This document holds a clear, in-depth, color-coded and very detailed analysis and summary of various themes present within Our Country's good. The themes included are; Crime and Punishment, Nature Versus Nuture, Love/ Lust, Sex and Power, Heirarchy, Prison Life, Redemptive power of theatre, Arts i...
OUR COUNTRYS GOOD
5) THEMES
- To enrich humans both morally and spiritually = Social/Political message
- Universal Themes she includes: (these themes are as present now as they were back then
which is why the play is so succesful)
CRIME AND PUNISHMENT
Context;
Over population leading to poverty lead to the high number of 'criminals' in 18th century
England.
The criminals were often dumped into North American colonies, until they rebelled.
The characters in OCG were given conditional pardons; their death sentences turned into
transportation.
Quotes;
- Watkin Tench: "If you commit a crime, you are a criminal"
Represents the belief that people are born criminals
Believes that all crimes should be punished, despite the circumstances surrounding the crime
Lockeian beliefs (criminals should enjoy no more rights than a slave, there is no room for
redemption)
- Captain Arthur Phillip: "Was it necessary to cross fifteen thousand miles of ocean to erect
another Tyburn?"
• Does not want the convicts to be hanged.
• Wants to create a different kind of society where redemption is possible
- David Collins: hanging would "serve as a sharp example"
Belief in redemption via exemplary justice
Believed that without fear (of punishment, of the authorities) the new society would not work
NATURE VS NUTURE
This theme is prevalant mostly in discussions between officers, where they speak about whether the
play is worthwhile, whether criminals are born to be criminals or whether the way they were raised
plays a part in the crimes they've committed.
Liz Morden is a prime example of the 'nurture' argument. Her circumstances pushed her to do what
she did, as seen when she was arrested. She speaks of how her father betrayed her and how she was
raised without a mother figure.
LOVE/ LUST
- Mary and Ralph's relationship was representative of this theme. Ralph had a wife back
home in England, and he writes to her in a journal regularly. Ralph is a very religious
individual and has a very holier-than-thou, judgmental attitude towards officers who have
sexual relationships with the convicts. This made it all the more surprising for the audience
when he had sex with and began a relationship with Mary.
Ralph: I've never looked at the body of a woman before. Mary: Your wife?
Ralph: It wasn't right to look at her. Let me see you.
- This exchange takes place before they have sex. The two women he's had sexual relations with
in his life (Mary and Betsey Alicia, his wife) bring out two different sides
of him. His morals are forgotten when he's with Mary. The way he treats Mary is still as somee
who isn't necessarily as good as his wife. He is lustful when he is with Mary. He is loving when
he is writing to his wife.
SEX AND POWER
Duckling and Harry are an example of the power of sex. Duckling repeatedly manipulates Harry
using her sexuality. The audience questions her true intentions for her until he dies and she claims to
love him. Despite Duckling's poor treatment of him, Harry repeatedly tries to please her, and appease
her when she is upset with him. Harry killed Handy Baker (with the excuse of hime being sentenced to
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