After having read 'Hobson's Choice', by Harold Brighouse, I am to concentrate on the remarkable character of Maggie Hobson.

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Jayvik Patel

10MC

        Hobson’s Choice

After having read ‘Hobson’s Choice’, by Harold Brighouse, I am to concentrate on the remarkable character of Maggie Hobson.

When we first get introduced to Maggie Hobson, we notice into the play that, she is very different from her two younger sisters, Alice and Vicky.  The sisters are under the control of their father, but Maggie is independent around events and people in her life.  She is the most controllable character in the whole play.

The play is set in Salford, around the 1880’s.  The women were expected to keep quiet, while they did the housework.  The readers and the viewers would be shocked to see a woman with such immense power, who is able to control the characters in the whole play.  

The play is based around a guy called Henry Horatio Hobson.  He is a middle-class businessman who is expected to rule over his household.  The men’s role in the 1880’s had a higher role in the society, than the women.  The women were considered to be second-class citizen, in the society.

As the play starts going, we can that Maggie isn’t happy about women in the society.  We can see this dominant role, when Albert Prosser enters the shop, to see his girlfriend, Alice.  Maggie manipulates Albert by saying “This is a shop you know.  We’re not here to let people go without buying”.  After this scene, Albert leaves by buying a new pair of bootlaces and boots, and after leaving his old boots in for repair.

Maggie has business skills, and overpowering character to make Albert Prosser (a son of an respectable solicitor) change his mind into buying something from their shop.  He had only come to make ‘makes sheep’s eyes’ at his girlfriend, Alice.  Maggie’s behaviour of her father, who is supposed to be the man of the house, is able to make a conversation her way.  The scene concerning the time of dinner shows the audience that she able to get what she wants, when she wants it.

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Hobson                I’m going out, Maggie.

Maggie                Dinner’s at one, remember.

Hobson                Dinner will be when I come in for it.  I’m master here.

Maggie                 Yes, father. One o’clock

Hobson                Come along, Jim

Hobson goes to ‘Moonraker’s’ with his friend Jim Heeler, because he has speechless after the time if his dinner.  It is clear that he is not the master of his house, as well his business.  Maggie is in charge of everybody, men, her sisters, and the business.

After Albert had left the shop, he is probably about what has just happened between him and Maggie. ...

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