Throughout Alan Bennett's play, "The History Boys," the character of Dakin is portrayed, through both his actions and dialogue, as an oversexed, outspoken teenager. The audience are able to interpret his personality as both bold and concupiscent. As the play progresses, Dakin's manipulative side is unveiled as he is the reason behind Hector being reinstated at the school by blackmailing the Headmaster about his actions regarding Fiona. He can be viewed as comical for audience members and other characters by his outspoken personality and the other boys being engrossed in his sex life.
Throughout the play, it's made clear that Dakin is the leader of the boys. Stage descriptions describe him as ˜a handsome boy'. He is both Hector and Irwin's favourite student. His good looks and knowledge on sex makes him superior to the other boys. He makes it apparent that he is Hector's favourite, when focusing on Hector jokingly hitting them over the head with a book, by happily saying "I'm black and blue. "(Act 1, page 70). This highlights Dakin's arrogance and vanity which some audience members would find comic.
Dakin is the most confident and outspoken of all the boys. He utilizes his intellect by being high handed with Hector. "You should treat us with more respect. We're scholarship candidates now. "(Act 1, page 6). This shows the audience that he has an overinflated opinion of himself. He uses persuasive language to establish psychological power over the boys and tries to influence Hector's teaching methods. Bennett uses farce comedy and wit to portray Dakin as rude and crass. For example, Dakin, whilst in conversation with Irwin surprises the audience by improperly asking Irwin "if there were any circumstances in which there was any chance of you sucking me off? "(Act 2, page 99). This shocking outburst is intended by the writer to cause some of the audience to feel uncomfortable and to take the view that Dakin is crude.
There are many settings used to drive the comedy in 'The History Boys' and help nurture it. ... Why is this boy...Dakin, isn't it?...... This setting is used to drive comedy for the fact Dakin has his trousers down. ... This is shown throughout the section we have started but it starts when the head is talking to the history teacher Mrs Lintott. ... Why is this boy, Dakin, isn't it?......
The group had their ups and downs, as well as their secrets, as do any other recording artist through out the history of Rock"n"Roll. ... As a child, Alan's grandfather taught him how to play the clarinet. ... Some said Alan had an elflike quality that made him "cute." ... Eventually Alan ran into Brian on campus and they decided to form a band. ... Brian and Alan had just reunited on the campus of El Camino College, Mike had married Frances St. ...
On January 11, 1903, Alan Paton was brought into what seemed to be an ill-omened South Africa. ... Comparable to Alan Paton, Nelson Mandela also became aware of the history of South Africa and the quandary that was continuously evolving into a more complex, dangerous situation. ... The history of South Africa was unpleasant and distressing but Alan Paton and Nelson Mandela understood that, contrary to popular belief, ignorance is not always bliss. ... Similar to the author Alan Paton, Nelson Mandela expressed great hope and optimism for the future of South Africa. ... Separate but together t...
Research Assignment ALAN GREENSPAN My choice for a paper was to write about ALAN GREENSPAN. Alan Greenspan is very intriguing and interesting because of his long history of achievements and staying power in the Federal Government system as the Chairman of the Federal Reserve Board. ... Alan Greenspan also has a say in interest rates and rate hikes. ... Recent studies "have found discrepancies in the turndown rates- for small business loans and "not all of these differences are readily explained by income, balance sheet factors, or credit histories, "he said in a speech prepared for a...
Alan Paton is often known worldwide for his large success in literature. ... Alan Paton was raised in Pietermaritzburg Natal Province by his parents James and Eunice. ... Alan Paton became most aware of the racial and social problems the colored people of South Africa were having though when he worked at Diepkloof Reformatory from 1935 to 1948 as the principal.(Alan) With this being said he continued to be a very active opposer of the Apartheid laws and continued after writing the novel to be active in changing the country of South Africa. ...
-Anecdotal Experiences- William's family life was very influential to his writing. The household of The Glass Menagerie was undeniably inspired by his own, with several obvious relationships existing. • His mother, Edwina Dakin Williams, had grown up in a civilized southern lifestyle and ye...
Throughout Alan's life Dora constantly leaves out her husband's opinions when dealing with Alan. ... Dora's excessive preaching of the bible with Alan, as well as the disregarding judgement of her husband's opinions affects Alan greatly. ... The effect of this on Alan is not pleasant. ... Frank is also responsible for Alan's adult personality because he takes away everything that Alan loves. ... The lifestyle that Alan was born into makes his parents completely responsible for the personality of the adult Alan. ...
In Alan's eyes his god was Equus, a horse. ... As we can see from Alan, our beliefs can either doom us or deliver us. ... In the performance, Alan had his own kind of happiness. ... In Equus, Alan's father was uncomfortable with the picture of Christ over Alan's bed so to make him feel familiar he replaced it with a horse. ... In Equus, everybody tried to interfere with Alan and make him aware of his faults, but to Alan no faults were visible. ...
