Our Country's Good, Plot and Subplot

Authors Avatar

Scene Four: The Loneliness of Men

  • They both discuss the women

they love, and they are both talking to each

other but don’t appear to be actually listening

to each other. Ralph seems very intent with

teaching the convicts a play, and reminds Harry

at the end of the scene to make sure he tells

His Excellency. Whereas Harry seems very

intent with Ralph’s reassurance that he doesn’t

believe Harry killed Handy Baker. I think

Harry’s main reason for visiting Ralph is to

talk to him about the way he feels about Duckling

and Handy Baker, and then casually mentions the

play. But Ralph is more interested in the play

than how Harry feels.

Scene Five: The Audition

  • Lots of different convicts in the

prison come to visit Ralph, all for a part in the

play. Some characters give personal

information to demonstrate their suitability

to play a part, and they all approach

actually getting a part in the play very differently.

  • The dialogue provides the humour

of the obvious misunderstanding between Meg

Long and Ralph. This contributes to expanding

our knowledge on Meg Long’s character. In

addition, Ralph’s character is further developed

through the information that Meg gives that

relate to other people’s perceptions of him on

the voyage. Sideway also wants a part in the

play, but plays a more authoritative and confident

character. He’s intelligent and knows what he

wants. Dabby and Mary then come in as a pair,

and it’s very obvious to the audience that Dabby

is the more dominant friend, whereas Mary is

very shy and reserved.

Scene Six: The Authoraties discuss the Merits

of the Theatre

  • The authoraties are at dinner and

basically discuss the idea of the play. Many are

against the play, and many are for the play.

Each character explains their reasons for or

against the play and the convicts themselves.

  • Major Robbie Ross shows his true

colours here and the audience see how evil and

against the convicts he is. He jokes about the

play, and thinks it’s completely irrelevant to a

convict colony. Tench agrees with Ross and

think it’s a waste of time and effort, but is not

as sarcastic and funny about it. Phillip and Ralph

are very much for educating the convicts and

teaching them how to express themselves.

The audience are also under the impression

William Faddy really doesn’t like Ralph, as he

keeps making smart comments under his breath

towards him and eventually disagrees against the

play purely because he ‘doesn’t trust the

director’. Collins then concludes the decision

and the play goes ahead. Ross is the only one

who is truly against it.

Scene Seven: Harry and Duckling go

rowing

  • Harry and Duckling are rowing

into a town. Harry does most of the talking

as Duckling is sulking. An argument then

arises, and Harry mentions Ralph’s play.

Ducking agrees to be in it.

  • At the beginning of the scene,

Harry does most of the talking, Duckling is

annoyed with him. Harry then forces her to

say something. Duckling talks about how she’d

like to be free, and how Duckling never lets

her have any freedom. Harry jumps to

conclusions and thinks it’s not the women

Duckling wants to talk to, it’s the men, and then

insults her and calls her a whore. This tells the

audience he has always been unsure of their

relationship if he jumps to conclusions so quickly.

After saying she wishes she was dead, he

suggests being in Ralph’s play. She agrees

under the conditions she doesn’t try anything

with Ralph Clark.

Scene Eight: The Women Learn Their

Lines

  • At the beginning of the scene,

Dabby is on the floor thinking. Mary comes in

and encourages her to learn her lines.

They begin to practise their lines when

Liz Morden comes on. They eventually all

practise them together, or try to. Ketch then

appears.

  • Dabby is very adamant of going back

to Devon for specific reasons. She doesn’t want

to live in prison forever. Also, again at the

beginning of the scene it shows the audience that

Dabby has control of  their friendship and is more

dominant. She tells Mary what to do, what she’s

Join now!

done and general facts. Mary’s lines are small and

shows she’s reserved. Liz Morden then appears and

wants Mary to help her with her lines. Dabby and Liz

obviously don’t get on well as they’re constantly

bickering. Mary tries to keep the peace and agrees

with both of them. But as soon as Ketch appears

and asks them what they’re doing, Dabby and

Liz both unite and turn against him, which shows

the audience how much of an outcast Ketch is.

...

This is a preview of the whole essay