en and i*e the% a ood )rice, then they

will b+y and sell in the town and they'll drin# in this ta)roo%, and Gho$ho)$ who #nows,

they %iht e*en co%e to ch+rchP -hat'll be the day.? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 17



-he ch+rch is also res)onsible "or the "inal %assacre o" the )lay. -he )arson is the

re)resentati*e o" the ad%inistration b+t he shows nelience towards the arri*al o" ar%y in the

town when Baree in"or%s hi% abo+t the%. (e says,

4A:ON. >. . . Lo+ are wastin %y ti%e, %an,

Co%e on, et o+t o" %y way . . .

BA:EE. / still detainin hi% . Eh, b+t, 4arson, yo+'re a %aistrate.

4A:ON. O" co+rse '% a %aistrate.

BA:EE. Lo+'re a )ower, yo+ are in a town o" tro+ble, in a )lace o" daner.

Les. Lo+ are the word and the boo#, aren't yo+H 5ell then soldiers. :ecr+itin. se"+lH

4A:ON. ('%. do not thin# the bench is in any real need o" yo+r s+estions. B+t a%

oblied to yo+ "or the news. -han# yo+.

(e i*es the BA:EE a coin and lea*es.? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 1D

-he 4arson in"or%s the !ayor abo+t their co%in in the town and the !ayor decides to

+se the% "or his own interest. (e hi%sel" *isits the ser<eant and o""ers hi% %oney in reward o"

his hel) to retreat the colliers "ro% )rotest aainst his low waes )olicy "or coal %iners. (e says

to the er<eant,

!ALO:. >er<eant we are *ery lad to ha*e yo+. s)ea# "or the Co+ncil, s)ea# "or the

%aistrate. Now listen there's loyal hearts and tr+e here, and we're e*ery %an$<ac# o" +s

#een to see o+r best lads "loc# to the colo+rs. sn't that so, 4arsonH

4A:ON. / ta#en a little by s+r)rise . (a$h'%$ with reat )ride, yes.



!ALO: . :iht. 8or e*ery Q+een's shillin yo+ i*e o+t, i*e o+t a olden so*erein G

no, two. One "or the recr+it, and one to be di*ided a%on yo+ and yo+r three ood lads.

5hat do yo+ say to thatH

!:A;E. -hat's %ost handso%e, sir.? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 23

-he reliio+s e)loitation has been )resented +ite ridic+lo+sly. t's ot one o" the "or%s

o" reliio+s do%atis% when !+sra*e na%es his *iolent actions as reliio+s and )roclai%s >. . .

%y )ower is the )ower o" od, and that's what bro+ht %e here. . .o+r %essae witho+t od is a

bad belch and a hicc+)? /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 30, 31. Be"ore doin %assacre in the town he

sets a %eetin with his co%rades and "or%ally )rays "or the s+ccess o" his noble ca+se which he

has )lanned as a re*ene o" his old co%)anion who is %+rdered in war. n act one scene three he

i*es it the na%e o" Mod's dance on this earth' /er<eant !+sra*e, )a 36

John :+ssel -aylor ar+es well in Aner and A"ter, >(e is riht when he says that od is with

hi% that he really is the re)resentati*e o" di*ine and by de"inition Minh+%an' <+stice that he

belie*es hi%sel" to be.? /)a 9 (e wants to di%inish *iolence thro+h *iolence. (e belie*es

that the re*ene "or one dead body sho+ld be "i*e dead bodies and "i*e dead bodies de%and

twenty "i*e cor)ses.

n a sel"ish and hy)ocrite society %an s+""ers )ain and %isery d+e to %an. ;iolence

res+lts br+tality. 4essi%istic o+tloo# ca+ses b+tchery. :e*ol+tionary s)irits are cr+shed. John

Arden )resents the socio$)olitical and socio$econo%ic iss+es side by side beca+se they are

basically inter$lin#ed. 4eo)le's de*elo)%ent is based +)on these two ro+nds. -he s%all town in

er<eant !+sra*e's &ance re)resents the Enlish and rish society o" his ti%es. 4eo)le are li#e

)lay cards in the hands o" the land owners. -hey don't ha*e the to s)ea# "or their "+nda%ental

rihts. -hey e*en don't #now who is their ene%y and why he is oin to #ill the%. -hey are



al%ost sieed in their own ho%es d+e their circ+%stances. -heir wretched condition is witnessed

by the soldiers %o+th in act three, who are assined the d+ty to )atrol in the town and deno+nce

the colliers on the s)ot where*er they ha*e been watched. -hey one by one re)ort to !+sra*e,

!:A;E. >Coldest town e*er was in. 5hat did yo+ seeH

(:-. (ardly a thin. treet e%)ty, windows sh+t, tow old wi*es on a doorste) o

indoors %in+te co%e, there %en on one corner, two %en on another, dirty loo#s and

words "ro% any on, e%. -here's one %an swears acc+rse at %e <+st now. -hat's all.

