Vulnerability of the Elderly Depicted in the Play, A Cream Cracker Under the Settee

A Cream Cracker Under The Settee is a Monologue, this means it is just 1 person speaking instead of like a normal play, like a normal play it has different characters, like the policeman or the boy said to be ‘spending a penny’ but these do not have a role of great significance, so it just mainly focuses on the main character, Doris.

I have always admired the senior citizens who are wondering how they have passed such long journeys of their lives. They not only have accomplished achievements, but also have done memorable works that deserve admiration, respect, and priority in today’s society. These old people may look incompetent and unexciting in somebody’s eyes and thoughts, but not everyone realizes that they are the people with greatest knowledge and experiences beyond their masters of life. From my own experience, whenever I see an old mister or mistress looking for help or in need of help, I can never ignore him or

The melancholy of life, death and old age, are one of the many issues dealt with, in Alan Bennett’s heart-rending tale. It tells the story of an isolated, fragile, elderly woman, who feels ensnared in a modernised society in which she strives for her sovereignty and prominence. In a culture where the old are forgotten, neglected and depicted as useless. ‘A Cream Cracker Under The Settee’ seems to be the perfect title of the play as the double entendre epitomizes this remarkably. In addition, another reason for the dramatic piece being called ‘A Cream Cracker Under The Settee’. Is because a cream cracker was indeed found under a settee in the play, this makes the title rather ironic. As the title in many ways also symbolises the character

How does Alan Bennett reveal Doris’ character, life and attitude in the dramatic monologue “a cream cracker under the settee”?

changing attitudes toward life and the other characters in the play, particularly the women; and his reflection on the

That rebellion against the older generation gained much more favor in english speaking audiences during the 1960’s and 70’s, when women fought for the right of contraception, which made the play relevant to that time. A recurring theme throughout the play is the children questioning why the adults were not made aware of these topics. In the play the adults play a form of willful ignorance. Although the play portrays the voices of children of the 19th century of Berlin, they sing in a style that could be applied to 21st century American teenagers. The children from the beginning of the play sense this ignorance and cry out for

Hester and Alma were in their late seventies . As time went on they out lived their family and friends making them alone. Another factor, it was hard on them physically to get out of the house to socialize. As a result, the Evans sisters would try to interact with people from their home such has the paper boy or meter man. They have a time line when they come around for instances Alma says, “ They don't read the meters for two more weeks” (1274). Suggesting they really look forward to these interactions with other people. The need for a perceived internal desire for social interaction as a means of alleviating loneliness. Keller used “ their plight deputy and succinctly, touching with great tenderness on the pathos of their loneliness”

Investigating How Bennett Creates and Maintains Interest in the Play A Cream Cracker under the Settee

The play was written in 1945 - within a week of World War Two ending -

In the middle of the night, Myra recovered consciousness and decided to go to Knowleton’s bedroom. Midway there she heard her fiancée complaining and decided to discover what he was doing. She recognized his parents, but there was something weird. They were talking about the bills they would have to pay because of everything they made up: the portraits, the poodles, the actors. Myra discovered that all she had been through was a play to see if she was after his money.

In the play a Chip in the Sugar Alan Bennett shows us a life of a very

The play began in the living room of Ann and Peter’s apartment. Ann and Peter are married and have two daughters in which they were never present. Peter is a book editor and spends most of this time dwelled in his work than his family. In the play, Ann and Peter began to have a conversation about issues in their lives and marriage. For instance, Ann having trouble to sleep at night. Ann tells Peter that she wakes up in the middle of the night and leaves the bedroom while he is sleeping. Peter then informs her that he knows she wakes up and leaves the room. Ann questions Peter why he has never asked her where she goes in the middle of the night and becomes upset. Moreover, she started telling Peter about her thoughts of getting a mastectomy

The theme of feminine incompetence plays a role in the leading up to the final enclosement, and the concluding setting of the play. In the diary of the narrator, she writes of her large home as “A colonial mansion, a hereditary estate. I would say a haunted house.”(1684). The narrator’s husband John, a physician, believes that the narrator is not able to connect with society, and does not believe the narrator when she exclaims that she is sick. The ownership of the narrator is depicted heavily when she states “I lie here on this great immovable bed - it is nailed down.”(1688). The immovable, nailed down bed is symbolic for the ownership of this woman, as the bed is merely an appliance, and kept in one place, just as the narrator, for the entirety of its use. The narrator’s situation is also noted in other places in her room. The narrator states after she finds a woman in the wall paper in her room that “The faint figure behind seemed… just as if she wanted to get out.”(1689). This is symbolic for the woman’s own destiny. Just as the narrator is, the woman in the wallpaper is a possession, and is trapped in something that she cannot get out of. This connection to the woman is a blatant symbol for the enclosement of the narrator, and the notion that the narrator’s own husband does not trust her to live up with normal society. John, the husband, is also seen treating the narrator as a small child; “John

No matter how hopeless or pessimistic the four leads may seem at times, the message of Quartet remains that overcoming the adversity of disillusionment in old age and feeling disconnected from your younger self and instead working to find acceptance in every stage of life – especially retirement – is the only way to ensure that life is always worth living. Quartet brings to life old heartaches and strives to mend long-forgotten relationships as it embarks on its ambitious quest to take on retirement with grace and positivity. Moving and at times refreshingly honest, Quartet is human in every sense of the word.

"It has been a long innings for all of us at HelpAge, but there is still so much left to be done. We are now increasingly looking at not just providing relief to the needy elders, but also towards demanding what 's rightfully theirs by working as a pressure group and joining the force of senior citizens working closely with them, for them".