EASY ON THE RELISH :: English Literature

EASY ON THE RELISH The two characters I have chosen to write about, apart from Tofler, are Ray and Brian. The reason for my choice is that both of these characters play a large and significant part in the play, particularly Ray. They compliment each other because, Brian is serious, whereas Ray is carefree and has a sense of humor. RAY is 18 years of age and was a butcher’s apprentice, until he lost his job. He is a cockney, fairly well built and a jack-the-lad type of character, who no one pushes around. He detests rules and regulations. In Act One, Scene 1 he says, ‘No smoking in the locker room. What is this, bleadin Alcatraz?’ Despite his objection to working in a burger bar instead of an organization that sells real meat not ‘donkey flavoured camel turds’, his lack of education gives him no option than to work at Binders. An example to support this theory is in Act Two, Scene 3 during a conversation with Kishori. ‘Well, I’m not sayin’ I’m not pissed off, cos I am. But no sense in causin a ruckus. I mean, I need the money. I’ll take money from anyone. Yanks included’. Ray is also a male chauvinist. In Act Three, Scene 1 he proves this because he has second thoughts about joining a union, as suggested by Kishori, when he says to Francis ‘Well she’s a bird’. Further into the conversation he continues his reasons saying ‘A bit of skirt stirring it up like that. Men’s work, unions. Always has been’. Ray is a racist. At the beginning of the play in Act One, Scene 1 he objects to wearing the hats provided as part of Bunter uniform and says that the hat reminded him of a fez. ‘I’m not wearin no gypo gear, ‘gainst my religion’. His racist attitude if further evident in Act Three, Scene 1. He not only objects to Kishori because she is a woman telling him what to do, but also because she is of ethnic origin and called her a Paki bird. Ray is a generally likeable but ignorant character, who is not very bright and whose lack of education is evident because of his poor use of English language and grammar. He is easily led into situations without thinking out the consequences first and generally likes to go with the flow of things. However, he appears anxious that Brian is also keen to join the union and picket the burger bar which suggests that he is not as confident as he would like those around him to believe and feels more self assured with Brian’s support.