!:A;E. ('% . . .

A--E:C88E enters.

5hat did yo+ seeH

A--E:C88E. (ardly a thin. treet e%)ty, doors loc#ed windows blind, sho)s cold

and e%)ty. A yo+n lass calls her #ids in "ro% )layin in the dirt $$ she sees %e

co%in, so she calls'e%. -here's so%eone throws a stone $$

!:A;E. A stoneH

Enter 4A:L.

4A:L. (ardly a thin. treet e%)ty, no chi%neys s%o#in, no horses, yesterday's

horse d+n "roFen on the road. -hree %en at a corner G )ost, "o+r %en leanin on a wall.

No words b+t so%e chal#ed +) on closed door $$ they said Msoldiers o ho%e',?

/er<eant !+sra*e, )a 2, 29

-he dialo+es o" these three soldiers )resent a co%)arison o" the sit+ation )re*ailin in

the town. -he town is dead e*en be"ore the %assacre. t is this social destr+ction that is c+rsed by



!ar and his "ollowers. -he indi*id+als are de)ri*ed o" basic rihts and deserted in their own

en*iron%ent. -he iss+e o" incre%ent in waes is raised in 8riday's (idin as well as in er<eant

!+sra*e's &ance. !isery and death are )re*ailin e*erywhere. (+%an str+le aainst his

circ+%stances is "+tile. Ac#nowlede%ent o" indi*id+al's identity and his rihts is lac#ed. -he

character o" Attercli""e also re)resents wo%en stric#en class o" society who has been

disa))ointed in %atri%onial lo*e.

n the introd+ction o" er<eant !+sra*e's &ance John Arden hi%sel" says,

> . . . Mhowe*er' that a st+dy o" the roles o" the wo%en, and o" 4ri*ate Attercli""e, sho+ld

be s+""icient to re%o*e any do+bts as to where the M%oral' o" the )lay lies.? /er<eant

!+sra*e, )a D

t's Attercli""e who says no "or shootin the co%%on )eo)le when (+rst ets ready "or "ire. (e

also conde%ns !+sra*e at the end o" the )lay "or his cr+elty and harsh treat%ent with the

)eo)le.

Ne*ertheless, *ariant social iss+es incl+din %ilitant *iolence, anarchy, role o" wo%en in

society, reliio+s hy)ocrisy, +ne%)loy%ent, incre%ent in waes, socio$)olitical +nrest and %oral

chaos are elaborated in er<eant !+sra*e's &ance. John Arden is a !arist h+%anist. (is

realis% in the )resentation o" all the abo*e s+b<ects in er<eant !+sra*e's &ance shows his

a))rehensions "or h+%anity. (e see%s see#in re"or%s in society and the end o" *iolence and

chaos.

Footnotes:


-he :oyal 4ardon, or -he oldier 5ho Beca%e An Actor, 1966, John Arden and !araretta &'

Arcy.



er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, An n$historical 4arable, with co%%entry and Notes by EN&A

EE!N.

!ani"esto o" the Co%%+nist 4arty, by arl !ar and 8rederic# Enels 8ebr+ary, 1



CHAPTER .:

C+-C'/SI+-:

-o concl+de this research wor# %ay ea%ine how %+ch ha*e been s+ccess"+l to )ro*e

that John Arden is a !arist )laywriht. 5hich strateies and )ractices ha*e ado)ted to )ro*e

%y research state%ent. 8or this ha*e to +ote Alth+sser's words +sed by 4eter Barry in the

Beinnin -heory, he answers the +estion, what do !arist critics do.

>-hey %a#e a di*ision between the =o*ert= /%ani"est or s+r"ace and =co*ert= /latent or

hidden content o" a literary wor# /%+ch as )sychoanalytic critics do and then relate the

covert s+b<ect %atter o" the literary wor# to basic !arist the%es, s+ch as class str+le,

or the )roression o" society thro+h *ario+s historical staes, s+ch as, the transition "ro%

"e+dalis% to ind+strial ca)italis%. . . relate the contet o" a wor# to the social$class stat+s

o" the a+thor. . . e)lain the nat+re o" a whole literary enre in ter%s o" the social )eriod

which =)rod+ced= it. . . relate the literary wor# to the social ass+%)tions o" the ti%e in

which it is =cons+%ed=, . . . the =)oliticisation o" literary "or%=, that is, the clai% that

literary "or%s are the%sel*es deter%ined by )olitical circ+%stance.? /)a 112

All the collected )lays in this research wor# ha*e been ea%ined #eenly with re"erence to

the socio$)olitical, socio$econo%ic and )ost war scenario o" 1970s. All the )lots o" the selected

