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Summary
ACT. II SCENE. I
Jimmy is Playing on his Trumpet
The scene I of act II opens at evening time. Two weeks have passed. Alison and Helena talk to each other in absence of Jimmy. Alison says that it is wonderful to have someone in the house to help her with the household duties. He replies that she has enjoyed doing the works but complains that she has not been used to going to the bathroom every time she needs some water. In their heart to heart conversation Helena mentions that looking after one man is tough but two men are a difficult undertaking. Alison says that Cliff does not need any looking after, he takes care of himself. From the hall Jimmy is playing his trumpet in intermittent bursts much to the irritation of the two ladies and Alison speaks out her mind that she wished that Jimmy would lose the damned trumpet. Helena joins in and says that Jimmy is playing the trumpet just to annoy her. Alison is relieved that the land lady was not present, otherwise she could have given them the notice to vacate the house. Alison comments cynically that the whole neighborhood will soon gather at their door if Jimmy did not end his playing. Helena thoughtfully says that the way Jimmy is playing the trumpet, it seems that he wants to kill someone and adds that it may be to kill her particularly. She exclaims that it’s mortifying and that she has never seen so much hatred in anyone’s eyes before. Alison casually informs her friend that Jimmy had his own jazz band once. He might give up his sweet stall to start a jazz band.
Helena’s Curiosity over Alison-Cliff Relationship
Helena, rather abruptly asks Alison if Cliff was in love with her. This question catches her off guard and replies that she does not think so. Alison says that she and Cliff are fond of each other, its simply that and nothing more. Helena is not convinced. Alison repeats that though physically they are attached and openly hugs and kisses each other, there is no sexual passion in their attachment. “It’s just a relaxed, cheerful sort of thing, like being warm in bed”. Helena is anxious to know how Jimmy reacted to Cliff and Alison’s attachment. Alison says that it is difficult for her to explain the position. Jimmy, according to her is very particular about allegiance, and expects everyone to be loyal to him. He not only expects his friends to be loyal to him but to all the things that he believes in not only of his present and future but his past as well. She says that her relationship with Cliff has worked out because he is kind and lovable and she is genuinely fond of him, not simply because he was Jimmy’s friend.
Alison’s Account of her Marital Life
Alison then narrates her story after marriage. Her parents strongly opposed her marriage with Jimmy. Jimmy was without a job, without money. And after marriage they had no place to live in either. They lived with Hugh, Jimmy’s childhood friend and his mother Mrs. Tanner in a flat in Poplar. Hugh and Alison disliked each other at the very first meeting and Jimmy saw it. She had been alienated from her family friends and the kind of people she was used to. They had a little celebration and yet she felt lovely and depressed. She was at loss at what to do as she had married against her parents will and so could not approach them and her brother, the only person who could have turned to was busy with the election. Alison narrates her nightmarish stay at the place of Hugh. The whole place was like a jungle. Both Jimmy and Hugh were extremely uncompromising and behaved like savages. Hugh was even more crude and unrefined than Jimmy. They regarded her as a hostage of the middle class against which they were waging a war. They had a tight financial position. Apart from the small income that she was getting from the few shares she had, they had no money. Her mother had made her sign everything else to herself when she learned about Alison’s decision to marry Jimmy. Hugh and Jimmy thought of way to get out of their financial difficulty. They would go uninvited to Alison’s relative’s and friend’s place. They would drag her along like a hostess and in her name would attend all the parties, cocktails, dinners etc. and avail the hospitality they showered for Alison’s sake. Taking advantage of their hospitality they would go plundering them, eating their foods making merry with their drinks and thoroughly enjoying themselves. They behaved just like barbarians, Alison wished that someone would slam the door at them, but nobody did either out of their politeness or out of pity for Alison. (Once they were nearly thrown out of a house after Hugh tried to seduce a young girl.)
The Circumstance Under which Alison Married Jimmy
Helena was shocked to hear all this and asked why she married a man like Jimmy. Alison explains that her parents return from India after her father’s retirement everything in England seemed to have undergone a tremendous change to her father. Her father seemed rather remote and irritable and her mother had always been difficult to deal with. She was only a carefree girl of twenty-one when she met Jimmy at a party. The man at the party distrusted him while the ladies showed their contempt for Jimmy. He came to the party on a bicycle and his dinner jacket was smeared all over with oil. He looked very young and frail. Somehow this odd creature at the party attracted her and she decided to marry him. Her parents were furious when they heard about it and their opposition strengthened her resolve to marry him. Her parents did everything to stop the marriage but in vain. Jimmy too in spite of his frail body, was full of fire and went into the battle with her parents. Jimmy seemed to her at that time a knight in shining armor who were hell-bent on winning his lady love, “except” sadly comments Alison “.....that his armor didn’t really shine very much”.
