D.H. Lawrence’s- ‘Tickets Please’ is more serious in style than Thomas Hardy’s story because it involves more the viewpoint of women in loving relationship. It is set in WW and is about a man named John Thomas who has several very brief relationships with women. Because of these relationships he is eventually punished by all the women involved when they find out about him.
D.H. Lawrence’s- ‘Tickets Please’ reveals the way in which women at the time of the First World War began to become more independent and seek more responsibility and recognition for their place in society. They became less susceptible to the wives of men looking for the short-term relationships without any commitments.
As Bill Naughton’s -‘Seeing a Beauty Queen Home’ was set in 1930 (but published in 1959). It has a rather modern language and behavior. The story shows it has an American influence because Bill Naughton writes:
‘I might say ‘Lend us your body baby’ but no more than that’. In the 1930’s people would not have spoken to women in that manner.
In the story, the author (Bill Naughton) writes when Maggie is upset because he tried to fool her grandmother:
‘Out that door’ she said
‘But Maggie-‘
‘Out-‘ she said. ‘You might have taken her in, but you’re not taking me in.’
This shows that because ‘Rudy’ can deceive Mrs. Bibby, he can’t also deceive Maggie. Maggie worked that out and so Bill Naughton explains that she will not stand for being deceived. Maggie also says:
‘But there’s one thing that lets you down mister-you’re too bloody smart!’
With those words learning his lesson which was being smart can have a negative affect. We know this because Bill Naughton writes:
‘On that four mile hoof back to town, along the cold wet streets, I was able to weigh up her words over and over again, and realise for the first time in my life, how being right smart can not only get you in- but can also get you flung out.’
The similarities in the three stories about relationships between men and women is that all the relationships are about being deceived for example:
In Thomas Hardy’s- Tony Kytes, the Arch deceiver, Tony Kytes promises all the “girlfriends” that he will consider marrying them as an alternative to Milly Richards. Near the end Hannah a former girlfriend noticed there was a loud, angry, squeak coming from the back of the waggon. This occurred when she said ‘Throw over Milly? -All to marry me! How delightful!’
The loud, angry squeak was of course Milly Richards in the back of the waggon, Hannah and Unity both refuse Tony Kytes’ appeal for marriage. So in the end he was left with Milly Richards to whom he married the very next week.
D.H. Lawrence’s- ‘Tickets Please’-John Thomas deceives the girls by going out with lots of girls at the same time. In the story all the girls find out about this and punish him by brutally inflicting pain towards him. We know this because D.H. Lawrence writes:
‘… at Annie’s signal they all flew at him, slapping him, pinching him, pulling his hair, though more in fun than in spite or anger.’
D.H. Lawrence also writes:‘ The girls rushed at him clenching their hands on him and pulled at him or they rushed at him butted him with all their might or they struck him with wild blows.’
‘At last he was down. They rushed on him, knocking on him kneeling on him. He had neither breath nor strength to move. His face was bleeding with a long scratch his brow was bruised.’
The quotes above show how intense the attack was. D.H. Lawrence uses lots of similes in his writing for example in ‘Tickets Please’ he writes:
‘With face averted, as an animal lies’
‘He started to struggle as an animal might’
‘Annie let him go as if he had been hot coal’
In Bill Naughton’s -‘Seeing a Beauty Queen Home’ ‘Rudy’ deceives Mr s Bibby and so Maggie feels that if ‘Rudy’ can deceive her own Grandmother he can also deceive her. Therefore she obviously would not want to be in that kind of relationship and so sends him out. We know this because Bill Naughton writes:
‘Out that door’ she said
‘But Maggie’
‘Out-‘ she said. ‘ You might have taken her in, but you’re not taking me in!’
I conclude that out of the three stories I thought that Bill Naughton’s ‘ Seeing a Beauty Queen Home’ was the most interesting. This is because he creates a storyline that is based on situations that are occurring today. This storyline creates an environment that will make the reader know what the writer is thinking at the time.
Bill Naughton makes you think about the situation and makes you want to read on for example:
‘Get out that door’ she said
The sentence above makes you want to read on and find out her explanation for saying what she did. It is followed up by:
‘I couldn’t believe my own ears. I’d been waiting for the applause.’
‘Steady up Maggie’ I said’. As I stood up she stood up in front of me. She seemed to be in some kind of temper that put inches on her height and her bust. For the first time I was able to see signs of the Queen in her.’
This paragraph continues to make you want to read on, find out what happens next, and makes you want to read on.
‘You might have taken her in, but you’re not taking me in!’
This is a major part of the story although it is one line. It shows that Maggie is ending her relationship with ‘Rudy’ because she believes that he will deceive her.
If I were writing a story on this theme set in the present day it would be different because I would put another man or woman in the story so either the man or the woman decides to cheat on their partner. This should create an environment for the reader so they want to read on. The cheating partner would try and deceive the other and the other partner finds out. At this point I would leave the reader in suspense and let the tension rise. Then I would release all the tension at once. This would shock the reader and end the story in a sad way for example
‘You’ve caused enough grief to last me an entire lifetime I will leave you in peace forever’ (and the person would walk away)