"i*e )lays are based +)on social )roble%s. 4olitical in"l+ences, reliio+s hy)ocrisy, ca)italist,

i%)erialist and "e+dal inter"erences in ad%inistrati*e, leal and social %atters are %ainly

described in these )lays. -he%es o" social, %oral, leal and econo%ic chaos, wo%en

e%anci)ation, class str+le, *iolence, in<+stice, +ne%)loy%ent, ownershi) o" )ro)erty are

)ro%inent in these )lays.



arl !ar tal#s abo+t the basic rihts o" the )eo)le. (e is concerned abo+t a stron

Mbase' o" society +)on which a Ms+)erstr+ct+re' %ay be constr+cted. By Mbase' !ar and Enels

%eans the %aterial reso+rces and re*en+e o" )rod+ction. -hey ad*ocate e+al distrib+tion and

echane o" these reso+rces. E+al distrib+tion o" land and %oney accordin to the "ac+lties and

s#ills o" the )eo)le is desirable "or the%. -his base hel)s in the establish%ent o" a s+)erstr+ct+re

which relates to the idea o" c+lt+re in a society that deals with the social instit+tes o" art, reliion,

law, ed+cation, ar% "orces and so on. As all these instit+tes are not nat+rally "or%ed they are the

res+lt o" an e*ol+tion in h+%an ci*iliFation. o%ehow, they are lin#ed with the nat+re o" the

econo%ic base o" a society. (owe*er, a de*elo)ed society is established with a )roressi*e

econo%y. !arist strea#s in John Arden's collected )lays see% to reco%%end that all the

instit+tes and state econo%y sho+ld be in the control o" a socialist o*ern%ent which will r+n the

%achinery syste%atically. 5e are able to say that arl !ar' ideals "ind their dra%atic

i%)lication in John Arden's )lays.

As John Arden ill+strates the "+nda%ental h+%an rihts o" )eo)le. (e tal#s abo+t the

socio$econo%ic con"lict o" the lower and +))er classes. !ost o" the ti%e, in his )lays, this

con"lict ends with the *ictory o" +))er class. -he lower classes are e)loited, intri+ed or

co%)ensated at the end o" each story. 4eo)le ha*e to str+le at their wor# and to et their waes

as well. -heir land lords do not want to )ay the%. n 8riday's (idin, characters o" Eddie and

-a% are shown "ihtin "or their waes and see# "or an incre%ent. n -he :oyal 4ardon,

Es%eralda co%)lains "or not )ayin re+larly by the stae co%)any. Annie o" er<eant

!+sra*e's &ance bein a whore clai%s that soldiers do not )ay her. -he coal %iners are also on

stri#e with the !ayor "or the incre%ent o" their waes.



4roble% o" +ne%)loy%ent is e)osed in -he :oyal 4ardon thro+h the character o" +#e

and the actors o" the stae co%)any. -he character o" the school %aster in the Ars ona ;ita

Bre*is is also the re)resentation o" those +ne%)loyed )eo)le whose "a%ilies are dist+rbed d+e to

econo%ic crisis.

8e%inist iss+es are also )resented in the collected )lays Arden "a*o+rs the "reedo% and

e+ality "or wo%en who ha*e to s+""er a"ter losin their %en in war. (e also tal#s abo+t their

%orals and see%s raisin +estion abo+t those "actors which co%)el the% to o astray, cross

their li%its and ado)t illeal %eans to de*elo) their earn their li*in. n 8riday's (idin, "e%ale

characters o" Eddie and !iss. Bal"o+r are co%)arati*ely drawn to "oc+s the social and e%otional

condition o" the wo%en o" +))er and lower classes. 4ain is destined in the li"e o" the wo%en o"

both classes whether she belons to bo+reoisie or )roletariats. -he "e%ale characters in -he

:oyal 4ardon, the stae actresses and the character o" the )rincess do re*eal the sacri"icin s)irit

o" wo%en at all le*els. Another ty)e o" wo%an is dis)layed in the Ars ona ;ita Bre*is thro+h

the character o" school %aster's wi"e who "inds co%"ort a"ter the %+rder o" her h+sband. he is

co%)ensated with %oney "or his %+rder. -wo "e%ale characters are )ro%inent in er<eant

!+sra*e's &ance Annie, who does <ob at a bar as well as se+ally entertains the bar c+sto%ers,

!rs. (itchcoc#, she is a sel" %ade wo%an who is the owner o" the bar, r+ns her b+siness and

deals the c+sto%ers. Characters o" -eresa and oibhan in -he ittle ray (o%e n -he 5est, are

also the *icti% o" circ+%stances. All the "e%ale characters are shown socially de)endent and

leally insec+re in John Arden's settins. -hey are see%ed at war with their circ+%stances.

ronically, he see%s to conde%n the cri%e o" war which is indirectly res)onsible "or the social

e*ils. (is )lays are written in the )ost war scenario, when the world has "aced two reat wars, a



n+%ber o" ci*il wars, *ario+s colonial and )ost colonial dis)+tes o" coloniFed and decoloniFed

nations and es)ecially John Arden's colonial bac#ro+nd with re"erence to the rish nation.