Separation From Hugh’s Family
Continuing her talk from the past Alison tells Helena how she and Jimmy separated from Hugh with whom they stayed for a few months in Poplar. Hugh had been writing some novel and made up his mind to go abroad. He was dissatisfied with England and wanted to try his luck in some other countries. He wanted Jimmy and Alison to go with him. Since Jimmy did not agree with him, there was a bitter quarrel between them. Jimmy pointed out that it would be wrong on Hugh’s part to leave his old mother behind. They broke up and as a result, Jimmy and Alison came to this particular flat in Poplar, while Hugh went to some other country. Alison says that Hugh’s mother held her responsible for her son’s departure and Jimmy also blamed her though he said nothing. She confesses that whenever the old woman looks at her she can feel her thought blaming Alison for her son’s departure. Hugh’s mother is a sweet lady. Jimmy adores her because she is poor and ignorant. Alison confesses that it stands snobbish, but it is the truth.
The Bears and Squirrels Game
Heaving the account of Alison’s nightmarish life after marriage Helena advises her to make up her mind. She tells Alison as a new responsibility i.e. the lady awaits her she should decide about her future. Things have got to change. Alison cannot go on living like this at this condition. Helena asks Alison why she has not told Jimmy about her pregnancy. Alison replies that she does not know and then anticipating Helena’s thought she says the baby is Jimmy’s and there is no doubt about it. She suites and says that she never really wanted any other man in her life. Helena seems concerned with Alison’s plight and suggests that Alison should give an ultimatum to Jimmy either Jimmy should been to behave and look after Alison properly, or she will get of this “mad-house”. Helena contemptuously says that Jimmy does not know what love means. Alison points out to a chest of drawer, to two stuff toys, one bear and a squirrel and says the bear is Jimmy while she is the squirrel. Alison explains the bears-and-squirrels game, the game that she and Jimmy plays. (They imagine themselves to be bears and squirrels) Astounded, Helena asks if there is something wrong with Jimmy. Alison replies that he was perfectly all right and that it was only to escape from the sordid reality that she and Jimmy began to imagine themselves as bears and squirrels and play. In this world of fantasy they behaved like carefree creatures and showered their uncomplicated affection for each other. Alison sadly says that now even the bears and squirrels are dead. Helena firmly tells her that she has got to fight Jimmy otherwise he will dive her to death.
Helena
Cliff enters and enquires about tea. Alison replies that it is ready and asks him to call Jimmy. Cliff calls out to Jimmy and tells him to stop playing the bloody trumpet and come for tea. Jimmy comes and joins them for tea at the table and says that people who does not like jazz has no feeling either for music or for human beings. Helena dismisses this as mere rubbish and Jimmy replies that it confirms his statement. Jimmy complains that no one in the house knows how to keep the papers except himself because he is the one who pays for it. When Cliff calls him mean fellow, he retorts back calling him “wells brash” that Cliff has no intellect and so has no business to read the news paper. He then ironically asks Cliff if he has been talking to some of Alison’s friends who are an intellectual set of people. Cliff and Helena carry on with their meal ignoring his comments. He starts again and accuses Cliff of being too anxious to please others. Helena immediately replies “Thank heavens somebody is!”. Jimmy then makes another adverse remark on his wife calling her “sweet and sticky” outside but all “white messy and disgusting” inside. Turning to Cliff he says that if Cliff tries to please others, he will end up becoming black, heated, evil-minded, and vicious. Still unable to evoke any response from his wife, Jimmy reminds Cliff what he said about his wife and her relations, that they were “sycophantic, phlegmatic and pusillanimous.” Jimmy then announces that he has composed a song and the title is “you can quit hanging round my counter Milder cos you’ll find my position is closed”. On being asked whether the title was good Alison gives a positive reply. Jimmy says that the song would become a big hit if he could give some religious element. He turns to Helena and sarcastically asks her if she agreed with him. Getting no response from her he sings out the song. Cliff, agrees that it is a good song. In a desperate attempt to provoke Helena who was maintaining the golden silence till now Jimmy says that he had composed a poem the previous day which will appeal to Helena since it bears the religious influence of Dante and Eliot. The poem begins thus; “There is no dry cleaners in Cambodia.” Helena could no longer bear and break out her silence asking him why does he try so hard to be unpleasant and offensive to others. Jimmy is delighted that Helena has responded to his bait. He tells her that she has underestimated him by thinking that he is offensive.
