Sailmaker’
Sailmaker’
Characterisation
Alec
Alec is a sensitive and clever individual who has had to cope with many difficulties at a young age. The play begins with a flashback; Alec is recalling the death of his mother. As a result of this tragic event, Alec is brought up by his father. Although Davie does his best, he frequently lets Alec down.
At times during the play, Alec seems to be attempting to fill a gap in his life; he tries religion but eventually changes his focus to education. Alec is highly intelligent and wins a scholarship to a prestigious school.
In the final scene, it becomes obvious how little father and son now have in common. Alec is soon to go to university and talks of moving into a place of his own.
The ending of the play is hopeful for Alec who has a real chance of a brighter future. In contrast to Davie’s futile attempts to escape from the realities of poverty by drinking and betting, it becomes clear that Alec will escape ‘using his brains.’
In many ways the play is the story of Alec’s progression from childhood innocence to maturity. He is an impressive character who has struggled to overcome many obstacles.
Sensitive and imaginative
Impact of mother’s death
Intelligent
Faith in Davie - Childhood Innocence
Deteriorating relationship with Davie
Searching for something
Key Quotations
Alec
Cut out the following quotations and stick them under the appropriate headings:
o ‘Yer mammy’s dead.’ (repetition)
o ‘ I cried and a numbness came on me, shielding me from the real pain’
o I don’t know what I had expected. A sign. Jesus to come walking across the back and tell me everthing was all right’
o ‘The sun shone on the grey tenements, on the railings, and the middens and the spilled ashes. It glinted on the windows on the bits of broken glass, it was like something I remembered, something from a dream’
o ‘A wee boy was standing, blowing a mouth organ, playing the same two notes over and over again’
o ‘That was a great poem he made up
Ah had a yacht. Y’ought tae see it.
Put it in the canal. Ye can all see it.’
o ‘Ah’m Gonnae get ma da tae fix it up. Ma da’s a sailmaker’
o ‘He’s workin as a tick man. But he’s really a sailmaker.’
o ‘Ah’ve passed’
o ‘You’ll get out usin yer brains’
o ‘If ye listen ye can hear the sea’
o ‘Just wan, son. Honest! Wee half at the end ae the day. Just helps me tae unwind.’
o Ah didnae bring in anything for the tea. D’ye fancy nippin doon tae the chippy.’
o ‘Take this line tae the bookies.’
o ‘Could ye make me a sail for this? Ah found it in the glory hole. Ah thought ye could fix it up’
o He’ll get on a lot better if you screw the heid.’
o ‘Ye’ve been sayin that for weeks.’
o ‘Star of the Sea.’
o ‘Alec is playing with his yacht. . tries to make sail with cellophane.’
o ‘You stick in son. Get yirself a good education. Get a decent job. Collar and tie. Never have to take yer jacket off.’
o ‘ Christian Endeavour. Band a hope’s on a Thursday’
o ‘Ye never come oot wi us these days.’
o ‘Forget everythin. Wish ye could . There’s something sh have forgotten. Somethin ah’ve lost? What is it?
o ‘Did you gamble with that bursary money?’
o ‘Can ye no talk tae me these days?’
o ‘Ah Didnae know where ye wur’
o ‘Nae light. Place like a midden . . needs gutted.’
o ‘When ah go tae University might get a wee place ah ma own.’
o ‘Ye were always gonnae fix it up for me.’
o ‘I wedged the yacht in the grate. The flames licked round it. Then the wood began to blister and bubble.’
o Amabo. I will love.’
o ‘And the yacht had a sail of flame. And it sailed in the fire like a Viking longboat, out to sea in a blaze with the body of a dead chief’
Key Quotations
Alec
Sensitive and imaginative
o ‘Star of the Sea.’
o ‘Make pals wi them but. Lion an tiger an that’
o ‘And the yacht had a sail of flame. And it sailed in the fire like a Viking longboat, out to sea in a blaze with the body of a dead chief’
o ‘If ye listen ye can hear the sea’
Impact of mother’s death
o ‘Yer mammy’s dead.’ (repetition)
o ‘ I cried and a numbness came on me, shielding me from the real pain’
o I don’t know what I had expected. A sign. Jesus to come walking across the back and tell me everthing was all right’
o ‘The sun shone on the grey tenements, on the railings, and the middens and the spilled ashes. It glinted on the windows on the bits of broken glass, it was like something I remembered, something from a dream’
o ‘A wee boy was standing, blowing a mouth organ, playing the same two notes over and over again’
Intelligent
o ‘Ah’ve passed’
o ‘You’ll get out usin yer brains’
o ‘Ye never come oot wi us these days.’
Searching for something
o ‘ Christian Endeavour. Band a hope’s on a Thursday’
o ‘Forget everythin. Wish ye could . There’s something sh have forgotten. Somethin ah’ve lost? What is it?
Faith in Davie - Chidhood innocence
o ‘That was a great poem he made up
Ah had a yacht. Y’ought tae see it.
Put it in the canal. Ye can all see it.’
o ‘Ah’m Gonnae get ma da tae fix it up. Ma da’s a sailmaker’
o ‘He’s workin as a tick man. But he’s really a sailmaker.’
o ‘Could ye make me a sail for this? Ah found it in the glory hole. Ah thought ye could fix it up’
Deteriorating relationship with Davie
o ‘Just wan, son. Honest! Wee half at the end ae the day. Just helps me tae unwind.’
o Ah didnae bring in anything for the tea. D’ye fancy nippin doon tae the chippy.’
o ‘Take this line tae the bookies.’
o ‘Alec is playing with his yacht. . tries to make sail with cellophane.’
o ‘Ye’ve been sayin that for weeks.’
o ‘You stick in son. Get yirself a good education. Get a decent job. Collar and tie. Never have to take yer jacket off.’
o Did you gamble with that bursary money?’
o ‘Can ye no talk tae me these days?’
o ‘Ah Didnae know where ye wur’
o ‘Nae light. Place like a midden . . needs gutted.’
o ‘When ah go tae University might get a wee place ah ma own.’
o ‘Ye were always gonnae fix it up for me.’
o ‘I wedged the yacht in the grate.
The flames licked round it
The wood began to bubble and blister.
Amabo. I will love.’
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