!ilitant *iolence and anarchy ha*e been the %ost stri#in the%es in his collected )lays.

-he central character o" er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, sereant !+sra*e co%es in a %inin town

to recr+it the nati*e )eo)le in ar%y b+t he act+ally )lans to #ill the inhabitants in re*ene o" his

old co%)anion. John :+ssel -aylor +otes

>n an inter*iew Arden has said hi%sel" that at the end Mlaw and order ha*e been re$

established by "orce which, i" yo+ li#e, is the nat+ral res+lt o" !+sra*e tryin to

establish the o))osite by "orce.?/Aner and A"ter, )a 97

(e teaches the lesson o" *iolence in re*ene o" *iolence and )ro*es that anarchy is sn+bbed by

"orce. -he%e o" lawlessness and chaos is )resented in Ars ona ;ita Bre*is, -he :oyal 4ardon

and -he ittle ray (o%e n -he 5est. 4adraic and the school %aster both are %+rdered by the

soldiers. B+t law does not awa#e to )ro*ide the% <+stice.

:eliio+s hy)ocrisy is another the%e in the collected )lays that is li%)sed by John

Arden. n er<eant !+sra*e's &ance, 4arson's character is the tr+e re)resentation o" reliio+s

do+ble standards. (e is a %aistrate a))ointed by the ch+rch b+t he does not "a*o+r the rihts o"

the co%%on )eo)le.

Ed+cational e)loitation is )resented in Ars ona ;ita Bre*is, where disci)line is i*en

%ore i%)ortance than ed+cation. t has beco%e b+siness and +sed "or )ro)aanda. Art classes are

i*en least i%)ortance and art teacher is considered +nnecessary. At the ad*ance le*el the social

)osition o" the stae artists is also *ery wea# in -he :oyal 4ardon who )er"or% on low waes

and are not res)ected )+blically.



Arden )resents the reality "or social re"or%s. (is )lays are sy%)athetically drawn "or

constr+cti*e )+r)ose. (e "ollows !arist ideoloy to de)ict the de)lorable social condition o"

his )eo)le. (is )lays are rendered +ni*ersal rele*ance d+e to his aniety "or h+%anity and desire

"or social re*ol+tion. A"ter a #een st+dy o" John Arden's collected )lays his reader can obser*e a

!arist strain in all o" the%.

Citation:

Arden,<ohn selected )lays.)+blisher,Co U 5y%an td. Ber#shire. 1990.)rint.

4laywriht and )olitical acti*ist John Arden dies, orna iins,8ri, !ar 30, 2012, 0100

John Arden 4laywriht whose )olitical ideas in"+sed his e)ic, elo+ent and "la%boyant wor#,

John Calder ,!onday 02 A)ril 2012


http://www.independent.co.uk/search/simple.do?destinationSectionUniqueName=search&publicationName=ind&pageLength=5&startDay=1&startMonth=1&startYear=2010&useSectionFilter=true&useHideArticle=true&searchString=byline_text:(%22John%20Calder%22)&displaySearchString=John%20Calder


http://www.independent.co.uk/search/simple.do?destinationSectionUniqueName=search&publicationName=ind&pageLength=5&startDay=1&startMonth=1&startYear=2010&useSectionFilter=true&useHideArticle=true&searchString=byline_text:(%22John%20Calder%22)&displaySearchString=John%20Calder



John Arden's Obit+ary, !icheal Co*eney, 8riday 30 !arch 2012 10.19 B- ast %odi"ied on

!onday 2 A)ril 2012 16.06 B-

Beinnin theory,An introd+ction to literary and c+lt+ral theory,Second edition 4eter Barry,I

4eter Barry 1997, 2002


!ain C+rrents o" !aris%, ts :ise, rowth and &issol+tion, by esFe# #ola#ows#i, ;O!E

2, -he olden Ae, -ranslated "ro% the )olish, 8..8alla

John Arden, British 4laywriht, &ies at ,By B:CE 5EBE: , 4+blished A)ril 3, 2012, a%

8al#K-he New Lor# -i%es

tand)oints-he &ra%at+ry o" !araretta &=Arcy and John Arden,Catherine

raha%,Co%)arati*e iterat+re 4rora%,!cill ni*ersity, !ontral,J+ly 1991




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