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Throughout the play, the characters drink alcohol and offer it to others. Alcohol is another example of something that’s supposed to bring its consumers happiness, but which often ends up making them sadder and lonelier. In this way, alcohol is an apt symbol for the tawdry, superficial pleasures the characters pursue, and the alienation they often feel as a result.
Alcohol Quotes in Absurd Person Singular
The Absurd Person Singular quotes below all refer to the symbol of Alcohol. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act One Quotes
SIDNEY: What?
EVA: Did I put that glass in there?
SIDNEY: Er—yes.
EVA: My God, I knew it, I'm going mad. I am finally going mad.
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Explanation and Analysis:
Eva Jackson, the wife of Geoffrey Jackson, suffers from some kind of mental illness, and has to take pills every three hours in order to stabilize her mood. As a result of her condition, she can be somewhat volatile, and in this scene, she casually throws a glass into a trash can without realizing—only to catch herself a moment later. The strange thing about Eva is that, while she’s ostensibly the only character with a defined mental “problem,” she’s also the only character who seems aware of her own problems, and shows some willingness to get better. By contrast, the Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur m
MARION: Oh, that's lovely. Just that teeny bit stronger. You know what I mean. Not too much tonic . . .
SIDNEY: No, well . . .
MARION: Perfect.
SIDNEY: Actually, that's neat gin, that is.
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Marion complains that her gin and tonic doesn’t have enough tonic (in fact, it doesn’t have any). Then, Sidney goes to find some tonic water to add to her beverage. A moment later, he returns to Marion, without having done anything to the drink. Marion sips the drink and claims that it now has the perfect amount of tonic water in it. The exchange isn’t just a perfect example of the “placebo effect.” It’s also a sign that the characters are out of touch with reality. The mere power of suggestion—the fact that Marion thinks Sidney has added tonic to Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provi
Act Two Quotes
JANE: Shall I tell you something—Sidney would get so angry if he heard me saying this—but I'd far sooner be down here on the floor, on my knees in the oven—than out there, talking. Isn't that terrible. But I’m never at ease, really, at parties. I don't enjoy drinking, you see.
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In this rare moment of candor from Jane Hopcroft, she admits that she doesn’t enjoy drinking or going to parties. This is interesting, since we first met Jane when she was about to host a Christmas party. In many ways, Jane is the most sympathetic character in the play. She doesn’t really buy in to the culture of drinking and shallow conversation that Ayckbourn satirized in Act One (and continues to satirize now). And her desire to find happiness in the act of cleaning, while somewhat pathetic, is also rather poignant. However, whatever sincerity and openness one finds in Jane’s Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Provident expedita delectus. Occaecati ea suscipit. Optio ut iste. Voluptas aut occaecati. Accu
Act Three Quotes
RONALD: Drink? No, I don't honestly think so. She's always liked a—I mean, the doctor did say she should lay off. But that was only because it was acting as a stimulant—She hasn't touched it lately.
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As Act Three begins, another year has gone by. Ronald’s wife Marion has become bedridden for vaguely-defined reasons. Eva suggests that Marion is an alcoholic, while Ronald refuses to believe this. However, as the act goes on, it becomes clear that Eva is exactly right. Ronald’s refusal to believe the obvious truth about Marion is a form of denial: he can’t accept the painful truth that his wife is addicted to alcohol (even though he begins to admit that she is, and then cuts himself off). The passage is a telling example of the way Ronald—and all the other characters—hide Dolorem et quae. Exercitationem non aut. Eveniet dolor non. Incidunt dolores sunt. Ad dolor at. Quia aperiam eligendi. Ut veniam voluptatem. Aperiam consequuntur mollitia. Pro
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Alcohol Symbol Timeline in Absurd Person Singular
The timeline below shows where the symbol Alcohol appears in Absurd Person Singular. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act One
...to get home to her children, finds Dick Potter’s jokes horrible, and doesn’t like the drinks. Ronald complains that Jane spilled soda on his trousers while pouring him a drink.
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...better now that it has a little tonic water—however, Sidney points out that it’s pure gin. Marion teases Sidney, “what are you trying to do to me?” Sidney points out that...
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Act Two
...little bit of liquor in the flat. As he rummages through the drawers looking for alcohol, he reminds Eva that the people coming to the flat that night are really Eva’s...
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...asks, “How’s the invalid?” and Ronald replies, “Very groggy.” Marion shrugs and offers everyone a drink. She gives a drink to Eva, just as she’s used the screwdriver to open the...
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Marion offers Ronald a drink, and Ronald replies, in a strained voice, “I feel very peculiar.” Jane goes to wash...
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Act Three
Ronald offers Eva a drink, and she accepts after turning it down the first time. Just then, the bell rings,...
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Ronald enters the room, noting that there seems to be little alcohol left in the house, even though he bought some recently. He guesses that his maid...
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Ronald returns with the drinks, and the three of them toast and drink. Geoffrey notes, “Bit quieter than last Christmas,...
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...her that she needs to put on warmer clothing. After Marion asks him for a drink, Ronald starts to say, “The doctor said very plainly …” Marion cuts him off, saying,...
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Ronald offers Sidney and Jane drinks, and Sidney mentions that he’s just come from Walter Harrison’s party. He turns to Geoffrey...
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...that the presents are a set of electrical screwdrivers for Ronald and a bottle of gin for Marion. Jane also gives Ronald two “rather ghastly woolly toys” for Ronald and Marion’s...
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The game begins, and everyone but Jane and Sidney begins dancing. Marion dances in a shaky “classical ballet...
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