Furthermore, it seemed also very similar to the painting when Chubb was questioning Blunt. All the way through Chubb constantly seemed to be asking Blunt who was the person behind the spy organisation, and if he co-operated he would be able to help him. In return to one of these questionings Blunt remarked ‘I’m not the only one, there are other important people with grubby secrets’, which although made it clear there was a person behind his spy organisation it gave no hint as to who it was. This is in a way similar to how the two other drawings were found under the original painting but were also anonymous with no idea who was behind them.
Moreover, artwork is constantly used during conversation as a secret description towards Blunts true identity. ‘A great painting will still elude us, as art will always elude exposition’. This quotation can be seen as having a double meaning. It describes the painting as being ‘able to avoid exposure’; the double meaning in this is to do with Blunts secret identity. It seemed that Blunt always believed he would never be discovered but unfortunately, he was exposed. Once again art references relate closely to Blunts character.
In addition to this art is used further as a disguise to the deeper meaning of the conversation between the Queen and Blunt. During one part of the conversation held, Blunt uses a phrase once again linked with art but when looked at closely another meaning can be discovered. Blunt tells the Queen how ‘in the absence of the public one can see the art’. This quote can be unpicked to be actually describing the way in which Blunt feels towards his hidden secret. By this quote he seems to be indicating how he feels he cannot mix with the public due to his newly exposed secret. It seems he is ashamed and in a way wants to hide away from everyone else. Also it seems he feels he will be constantly looked at when his secret is completely revealed, in a way similar to the way people constantly stare at art work.
Also, whilst discussing art with what he thought was his apprentice, he mistakes the Queen for his apprentice. Once he realises his mistake his language and staging changes greatly. He begins in an arrogant tone, ‘come along – we haven’t got all day’ but as soon as he realises his mistake he immediately becomes apologetic and nervous; ‘your majesty, I’m so sorry’. He changes his speech from controlled and demanding to apologetic and timid. It seems he has been whisked away from his comfort zone of art in order to become greatly self-conscience in the Queens presence. His discomfort is shown further by his staging. When discussing art he was standing tall on top of a ladder showing he had control, but as soon as he discovered he was in the Queens company we saw him ‘turning sharply on the ladder and half-bowing’, greatly lowering his status. This stage direction used helped show just how out of his depth he really was. He had changed from using the art as a sort of ‘shield’ where he felt safe to becoming extremely ill at ease with Queen due to his secret self.
Finally, the last scene is where we see Blunt for the last time as ‘Sir Anthony Blunt’, due to the fact that the ending marked the point where Blunts loses his title, his job and is finally, completely exposed. He loses everything. Just before the curtain falls ‘Chubb and Blunt sit spotlight for a moment, looking at each other, before the lights fade’. When the lights fade it seems to symbolise his death. Everything he holds precious to him his lost. The art in which he knows and loves has gone, as the light fades it seems as if the light inside him has faded to.
In conclusion it is clear that when you begin watching A Question of Attribution, you are fooled into believing that all the different characters have their own straightforward roles. As the play develops, we see this is not the case. All the characters are found to have secrets and nothing is as it seems. Bennett has incorporated artwork in with the storyline to add to the overall effect on the audience. By making the play more complicated it encourages the audience to use their imagination in order to piece together the deeper meaning of this play.