Jimmy Opposes Alison’s Going to the Church
As Alison was getting dressed, Jimmy asked her where she was going to which Alison replied that she was going with Helena. Annoyed by her indirect answer he retorts that he did not ask her with whom she was going, he only wanted to know where she was going. Helena now intervenes and says that Alison is going to the Church with her. Jimmy was stunned by this revelation. He does not believe in going to the Church and even prevented his wife from doing so. Enraged, he asks Alison if she had forgotten whatever he did for her. Fearing another scathing attack on herself and her family Alison ironically replies that they all know what he did for her. How he rescued her from the wicked clutches of her family members and friends. She cynically comments that had he not rescued her, she still would have been rotting away at home. Reassured by her talk Jimmy cools down and says that he really had to ride upon a white charger to rescue her.
Jimmy Attacks Alison’s Mother
While speaking of his recurring Alison from her parental home, Jimmy gets another chance to attack Alison’s mother for whom his contempt was limitless. Very contemptuously he remarks that the middle-aged had done everything and anything to protect her daughter against ruffians like him. She would resort to all sort of vices, cheating, lying, bullying and blackmailing to protect her daughter from him. He carried on his verbal assault on her comparing her to a “rhinoceros in labor” and “as a night in Bombay brothel” Cliff tries to stop him but in vain. Helena tries to stop him but his attack becomes more aggressive. Condemning Alison’s mother he says that the old bitch should be dead. He repeats this with an intention to infuriate and provoke Alison. Alison does not react. Continuing his onslaught he says that even the worms in the grave of that old woman will get indigestion problem after eating her dead body. Though as usual Alison keeps mum, Helena reacts saying that she feels sick to hear all this. Not satisfied with all the words of contempt he proceeds to tell that one day after he retires the sweet stall he would write a book. The material of the book is already in his mind. He adds that it will be a book written in flame. His book will be recollected in fire not tranquility. Now Helena intervenes saying that how a simple thing like Alison’s going to the Church calls for such an aggressive outbursts. Helena says that perhaps Jimmy thinks that the world has been unfair to him. Alison at this breaks her silence and ironically urges Helena not try and take away Jimmy’s suffering because he would be best without it.
Jimmy’s Talk of his Marriage
Jimmy bluntly asks Helena the purpose of her stay when she had finished her play at the focal theatre. Helena replies that she has extended her stay at Alison’s request. Jimmy turns to Alison and asks why is she allowing herself to be influenced by Helena. Irritated by his question Alison bursts out saying that the word “why” is troubling her all the time. Jimmy replies that as long as she is around he would go on using it. Then he addresses to Helena from behind and says that the last time Alison was in the Church was at the time of her marriage with Jimmy. He would not have gone to the Church even to marry, but the local registrar was a friend of Alison’s father and he anticipated that the information of the proposed marriage would reach her parents and they might have taken steps to stop it. However, when Jimmy and Alison had gone to the Church, her parents were already present there as they came to know about it.
Helena’s Threat to Jimmy
Helena asks Jimmy if he has finished his talk. Ignoring her Jimmy asks Alison if she is allowing herself to be deceived of “this saint in Diers clothing” i.e. Helena. He contemptuously calls Helena a sacred cow. When Cliff tries to stop him, he accuses Cliff of taking Helena’s side like Alison. Then in a long speech he ridicules Helena’s philosophy of life. In his long speech of condemnation, he says that Helena is an expert in “the New Economics” which is “the Economics of the Supernatural”. She is one of those mysterious “share-pushers who are spreading all those rumors about a transfer of power”. All the old traditions are crumbling under the impact of the philosophy of people like Helena. He sarcastically remarks that people like Helena advise others to hope for gain in the next world. She thinks that future progress lies, in going backward. The only place where she can see light is the Dark Ages. Annoyed at Jimmy’s criticism, Helena calmly responds saying that had he been sitting near her, she would probably have slapped him. She warns him that if he comes near her she would definitely slap him. Jimmy retorts that if she slaps him he would lay her out in retaliation. He reminds that he has no public school scruples about hitting the fairer sex. Helena casually remarks that she would not be surprised if he behaved in that crude manner. Jimmy says that he detests physical violence, but, that does not mean that he would sit idle when some women take the undue advantage of his philosophy.
