Explore the passage from Hector is in a sombre and distracted mood (page 63) to Hector: I
am an old man in a dry season. Enough.’ (page 66) and consider the dramatic ways in which
Bennett challenges the audience’s understanding of Hector and his impact on his students
elsewhere in the play.
Hector has been understood to be many things by the audience; to the boys, he often takes on
the role of being the comedic relief, lightening the mood, though this may be to compensate
for his lack of meaningful relationships in his life. He is also treated with great respect from
the boys, and Bennet presents him as an almost ‘noble’ figure to the class. In this passage, the
audience’s understanding of Hector is challenged as we see a more tragic side to his character
through the loss of the boys and his impact on them, and also through seeing how strongly
Hector has impacted Posner for better or worse.
Bennett’s comedic presentation of Hector as a licensed fool is challenged when his mask slips
and the reality of his true, discontented character is revealed, shifting the tone of the play
from a comedy to that of a tragedy. The use of slapstick comedy, when Hector intentionally
hits Timms and Lockwood with a book, establishes Hector as a character there purely for
comedy and to lighten the mood, echoing that of a clown. The idea of the licensed fool is
further reinforced by the introduction of Hector as a ‘man of studied eccentricity’ through the
use of stage directions, a clear comedic presentation of his character. This is challenged on
page 63; Hector is described as being in a ‘sombre and distracted mood’. this is important as
it is the opening stage direction of the scene, setting up the tone for the events to follow. A
rift is caused in the boy’s relationship with him as a result, as they perceive his only role as
being the fool, purely there for entertainment, reinforced by the fact Timms and Lockwood
agree he is ‘no fun’; the very same characters who engaged in his slapstick in the first scene.
To add, when Hector states, ‘there is nothing of me left’, it shows how, in losing the boys, he
has lost the role he used to play; his identity. Bennet uses Hector’s character to set the tone of
the play, and this scene marks a transition from the comedic tone of the early play, to the
more serious second act, shifting the tone of the play to a more serious tragedy.
Hector’s early portrayal as a noble and respected character is also challenged when the boys
show resistance towards him, suggesting Hector’s waning impact on them. The idea is
introduced in the exposition that the boys treat him with great honour and respect as they
humorously remove his motorcycle gear and present it to the audience, further reinforced
am an old man in a dry season. Enough.’ (page 66) and consider the dramatic ways in which
Bennett challenges the audience’s understanding of Hector and his impact on his students
elsewhere in the play.
Hector has been understood to be many things by the audience; to the boys, he often takes on
the role of being the comedic relief, lightening the mood, though this may be to compensate
for his lack of meaningful relationships in his life. He is also treated with great respect from
the boys, and Bennet presents him as an almost ‘noble’ figure to the class. In this passage, the
audience’s understanding of Hector is challenged as we see a more tragic side to his character
through the loss of the boys and his impact on them, and also through seeing how strongly
Hector has impacted Posner for better or worse.
Bennett’s comedic presentation of Hector as a licensed fool is challenged when his mask slips
and the reality of his true, discontented character is revealed, shifting the tone of the play
from a comedy to that of a tragedy. The use of slapstick comedy, when Hector intentionally
hits Timms and Lockwood with a book, establishes Hector as a character there purely for
comedy and to lighten the mood, echoing that of a clown. The idea of the licensed fool is
further reinforced by the introduction of Hector as a ‘man of studied eccentricity’ through the
use of stage directions, a clear comedic presentation of his character. This is challenged on
page 63; Hector is described as being in a ‘sombre and distracted mood’. this is important as
it is the opening stage direction of the scene, setting up the tone for the events to follow. A
rift is caused in the boy’s relationship with him as a result, as they perceive his only role as
being the fool, purely there for entertainment, reinforced by the fact Timms and Lockwood
agree he is ‘no fun’; the very same characters who engaged in his slapstick in the first scene.
To add, when Hector states, ‘there is nothing of me left’, it shows how, in losing the boys, he
has lost the role he used to play; his identity. Bennet uses Hector’s character to set the tone of
the play, and this scene marks a transition from the comedic tone of the early play, to the
more serious second act, shifting the tone of the play to a more serious tragedy.
Hector’s early portrayal as a noble and respected character is also challenged when the boys
show resistance towards him, suggesting Hector’s waning impact on them. The idea is
introduced in the exposition that the boys treat him with great honour and respect as they
humorously remove his motorcycle gear and present it to the audience, further reinforced
