Genre
Drama
Language
English
Setting and Context
1960s, London
Narrator and Point of View
No narrator or POV
Tone and Mood
Serious, Dramatic, Violent, Disturbing
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Len. Antagonist is Fred and Pam, although the play doesn't have clear protagonists and antagonists.
Major Conflict
The major conflict is that Len is in love with Pam and wants to take care of her, and also the fact that Pam and her family has to take care of Pam's baby with Fred and does not do a good job.
Climax
The climax occurs when Pam finds out that Len and Mary have been flirting and becomes inconsolably upset, telling Len to leave.
Foreshadowing
The characters' neglect of the baby foreshadows its death.
Understatement
The characters' response to the death of the baby is understated. No one seems to be mourning the loss at all.
Allusions
No explicit allusions, other than to working-class life.
Imagery
The child being stoned and Pam not noticing.
The final scene: Len fixing Harry's chair, with Harry, Pam, and Mary in the room and no one speaking.
Paradox
Fred has no interest in Pam, but she still pines after him. Pam does not like Len, yet he takes care of her and pursues her, even losing his job when he stays home to look after her.
Parallelism
The silences with Len, Harry, and Mary at the end of the play in the living room parallels the fact that no one reacts to the baby crying earlier in the play.
Personification
N/A
Use of Dramatic Devices
N/A
