Doris is a seventy-five year old woman who lives alone. Doris likes all things being neat and tidy. As Doris is old she is entitiled to home help, Zulema comes to her house every week and tidies up. Doris does not think Zulema is a good cleaner, "Which would be all right provided she did dust. But Zulema doesnt dust, she half dusts." Here Doris is complaining about Zulema. Alan Bennett wanted to show that people in society do not respect the elderly. In the play we view Zulema as a main character. This is because Doris mimics her voice and brings her to life. By doing this we get to see Doris' thoughts on what Zulema has to say and also what Zulema thinks about Doris and her obsessive cleaning. Doris portrays Zulema as a dictating unclean, unwilling and blackmailing person. This may have been done to show that people lack respect for people afta they reach a certain age. Also what Doris says about Zulema may not be true it may just be Doris overreacting .
A continual stream of conciousness helps us see the story through Doris' eyes. This is an advantage as when Doris moves there is a black-out. This gives the audience time to reflect on what she has said and also used so people can move the scenery around.
During the play Doris tells us about many of her life choices, her losses and regrets, "This is where we had the pram." Here Doris is talking about her past regrets and how she wishes now that she had had children. When Doris and Wilfred had tried for a baby Doris lost the baby. This was a very rough patch for Doris as she says makes out that the midwife didnt treat her baby like a person as it was dead and hadnt lived a life. This was a big turn around in Doris' life as I think that this is when her addiction to everything being clean started because Doris probably felt guilty and unclean for the baby. During her life Doris decided tht she did not want to get a dog because of how it would make the house untidy. Now Doris regrets that decision because the dog could be barking for help, " Ought to have had a dog. Then it could have been barking for someone."
"A Cream Cracker Under the Settee" is a very emotional play but so that the audience does not find it too upsetting Alan Bennett uses irony to humour aspects of the play. At the beginning Doris is talking about Zulema; "' Let the dirt wait. It wont kill you. I'm here every week.' I was glad when she'd gone, dictating." This is ironic because by cleaning Doris does injure herselfand this Finally leads to her death. Alan Bennett would have done this to add huour and lighten the mood during the play. also during the play Doris tells us about a little boy intruding into her garden and disposing of bodily fluids, this shows a lack of respect from young people.
In the play many unseen characters are brought to life. Alan Bennett uses dramatic devices and objects to spark of memories and feelings. A picture of Doris and her husband Wilfred, is placed above the fire on the floor she later explain how she knocked it down. When Doris has her fall she knocks the photo down. This is done by Doris mimicing the characters voices and personalities. By Doris mimicing other characters we get a better and more balanced view of the characters and the situations. One of the characters Doris brings to life is her husband Wilfred; "Dont worry mother ive got it on my list." Doris make Wilfred out to be a happy caring but funny man. Doris and Wilfred had nicknames for one another, they called each other 'mother' and 'father'. This was probably because Doris and Wilfred never had any children. They would have felt more comforted about the loss of their child by the names. This is used to bring Wilfred into the play; " We're cracked WIlfred." The fact that Doris is talking to a picture shows that she is very lonely. Doris lives alone with no close friends or family. Alan Bennett is trying to say here that society doesn't make any effort with the elderly.
This is done by Doris mimicing the characters voices and personalities. By Doris mimicing other characters we get a better and more balanced view of the characters and the situations. One of the characters Doris brings to life is her husband Wilfred; "Dont worry mother ive got it on my list." Doris make Wilfred out to be a happy caring but funny man. Doris and Wilfred had nicknames for one another, they called each other 'Mother' and 'Father'. This was probably because Doris and Wilfred never had any children. They would have felt more comforted about the loss of their child by the names.
It is a good monologue with a great storyline however monologues do have some restrictions. A monologue is only one speaker therefore it is difficult for you to get a full understanding of other introduced characters as you are only getting one persons opinion of them. Referring back to the question i think that "A Cream Cracker Under the Settee" works well as a drama as it reflects old age and shows people how society treats people.