what is the role of the Bedlam in Don Taylor's

stoops and limps, dragging one foot on a twisted ankle”. The character is not given a real name and this immediately shows that he is looked down-upon by the villagers of Eyam.         The first role that the Bedlam fulfils is that of providing comic relief. This role is used to allow the author to relieve tension whenever he wants. The first instance of comic relief is in the very first scene of the play. “Give me a penny… I collect pennies. I like he old black ones best. I polish them till all the heads are shiny”. The Bedlam is just rambling like a mad-man and so it is clear that it meant to be comic relief, as the previous conversation is an intense and serious one. “Get back on the floor, you’re supposed to be dead!” This is comical for the audience as it shows that the Bedlam cannot comprehend death on the same level as everyone else and that he is unwilling to accept that he was wrong.         Secondly, the Bedlam is used to provide information to the audience. The author uses dramatic irony to great effect when providing information. The main way in which the author provides information to the audience is through the Bedlam telling people’s fortunes and predicting the future. One of the main pieces of dramatic irony in the play occurs when the Bedlam predicts the deaths of more people in the village. The Bedlam tells Marshall Howe that he has seen 6 piles of earth when only 4 graves have been dug. The Bedlam does not know the significance of this information but the audience do and so it is very effective and simple in creating tension. “They polish your bones and hang them up in the cupboard. And all your warm clothes…” the Bedlam tells the fortune of Saville but he again does not realise what he is predicting to happen, but he is providing the audience with information.                The next role that the Bedlam fulfils is that of raising social issues. He is used as a comparison between the ways homeless and disabled people were treated then and how they are treated now. In the play the Bedlam is looked down upon, both because he is homeless and disabled. He is patronised by the villagers of Eyam and is not thought as to be able to speak for himself. “No, he likes it. Go on, boy, begin with me.” He is told what to do and also treated like an animal. The treatment of the Bedlam allows the audience to question the way in which they treat people similar to the Bedlam and decide whether they think they treat the disabled and homeless fairly.         The Bedlam is also used to represent both the plague and God. The Bedlam destroys an ant hill and this shows the audience the ease with which the plague can destroy an entire village. “They was all in a line, walking along … So I trod on them. They was all on their backs, waving their broken legs, and all crying.” This represents the situation in Eyam, the plague is the Bedlam and the ants are the villagers. “They was all on their backs” represents the vulnerability of the villagers, whilst “waving their broken legs, and all crying” represents the effect of the plague on the entire village. The killing of the ants is also used to symbolise the Bedlam as God. The Bedlam shows the power and authority that God was thought to have had at that time in history. He was thought to have had control over when people’s lives were ended.         The Bedlam is also used as a narrator within the play. The Bedlam is used to say things that others would not be able to say with the same effect.. “You’re all dressed in black … Black is a sad colour, and you must always wear it in the churchyard.” This portrays Don Taylor’s intentions and allows him to put thoughts into the minds of his audience.         Finally, the Bedlam is used to help the audience to form opinions of other characters in the play. The audience can form an opinion of a character  just from the way that character treats the Bedlam. If a character was treating the Bedlam with respect then the audience would think that that person is kinder than a person who is treating the Bedlam with disrespect. For example, Catherine Thornley treats the Bedlam kindly and with respect. “It’s cruel to make him a plaything. Come here, boy,” This helps the audience to realise that Catherine Thornley is thought to be a  kind and sympathetic character. On the other hand, Saville treats the Bedlam with disrespect and this shows the audience that he is less sympathetic and considerate than Catherine.         In conclusion, I believe that although the Bedlam fulfils many roles with the play “The Roses of Eyam”, his most significant and effective role is that of comic relief. The control of tension within the play allows Don Taylor to easily and effectively portray his intentions of what he wants to achieve and what he wants the audience to feel.                By David Locke