Alan Bennett is the brain behind the BBC series – “Talking Heads”. “Lady of Letters” is one of six monologues that Alan Bennett wrote for the BBC and was first aired in 1987.
Miss Ruddock (Patricia Routledge – Keeping up Appearances) is a lonely and old woman who seems to have no friends or family. Miss Ruddock has very high standards. She spends a lot of her time observing other peoples lives and judging them by what they wear and the things they do and is not afraid of telling how she feels and can become quite nasty while doing so. Miss Ruddock seems to feel she has a big part to play in society and so feels the need to make her thoughts known whiter it is to the local doctor or the Queen Of England and she feels the easiest way to make her thoughts known is through letters hence the title “Lady Of Letters”.
The Title is fairly misleading but ironic even though Miss Ruddock considers herself as a lady but as the story goes on we realize that she is just a sad, lonely, old woman.
Miss Ruddock does not pay attention to what other people are saying. Miss Ruddock believes that everyone should act and think in a certain way. In the scene where the vicar comes to Miss Ruddock we notice that Miss Ruddock utterly disregards the thoughts of the vicar. For example when the vicar is talking about love and God, Miss Ruddock in her head says “Here We Go” and as the vicar is in the middle of talking she interrupts him and says “If you’ve come round here to talk about God you’re barking up the wrong tree. I’m An Atheist”. From this we get the feeling Miss Ruddock does not pay any attention to what anyone else believes or says. Also Miss Ruddock has certain feelings on what is right and what is acceptable.