Davies isn’t referring to these people as equal human beings, but as objects or things and he is implying that he is higher in the social hierarchy than these people. and that they should have been working for him. Describing these people as “all the same” shows how prejudiced Davies is towards anyone different to himself. Davies suffers from xenophobia and he makes his views very clear. Davies claims to be socially superior compared to the people he is telling Aston about, and this is a symptom of an inferiority complex perhaps highlighting him further as a social victim.
Davies sees his age as a disadvantage as his former boss who Davies calls a ‘Scotsman’ was not showing him enough respect, as far as Davies is concerned. He can only threaten him with what he would have done when younger. As he explained; “I’d break you in half”. It is noticeable that the audience feel that Davies is a social victim as in reality he is unable to defend himself.
Davies repeatedly mentions how fortunate Aston is. For example, he comments on the lack of draughts in Aston’s room, how they are not as strong as the ones that he is used to. This would make the audience and Aston feel sympathetic towards Davies as it is appalling to live on the streets without a roof over one’s head.
Davies is a vulnerable, weak old man who can’t fight his own battles; he needs the help of Aston to get him out of trouble. Davies tells Aston, “I was lucky you come into that caff. I might have been done by that Scotch git. I been left for dead more than once” and this shows the audience how much of a social victim he is.
Davies mentions to Aston how he cannot get to Sidcup to get his papers because of the bad state of his shoes, also, that the weather is “so blasted bloody awful” according to Davies it seems everything is against him. This is an instance where Davies is trying to make Aston feel sorry for him. The fact is, even if his papers were located down the road, Davies still wouldn’t collect them. Davies acts frustrated and unhappy that he cannot do anything to improve the matter, but this is a false impression, either because he is too lazy to get his papers, he wants Aston to pity him in some way, or he does want to give away his true identity.
Davies’ character seems very insecure in the play. As Aston wakes him up in the morning Davies seems confused and unhappy. He seems agitated, not knowing where he is. Aston comforts him and he is relaxed again, realising where he is. This could indicate that Davies has had a tough life on the streets.
When Aston asks Davies if he was dreaming, Davies appears on the defence and replies by saying,
“I don’t dream. I’ve never dreamed.” Davies obviously does not feel comfortable with himself when Aston tells him that he was making noises whilst sleeping. Davies quickly wants to know more about what was coming out of his mouth. Again, this shows Davies’ insecurity that he is not quite sure himself and is fearful of giving too much away. To make himself look better towards Aston, Davies uses his usual excuse, that it was the blacks making the noises.
The audience would be sympathetic towards Davies because he has no money, “You see, I got nothing for all that week’s work I did last week.”
When Aston asks if the name “Mac Davies” is Welsh, Davies does not seem to want to give Aston a specific answer and appears to be evasive when asked where he was born. He makes out he does not understand what Aston means, “What do you mean?” he replies to the simple question. This links back to Davies not wanting to collect his papers in Sidcup. Davies either does not want Aston knowing his name as he has a dislike of bureaucracy, or he is too embarrassed and uncomfortable to disclose this information. This uncertainty reflects on Davies’ personality.
When Davies encounters Mick, Mick is definitely the more dominant character. Aston is not there to get him out of trouble this time. He is defenceless against Mick and Davies knows he cannot match Mick’s strength and does not try. Davies is humiliated; Mick treats him roughly without care or respect. Davies has no idea what is happening and is fearful of Mick’s violent behaviour. Davies acts just as an animal would react in these circumstances. The movements of Mick in comparison with Davies’ are very different.
“Mick swiftly forces him to the floor, with Davies struggling, grimacing, whimpering and staring.” These actions prove to the audience, that Davies is the vulnerable old man he claims to be.
Throughout the play Davies shows signs of being a social victim at the same time as being a social parasite.
A way in which the audience see Davies as a social parasite is that he has an eye for material things, things that do not often belong to him. Davies is an opportunist. Aston offers Davies some tobacco to roll himself a cigarette, when Davies asks for enough to fill his pipe and it shows Davies is a greedy sponger, as he could have easily have been happy with the original offer. This example shows Davies taking advantage of Aston’s kind nature.
