From the following excerpt of scene 6 of the play, Frank Strang’s point of view is clearly highlighted.
Alan [jumping up] : Dad!
Hesther : What?
Dysart : The answer to a question I’d asked him two days before. Spat out with the same anger as he sang the commercials.
Hesther : Dad what?
Alan : Who hates telly. [He lies downstage on the circle, as if watching television]
Hesther : You mean his dad forbids him to watch?
Dysart : Yes
Alan : It’s a dangerous drug
Hesther : Oh, really!
From this extract as well, we can sense the detachment between Alan’s parents and Alan himself. Alan did not fight back towards his father, when Frank frontally shows his views of television. But the anger and disapproval that Alan felt is channelized to Martin. At this point, it can be assumed that by being apart from his parents, Alan feels less restrained from exposing his most inner thoughts in which he is able to tell Martin.
The attractiveness of the jingles can symbolize Alan’s longing for attention. It can be a way for him to test Martin, whether he can fulfill Alan’s needs as a good listener. On the other side, Martin got the hard task of obtaining Alan’s point of view of things. However, this is easily dealt by Martin who showed his professionalism by allowing Alan to answer his questions in any way he pleases. Giving Alan the chance to have his freedom of speech, gives Alan a sense of confidence and control over the whole situation. On this account, Martin intentionally did this as a method to get a hold of Alan’s outlook, as Alan has by far pathetic life. He had no academic or social achievements whatsoever, therefore the creation of his own internal world in which he gets his sources from those jingles.
Throughout the play, there are only 3 jingles that are used by Alan to answer Martin’s questions.
1. Doublemint Gum
“Double your pleasure, double your fun, doublemint doublemint doublemint gum”
2. Martini
“Try the taste of Martini, the most beautiful drink in the world, it’s the right one, the bright one, that’s Martini!”
3. T in Typhoo
“There’s only one T in Typhoo! In packets and in teabags too, anyway you make it, you’ll find its true, there’s only one T in Typhoo!”
These jingles don’t answer any question by Martin, although it works as Alan’s mature way to answer his questions. It also breaks the tension between the two characters, and it is able to show the mark of security between the two. This can be seen from the scene where both characters reached an agreement to answer each other’s questions.
Dysart : it’s my job to ask the questions. Yours to answer them.
Alan : Says who?
Dysart : Says me. Do you dream often?
Alan : Do you?
Dysart : Look – Alan,
Alan : I’ll answer if you answer. In turns.
The outcome of this situation is the development of their relationship, as a platform of trust becomes present and it is able to bring the two characters closer. This relationship enables Martin to know more about Alan, and Alan becomes more comfortable talking and exposing himself to Martin.
Peter Shaffer, the writer of the play added these jingles to lighten up the scene. As the play revolves on dark, serious themes that discuss quite disturbing materials to certain people, Shaffer adds a brighter element to the stage that illuminates the play. Another possible reason is the intention to highlight Alan’s character through the jingles. The jingles can be the entrance towards Alan’s world, and his mental being.
As a conclusion, Shaffer successfully made a significant impact to the play through the use of jingles. Not only it creates a sense of curiosity towards Alan’s character, it also intrigues the audience to know more about the development of Alan and Martin’s similar, yet different characters. Hence, the jingles made the play meaningful, memorable and entertaining to the entire audience.
by
valerieldj (student)
