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Major Sparks
Colonel Pottle is an official at the Army Medical Board, where Rudyard takes Jack for a physical examination to determine if he can serve in the army. While his colleague, Major Sparks, inspects Jack, Pottle eagerly talks to Rudyard about cars and about writing, since he’s a big fan of his books. But when Sparks and Pottle discover Jack’s severe nearsightedness, they tell Rudyard that they couldn’t possibly let the boy into the army. They would have been happy to bend the rules in this regard if Jack’s sight were a little better, but this is simply out of the question. Rudyard, for his part, calls Sparks and Pottle “spineless” and promises to write an angry letter to their superiors.
Colonel Pottle Quotes in My Boy Jack
The My Boy Jack quotes below are all either spoken by Colonel Pottle or refer to Colonel Pottle. 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:
).
Act 1, Scene 2 Quotes
SPARKS. […] this is very severe myopia ...we couldn't possibly… (He turns to POTTLE for help.)
POTTLE. Not possibly. There are very strict guidelines.
SPARKS. I think [Pottle] would agree, we were prepared to, um, stretch a point…very keen to stretch a point, but…
POTTLE. There has to be a limit.
SPARKS. I'm sure you understand.
RUDYARD. Yes I understand, but his spectacles are extremely effective.
SPARKS. But if he should lose them he'd be a danger to himself.
POTTLE. And to his men.
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Explanation and Analysis:
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Colonel Pottle Character Timeline in My Boy Jack
The timeline below shows where the character Colonel Pottle appears in My Boy Jack. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1, Scene 2
...Board, where they meet with an army doctor named Major Sparks and another official, Colonel Pottle. Both Sparks and Pottle are eager to talk to Rudyard, since they’re both big fans...
(full context)
As Rudyard and Pottle talk about cars, Sparks examines Jack. But soon he joins the conversation, noting that his...
(full context)
Sparks and Pottle try to explain that there are strict rules about soldiers passing the eye exam. Even...
(full context)
Rudyard argues on Jack’s behalf, pressuring Sparks and Pottle to make an exception. When this doesn’t work, Rudyard chastises Sparks and Pottle for their...
(full context)
Act 1, Scene 3
...words, telling Jack not to be upset about the meeting that afternoon with Sparks and Pottle. He should “buck up” and keep moving. Jack agrees, saying that he plans to enlist...
(full context)
