Our Country’s Good

by

Timberlake Wertenbaker

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on Our Country’s Good makes teaching easy.

John Arscott Character Analysis

One of the convicts in the penal colony. Ralph casts Arscott in The Recruiting Officer, but the prisoner runs away with Henry Kable, Black Caesar, and several others before the first rehearsal. However, he’s caught, brought back to the colony, and placed in jail, where he complains to Liz and Wisehammer that the “compass” he bought from a sailor failed him (the compass, it turns out, is just a piece of paper with the word “North” written on it). Because of this failed attempt, Arscott becomes rather hopeless, insisting that there’s no “escape” from the colony. Later, though, he becomes immersed in The Recruiting Officer, feeling as if the theatrical experience gives him an opportunity to forget about his own life.

John Arscott Quotes in Our Country’s Good

The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by John Arscott or refer to John Arscott. 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:
Punishment and Rehabilitation Theme Icon
).
Act Two, Scene Seven Quotes

When I say Kite’s lines I forget everything else. I forget the judge said I’m going to have to spend the rest of my natural life in this place getting beaten and working like a slave. I can forget that out there it’s trees and burnt grass, spiders that kill you in four hours and snakes. I don’t have to think about what happened to Kable, I don’t have to remember the things I’ve done, when I speak Kite’s lines I don’t hate anymore.

Related Characters: John Arscott (speaker), Dabby Bryant, Henry Kable
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis:
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John Arscott Quotes in Our Country’s Good

The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by John Arscott or refer to John Arscott. 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:
Punishment and Rehabilitation Theme Icon
).
Act Two, Scene Seven Quotes

When I say Kite’s lines I forget everything else. I forget the judge said I’m going to have to spend the rest of my natural life in this place getting beaten and working like a slave. I can forget that out there it’s trees and burnt grass, spiders that kill you in four hours and snakes. I don’t have to think about what happened to Kable, I don’t have to remember the things I’ve done, when I speak Kite’s lines I don’t hate anymore.

Related Characters: John Arscott (speaker), Dabby Bryant, Henry Kable
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis: