My Boy Jack
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 2 Act 1, Scene 3 Act 1, Scene 4 Act 1, Scene 5 Act 1, Scene 6 Act 1, Scene 7 Act 1, Scene 8 Act 2, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 4 Act 2, Scene 5
Themes
All Themes Bravery, Duty, and Honor Parental Expectations Patriotism and the British Empire Loss and Resilience
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Rudyard Kipling John “Jack” Kipling Carrie Kipling Elsie “Bird” Kipling Guardsman Bowe Guardsman McHugh Guardsman Doyle Major Sparks Colonel Pottle Mr. Frankland Josephine Kipling
Symbols
All Symbols The Pince-Nez The Dead Pigeon
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My Boy Jack

by

David Haig
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Major Sparks Character Analysis

Major Sparks is the army doctor who gives Jack a physical examination to determine if he’s qualified to enlist in the army. The entire time he inspects Jack, he tries to talk to Rudyard, since he—along with his colleague, Colonel Pottle—are such big fans of Rudyard’s books. Things get awkward, though, when Sparks realizes Jack can’t even read the top line of letters on a vision test. Because of this, Sparks says, Jack can’t join the army. Sparks and Pottle were both willing and ready to bend the rules for Rudyard’s sake, but bending them this far is simply out of the question. This enrages Rudyard, who suggests that Sparks and Pottle are both cowards for sticking so closely to the rules.

Major Sparks Quotes in My Boy Jack

The My Boy Jack quotes below are all either spoken by Major Sparks or refer to Major Sparks. 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:
Bravery, Duty, and Honor Theme Icon
).
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.

Related Characters: Major Sparks (speaker), Colonel Pottle (speaker), Rudyard Kipling, John “Jack” Kipling
Related Symbols: The Pince-Nez
Bravery, Duty, and Honor Theme Icon
Parental Expectations Theme Icon
Loss and Resilience Theme Icon
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:
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Major Sparks Quotes in My Boy Jack

The My Boy Jack quotes below are all either spoken by Major Sparks or refer to Major Sparks. 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:
Bravery, Duty, and Honor Theme Icon
).
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.

Related Characters: Major Sparks (speaker), Colonel Pottle (speaker), Rudyard Kipling, John “Jack” Kipling
Related Symbols: The Pince-Nez
Bravery, Duty, and Honor Theme Icon
Parental Expectations Theme Icon
Loss and Resilience Theme Icon
Page Number: 16
Explanation and Analysis:
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