Davies wants other characters in the play to consider him as a victim. When Davies discusses with Aston the incident that happened earlier on that night, Davies explains, “When he come at me tonight I told him. Didn’t I? You heard me tell him, didn’t you?” Davies is looking for Aston to agree with him, but when Aston disagrees by replying, “I saw him have a go at you”. Davies has to respond to prevent Aston thinking he was in the wrong by making Aston feel sorry for him; he does this by describing himself as an “old man”. Not only does Davies play on the fact that he is an “old man”, he lets Aston know that he is also a sick one, “I’ve had a few attacks”. Davies doesn’t make clear whether he means violent attacks or ones through illness.
Davies portrays himself as a social victim to enable himself to become a parasite on Aston.
The audience feel pity for Davies because all his belongings were in the bag he left at his former place of work, this indicates that Davies didn’t posses a lot, as all his belongings could fit into a single bag. Also, Davies exploits Aston’s kindness and generosity because he needs Aston to get his belongings. Davies could get them himself, but he again takes advantage of Aston’s kind nature.
The audience see Davies as a victim and feel sorry for him because he has no suitable shoes to wear. Davies brings up this conversation because he wants to know if Aston owns a spare pair of shoes; Davies is in luck as Aston offers a pair to him. That is what makes Davies a parasite; he is living off of others belongings and generosity. Davies has used people before; his friend in Acton, the boot maker, had previously given Davies shoes Davies. Davies has managed to scrounge a pair of shoes because Aston said he would look out for some for him.
Another early sign of Davies’ of being a social parasite is when Davies shows interest in whether Aston has any other rooms in the house. Davies is very subtle, he does not ask “do you have any other rooms for me to stay in?” but “You got any more rooms then, have you?” Davies speaks in this general way because he does not want to seem to be like a parasite. He gives Aston the subject to talk about, and then waits for Aston to offer him a room. Davies acts in such a way because he is not totally sure of Aston’s personality yet and does not want to try his own luck too far.
Davies would not resist the offer of being able to sleep at Aston’s. Firstly he sounds polite, he says, “Here? Oh, I don’t know about that” but then follows in a more grasping fashion, “How long for?” Davies is again testing Aston, to see how much he can get out of him without being too obvious. Davies is acting as a parasite; he is living off Aston’s kindness just as a leech lives off another’s blood.
Again, the audience sees Davies as a parasite because when he asks Aston for more money, he certainly knows that Aston lent him the money the night before; he is just seeing if he can abstract any more money from Aston which would give the audience the impression that Davies is pushing his luck a little too far. To get his way with Aston, Davies uses a tone that to the audience seems sly, but to the trusting Aston he seems genuine.
“Eh, mister, just one thing… eh … you couldn’t slip me a couple of bob, for a cup of tea, just, you know?” When Aston tells Davies he loaned him some money the night before, Davies tries to make himself seem less of a parasite towards Aston by sounding sorry and pretending that he forgot,
“Went clean out of my mind.”
Davies thanks him again for lending him the money to keep the air clear with Aston.
As soon as Aston has left Davies alone in the room Davies starts looking around. The audience might feel uncomfortable with Davies’ behaviour; it seems that he might be prying or perhaps he had the intention of stealing from Aston. He noticeably does not want Aston to see him looking around in this way; this is shown because Davies opens the door to see if Aston is gone, and then closes before looking around. It could be considered that Davies does this because he would not want Aston to think he is taking advantage of him. Davies is inquisitive. He picks up some random items of Aston’s, comments on them, and puts them back. To the audience, Davies is so interested in Aston’s things because he wants to see what Aston is worth. If Aston had little, there would be less point in staying, as there would nothing to gain from Davies’ perspective.
To conclude, there are many episodes within the first act that reflect both Davies’ victimisation and his opportunism, thus enabling the audience to view him as social victim and social parasite.
