The one Day of the Year

How are the main characters in a play constructed to represent the text's underlying values and attitudes?

Answer with reference to at least one stage drama that you have seen or studied.

The One Day Of The Year explores a family's relationships at the time of Anzac Day. It is the story of a son questioning the validity of Anzac Day as a true commemoration of our soldiers, while his father refuses to accept the changes in his son's attitudes, Alf's wife tries to anchor the family and Wacka, the true Anzac, remembers his experiences in his own way.

In contrast, Alf and Dot, his parents, are obviously more traditional. The rest of the house is small, the furniture is dowdy, and their kitchen is primitive.

It is then that the viewer is introduced to Alf's attitudes towards life. He is sitting at the table getting progressively more drunk and whingeing about all those more fortunate than himself. His language is slang, and his vocabulary includes words such as "wotcher". He also has a strong 'dinkum-di aussie' accent. He is obviously uneducated and resents those who are.

The family then begin to talk about Hughie and we realise that he has modern clothes and a 'sports suit'. These are in contrast with Alf and Dot's old clothes- Dot has just removed a large overcoat.

In the next scene, the viewer is introduced to Hughie and Jan. Jan uses upper-class language and condescendingly uses words such as 'marvellous'. Hugie's language is not upper-class, but in comparison to Alf's it is clear that he is educated. He does not use slang and resents Jan's condescending attitude. On page 15 the stage direction says that he has a 'slight chip on shoulder' after one of Jan's comments.

Hughie is clearly uncertain. His youth means that he has not fully developed self-awareness and understanding. Through much of the play he is hesitant in his actions and not sure what to do with himself. Stage direction on page 24 says, 'He is nervous, on edge.'

Alf clearly values Anzac Day and the drinking that accompanies it. On page 13 he says

"I'm a bloody Australian, mate, and it's because I'm a bloody Australia that I'm getting' on the grog. It's Anzac Day this week, that's my day, that's the old diggers day."

In comparison Hughie questions the true meaning of Anzac Day.

"Do you know what you're even celebrating today? Do you? Do you even know what it all meant?" (page 81)

He is angrily defending his point of view and swings on his father. He sees Anzac Day as one big day of