PDF file: Drama - Higher - Lovers - Education Scotland

OVERALL DIRECTORIAL INTERPRETATION AND DRAMATIC COMMENTARY
Further illustrates central themes and issues
• Frustrated love: We know that Andy and Hannah’s relationship is
doomed as soon as Andy reveals that he was persuaded to live in Mrs
Wilson’s house. We question the true depth of Andy’s love when he
reveals that a big reason for marrying Hannah was to avoid being sent
to Belfast. His relationship with Hannah changed as soon as they got
married. ‘But somehow the spirit seemed to drain out of her from the
very beginning.’ This is an ominous sign and indicates that the
passion they had was to disappear. Once they were married Hannah
did not show the same intensity of anger towards her mother.
• Frustrated Christianity: The fallibility of the Catholic church, as
exemplified in the relegation of St Philomena, highlights the
pointlessness of some of the outdated rituals. Mrs Wilson and Cissy’s
strict adherence to their very narrow view of Christianity conjures up
the medieval view of ‘Heaven and Hell’. Their Christianity has been
made a thing of drudgery not love.
• Uncertainty about the future: Uncertainty has become certainty. We
know that there is little likelihood of any significant change in Andy’s
circumstances. Mrs Wilson could go on for many years. So Andy
returns to his refuge and stares at a brick wall to kill time. He doesn’t
even share the same bed as Hannah. This is a bleak future for both
Andy and Hannah.
• The inevitability of repression: As soon as Andy disgraces himself he
contributes to his own demise and his repression is complete.
Hannah has the justification that she needs to side with her mother
and conform to the loving daughter role that is demanded of her. She
has the moral high ground. She is disgusted by Andy’s crass, vulgar
behaviour. She returns to her mother with a clear and righteous
conscience. The irony of course is that she has played into the hands
of her mother. Hannah’s repression is complete. She continues her
life of servitude.
• Moral responsibility: Divorce is not an option for Andy. He conforms
to the role of a supportive husband. His life has become one of quiet
acceptance. Hannah continues with her obligation to look after her
mother.
• Overbearing rigidity and domination of a restrictive environment:
Andy has no chance of being freed from Mrs Wilson’s house as long as
she lives. He no longer has Hannah as an ally. She has sided with her
mother and Cissy. Hannah now helps Mrs Wilson to impose her rigid
and restrictive regime. Andy will follow the example of Mr Wilson
before him.
• The influence of the Catholic religion: The devotion to St Philomena
stops, Father Peyton no longer gets mentioned by name, but Mrs
Wilson ‘still has the altar and she still lights the candles and has the
DRAMA 37