We can also see, that he is very dim-witted and simple. We can tell that he thinks this, by reading the play. As he rises from the cellar, he comes face to face with Mrs Hepworth, a regular customer of Hobson’s boot shop.
After Willie had admitted to making her boots, she hands him a card, along with the introduction, “Take that”. At this point, Willie bends down, expecting a blow, but then finds that she is handing him a visiting card. From this reaction of Willie, the reader can tell that perhaps Willie has suffered a brutalised childhood in which he has been physically hurt and perhaps he was used to people raising their fists and hands at him. “Bending over the card, to read it he tries to spell out the words.” Mrs Hepworth, stunned, says, “ Bless the man, can’t you read? “.Willie replies, I do a bit, only its such a funny print.”
The writing on the card is printed in italics, which tells the reader that Willie is not very good at reading. His reason for being unable to read the text is because in the 19th Century, working class education was very poor and working class people’s opportunities to learn were very limited.
The next scene in which, Willie is important is when he is called up from the cellar by Maggie. As he gets up, Maggie asks to see his hands. He turns them over, “Hesitantly”, and replies, “They’re dirty.” This phrase shows us that Willie is very timid and feels rather inferior. The reader can see this because he feels his hands are grubby and reflect his lowly class position as a boot hand. By the phrase, “They’re dirty”, the reader can tell that Willie is very simple because he thinks that Maggie is examining his hands when really, she is complementing him about them. Maggie says, “I know they’re dirty, but they’re clever.” This shows the reader that although Willie is a simple man, with a very poor education, he has an ability to make superb leather boots. Also in this act, Maggie asks Will to wed her and for them to go into their own partnership together. Will is taken aback by this offer from Maggie because he is bemused why a member of a class higher than his own would ask him to wed her and go into a business partnership together. The reason for Willie’s reaction is that in the 19th Century it was very unusual for members of different classes to mix and congregate. It was very unusual for two members of different classes to get married and go into a business together. There was a need in performance of these early scenes, to show the audience how timid and unsure of himself Willie Mossop is. I chose to present only half my person out of the trap when called upon to meet Mrs Hepworth, by Hobson. This way, my lowly position in society as a working class member, was mirrored by my position looking up to the characters. I made an effort to make my body language look inhibited so I avoided, lengthy eye contact, occasionally dropped my head, and retreated into my body by rounding my shoulders. In act four, the final act of the play, the reader is able to see the way in which William Mossop has changed from a timorous, unambitous boot hand, to a clever business man.
Throughout the play, Willie and Maggie have become very attracted and have come together and moved away from Hobson’s boot shop and created their own business in Oldfield Road. Hobson’s business begins to decline quite rapidly after the leaving of Willie and Maggie. He decides to ask them both back at his own expense.
As he talks to Maggie and Willie, Maggie says, “You’d better speak out Will.” This shows that Will, now has the confidence to speak to people higher than himself and that he has changed from the timorous boot hand that he used to be. At this point, Will starts to speak to Hobson. He tells him how well his and Maggie’s business is going and that he has paid off all his debts. He uses the phrase, “and a bit o’ brass on top o’ that.” This tells the reader that his business is making money. He explains that although the shop is in a cellar, the people come and see him rather than Hobson. He goes on to explain how Hobson’s trade has gone down and how he, Hobson, is on his knees, begging for Maggie and Will to come back to Hobson’s boot shop.
Willie’s speech tells the reader that Will is now a successful businessman and that he is able to control his own business. The playwright shows us this change by making the character use more complex speeches. In the fourth act, Willies responses towards Hobson a much more lengthy than they were and they is not the same as his limited, one word answers in the first act. This shows the reader that he has become more confident to talk to people in a class higher than his own, and he has a larger vocabulary and he is much more fluent. He tells Hobson how he expects his business to go on into St. Anne’s square in the future. In act four, the reader also finds out how much Willie has changed from the way he talks to Hobson about the new name of the boot shop. Willie tells Hobson that the name of the shop shall be, “William Mossop, late Hobson”. Maggie does not agree and Hobson realises that Willie is trying to take over the whole business. At this point, Hobson says,” Just wait a bit. I want to know if I’m taking this in alright. I’m to be given a half-share in my own business on condition I take no part in running it. Is that what you said?” Willie replies, “That’s it”, as if to imply that Hobson is not to have any part in the business. This portrays Willies confidence in speaking to people like Hobson and shows the reader how much his attitude has changed. In act four, Willie is much more fluent with his words and his new vocabulary suggests that he has been educated well by Maggie. He talks about things in a more serious manner. He does not speak in a comical way, or use any phrases that would make him look dim-witted. Also, the way in which he controls his business in Oldfield Road suggests his education has improved dramatically. Maggie’s education and influence on Will have had a positive effect on him. Unlike the first act, he is now clear about his ambitions and his future. This is shown by his attitude towards his business and the way he handles Hobson’s offer of partnership.
At the end of act four, Maggie and Will show their love towards each other. In the first act Will Mossop is a reluctant player in Maggie’s game plan. By the end of act four, he loves her and can appreciate what she has done for him. The last phrase in act four, shows that Will Mossop still hasn’t completely grown out of his comical attitude, by saying, “Well, By gum!” This ends the play. In contrast to the early scenes, I chose to show Willie Mossop as a confident, successful businessman. Firstly, I used a different costume and I wore a three-piece suit with a top hat under my arm. Secondly, when I spoke to Mr Hobson I was fluent and I looked him in the eye. In this act, I changed my timorous attitude to a confident attitude. I proved this by having my shoulders back and being in a closer space. I even deliberately placed Maggie behind me on stage, to show that I was now the person in charge.
