Spring and Port Wine

Authors Avatar

English Coursework-post 1914 drama                            Tina Ross 10LK  

                                                                                          6257

To what extent is Rafe viewed as a sympathetic character in 'Spring and Port Wine' by Bill Naughton?

Love him or hate him, Rafe in 'Spring and Port wine' by  Bill Naughton has evoked stong feelings for all who have viewed the play. 'Spring and Port Wine' is set in a working class area in Bolton, Lancashire.There is no denying that Rafe,as the lord of the household, runs a tight ship: almost to the point of outright controlling his wife, Daisy, and their four children Florence, Harold, Hilda and Wilfred. As their children have grown up, there have been tensions among the children, particularly Harold and Hilda. It all culminates one evening when Hilda refuses to eat her dinner....

The  dictionary defines being sympathetic as '(of characters in literature or drama) evoking empathic or sympathetic feelings' Rafe is often portrayed and described as an uncaring fellow, especially when we first meet Rafe in the opening scene of the play. In this scene he walks into the house and his first action is to turn off the television and say to his two sons:

'I don't need livening up. You two might, but I don't'

This then means that our first meeting with Rafe gives the illusion that he is cold hearted and self-centered.(note the '  I  don't need livening up') This shows that Rafe definitely doesn't want a democratic household and would instead prefer (and has) an autocratic one with himself at the helm. Rafe, as a traditional male, also seems to want everybody to live according to his rules. The first example of this comes from even before we meet Rafe. The next-door neighbour Betsy Jane  has strong opinions regarding Rafe and isn't afraid to voice them. Betsy's opinion of Rafe can be most easily summed up in the following quote, from when Daisy tells Betsy that they are having herring for supper. Betsy Jane's reply is thus:

Join now!

'and I suppose you have got to like it'

This quote tells us a lot, and gives the Rafe-haters a lot to say. It  means that they have evidence to back up their assumption that Rafe is domineering. It also tells us something new. One would assume that Daisy would be in control of the meals as she is the one that cooks them.However, it would seem that Rafe is in control with not only the behaviour of his children (seen but not heard, even at the age of twenty) but also with what is served at meals, ...

This is a preview of the whole essay