Jimmy’s Account of his Dying Father
Jimmy asks Helena if she has watched anybody dying. When Helena replies in negative Jimmy mockingly says that anyone who has never seen somebody dying “is suffering from a pretty bad case of virginity”. He then gives a pathetic and rather painful account of his father’s death. When he was just ten years old, his father came back from the war in Spain. For twelve long months, he watched his father dying. Everyone waited for him to die. His mother looked after him without complaining perhaps she pitied him. Nobody seemed to care for him. Jimmy was the only one who really cared and suffered.
Every time he sat by his father’s bedside and listen to him talk, Jimmy had to fight back his tears. His father used to pour his heart out to Jimmy who could hardly understand half of what was said to him yet he could feel the despair and the bitterness of the dying man. He says that he knew more about love-betrayal and death at the tender age of ten than Helena would probably know all her life.
Jimmy Accuses Alison of Being Indifferent
Jimmy’s account of his dying father hardly seems to affect anyone. Helena in an indifferent manner says that it is time she went to the Church. She goes downstairs and asks Alison to join her. Jimmy enraged by their indifferent attitude, thus his wrath on her and asks her why she was behaving in that manner after he had given her everything. But as Alison pays no attention he became abusive calling her “you judo's you phlegm”. He accuses her of being influenced by Helena and therefore agrees to go to the Church with him. Alison unable to bear any longer strongly reacts. She hurls a tea cup to the floor and says softly that she wants some peace. Jimmy sarcastically says that when his heart is full and he feels ill, Alison is seeking peace. He further says that Alison can attack someone with her silence. Whenever he feels upset or enraged, she instead of offering him any comfort remains silent. Either he is crazy and mean and stupid or she is. He asks Cliff which one of them is crazy, cruel and mean. As Alison gets ready to go, he curses her saying that he will wait for the day when she falls at his feet, groveling and cringing in an abject manner.
Helena Accuses Cliff
Helena at this moment returns and informs Jimmy there is a phone call for him. Jimmy goes to attend the call. Helena asks Alison what Jimmy was raving about. She says that she feels like claiming his hair by the roots. He has no idea what Alison would be going through all this months as she was expecting. Helena then turns to Cliff and accuses him of being a silent observer and doing nothing to protect Alison. Cliff replies that he is not a police officer. He says that though he does not hate her like Jimmy, yet he is not on her side either. He says that the situation in the porter’s home have worsened since her arrival. Defending himself he says that the Porter’s love has always been a battlefield and had he not been there everything would have been over between the couple. Commenting on his role in their minds he says that he has always been a no-main island, a neutral point between the two. Sometimes their life has been quite peaceful and happy, but most of the time it has been hell. He says that he loves both Jimmy and Alison and pities all that includes Helena also. Helena surprisingly asks if he is pitying her as well and then to avoid his reply goes on to say that she, neither understands Jimmy nor Cliff. All that she knows is that none in the house seems to know how to behave in a decent and civilized way: Helena then rather abruptly informs Alison that she has sent a telegram to her father. Alison is rather taken aback and exclaims “oh?”. Helena asks Alison if she would go with her father when he comes to take her. Alison gives a positive reply. Helena says that after Alison is gone, Jimmy will come to his senses and be in a position to face the realities of life.
Jimmy is Sad at the News of Mrs. Tanner’s Illness
Jimmy returns and informs Alison that the telephone call was from a London Hospital. He tells Alison that it was about Hugh’s mother that she had a stroke. Alison responds with sympathy and says that she is sorry. Jimmy says that she may not survive and that he must go to visit her. Cliff asks if he should accompany Jimmy. Jimmy politically declines saying that Cliff hardly knows that lady. Jimmy however wanted Alison to accompany him. He tells Alison that the first time the old lady saw her photograph she was greatly moved and repeatedly kept exclaiming how beautiful Alison was’. He softly and hesitatingly asks Alison to come with him. Alison instead of giving any reply to him gets ready and goes towards the door to join Helena to go to the Church. Jimmy can hardly believe when he sees Alison leaving him alone to face the situation. He picks up the teddy bear and throws it to the floor where it lands with a thud making a rattling and groaning sound. Jimmy then drops on the bed and buries his face in the sheet.
Critical Analysis
ACT. II SCENE. I
Developments in the plot
The Telegram to Alison’s Father
Helena’s arrival contributes to the development of the plot. She overstays with the Porter’s than planned. A woman of guts, Helena hits back at Jimmy whenever the latter exceeds the limit in his abusive talk and obviously earns his wrath. She interferes with the married life of Alison and Jimmy with aim to help her friend out. She feels that the atmosphere in the Porter’s house is not congenial for a pregnant woman and with an air of authority advises Alison to leave Jimmy. She even takes the liberty of sending a telegram to Alison’s father asking him to take away his daughter and inform Alison about it later.
The News of Mrs. Tanner’s Illness
Another development in the plot is the news of Mrs. Tanner’s illness. A phone call informs Jimmy that Mrs. Tanner has had a stroke and is dying. Jimmy, who is indebted to the old lady and has the highest respect for her decides to visit her in the London hospital where she is undergoing treatment. He wanted Alison to accompany him. But to his utter disappointment, Alison ignores his wish and goes away to the Church with Helena. Here we encounter a very sensitive person in Jimmy. The harsh and abusive Jimmy pleads to his wife in a soft voice and shattered at her declination drops to the bed and buries his face in the sheet.
Helena’s Inquisitiveness Regarding Cliff and Alison’s Relationship
We have already noticed the close bond shared by Cliff and Alison. There is a deep bond of affection between them and they are often seen kissing and hugging each other even in the presence of Jimmy who doesn’t seem to mind. This obviously does not escape Helena’s notice and she bluntly asks Alison about the nature of relationship. She is not convinced when Alison says that there is nothing physical in their relationship. On learning that Alison is hesitant to reveal her pregnancy to Jimmy, her doubt seems to rise. Alison almost reading her mind refutes her doubt saying that the child belonged to Jimmy. She admitted that she had never wanted anyone else.
Helena, A Woman of Spirit and Guts
Helena is a contrast to Alison. She is described in the stage direction as a woman of Alison’s age group, of medium height and expensively dressed. She serves a perfect antithesis to Jimmy, unlike Alison. She is not a passive listener who would tolerate Jimmy’s constant abuses silently without retaliation. She is depicted as strong courageous woman who commands a respect from everyone including the women. She pleads Alison to defy her husband to follow her to the Church. Under her influence, even the feeble Alison dares to defile her husband. In a rare moment of anger irritated by his lashing courageous at her she picks up a tea cup and hurls it down which lands with a thud on the floor. Although Jimmy tortures Alison, she in her own way loves him deeply but never thought of deserting him. But Helena is a woman of strong conviction and puts the idea of defiance into Alison. She not only convinces Alison that it would be wise on her part to leave him to bring him to his senses. She acts very authoritatively. She bluntly offers to slap Jimmy if he does not stop his verbal onslaught. Acting on good faith though she does not escape our doubts she even sends telegram to Alison’s father to fetch his daughter home without prior consultation with Alison. She deliberately interferes with Alison’s marital life and even pushes Alison to take a drastic step to teach her husband a lesson.
Alison’s Awakening
Alison as usual continues to be a passive sufferer. Though she hardly reacts or retaliates to Jimmy’s verbal assault yet a slight change in her attitude can be noticed. In the beginning of the scene she along with Helena condemns Jimmy’s blowing of the trumpet. Alison describes Jimmy’s fierce resolve to marry her in spite of her parents’ opposition in the following manner: “Jimmy went into battle with his axe swinging round his head frail and so full of fire”. It was like the old story and sarcastically adds that only his armor did not shine very much. In defiance of Jimmy’s anti-Church attitude, Alison under Helena’s influence agrees to go with Helena which infuriates her husband. Once irritated with her husband’s abusive assault she loses her cool and flings a cup at the floor thus giving vent to her anger. She is so much influenced by Helena much to the disapproval of her husband that Jimmy accuses her of being feeble and weak. She lets Helena interfere in her private matters and though shocked to learn that Helena has sent a wire to her father without her knowledge says nothing.
Jimmy’s Rhetorical Condemnation of Alison’s Mother
Jimmy seems to take special effort in denouncing his mother-in-law. He says that the moment he saw Alison’s mummy for the first time he developed a keen hatred for her because he could see through her, that she was a kind of woman who would stoop to any level, either cheat, bully or blackmail to achieve her goal. In a strongly worded rhetorical speech, he condemns Alison’s mother calling her a bitch. His condemnation speech of Alison’s mother is a fine proof of his eloquence and rhetorical ability. By the wonderful use of similes, he describes the callousness and rigidity of Alison’s mother. He says that she is as rough “as a night in a Bombay brothel” and “as tough as matelol’s arm. His hatred for Alison’s mother is so overwhelmingly keen that Helena is aghast at his condemnation of the elderly woman. Cursing her and wishing her death, he says that the worms in her grave will develop a pain in their bellies after eating her flesh. His vicious attack that Alison’s mother “will pass away, leaving a trail of worms gasping for laxative behind her from purgatives to purgatory”. Hearing his vicious attack Helena feels sick.
The World of Fantasy
Alison’s conversation with Helena brings some facts of Jimmy’s character to focus. Alison says that Jimmy expects complete allegiance from his friend to his beliefs and convictions—allegiance not only to his present and future but to his past as well. But unfortunately, Alison has not been able to adapt herself to Jimmy’s expectations. She has not been able to bring herself to feel the way he does about things. But, in spite of their difference in attitude, their belief, and outlook Jimmy and Alison had arrived at an adjustment in their relation. To escape from the harsh world of reality where everything seems to fall apart they had created an imaginary world of bears and squirrels. It served as a relief to both of them tired of their worldly agony. In the fantasy world they showered their uncomplicated affection for each other, the kind of affection which animals in their cosy zoo. But now Alison admits sadly that even the world of bears and squirrels seems to be disintegrating i.e., even the imaginary animal relationship between her and Jimmy is strained.
Jimmy—A Sensitive Person
In spite of his abusive language, crude manner and aggressive temper the author has attributed a very human touch to Jimmy’s character. Underneath the tough exterior of a person who declares a crusade against everyone and everything, there lies a very sensitive person who experienced the emotion of love-betrayal and pangs of suffering at a very tender age. Jimmy’s denunciation, his non-stop verbal assault on others lead us to believe that he is an insensitive person to the point of cruelty. But we cannot help but sympathize bim when we hear the agonizing account of his father’s death. At the tender age often, Jimmy watched his father dying. His father bad returned from the Spanish Civil War in a miserable condition. Everyone knew that bo would not live long, but no one except Jimmy really seemed to care about the dying man. It seemed that the other members were embarrassed and irritated and even his mother, though she pitied her dying husband, did not do much to comfort him. Jimmy used to sit by his father’s bed side and listen to his talk. Though he hardly understood what his father said, he could feel the despair and bitterness of his dying father. After giving an account of his father’s death he sarcastically says to Helena “I know more about love....betray al.... and death, when I was just ten years old that you will probably ever know all your life.”
The news of Mrs. Tanner’s illness also, brings out the sensitive and emotional Jimmy. He is distressed to learn that Mrs. Tanner had a stroke and is dying. He immediately plans to visit her and asks Alison to accompany him. Alison shows no interest in Jimmy’s request and acting in an indifferent manner accompanies Helena to the Church.
Jimmy is greatly hurt by Alison’s indifference. In anguish, he picks up the teddy bear and throws it to the floor. Then he drops on to the bed and buries his face in the bed sheet. This shows the human side of Jimmy. In spite of his vicious comments, he is basically a very sensitive person.
Jimmy’s Vicious Comments on Helena and Alison
Jimmy regards Helena as his “natural enemy” and his resentment for her becomes clear even before her entry in the play. He bluntly asks Helena the reason for her stay after her assignment in the town was over. As a representative of the working class he vehemently opposes the ethical and other values the middle-class people hold on to. He opposes Alison’s accompanying Helena to the Church and accuses her of being feeble and that Helena influences her mind. Enraged by Alison’s adamantine decision to defy his resentment he lashes at her “you Judas! You phlegm!”. He does not even spare Helena, a guest in their place from his vicious remarks. He accuses her of influencing his wife to defile him. He does not show the least courtesy towards her. On the contrary he condemns her using the harshest possible language. Irritated when Helena threatens to slap him, he retaliates and tells her not to mistake him for a gentleman. He further tells her that he does not have any public school scruples about hitting the fairer sex.