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Robert Sideway
A convict in the penal colony, and another actor in Ralph’s play. Wisehammer isn’t initially cast in The Recruiting Officer, but Mary encourages him to join when he talks to her about his literary knowledge. Having stumbled into her while she’s practicing her lines, he tells her that he has read every word in the dictionary up to the letter L. Later, Major Ross accuses him of being involved with Arscott’s escape simply because he’s Jewish, though he—like the others—is still allowed to act in the play. On opening night, he asks Ralph if he can read a prologue he wrote before the production begins, but Ralph says what he’s composed is too political. Because of this, Sideway promises him that they can use it in the company he’s going to start when they’re all free.
John Wisehammer Quotes in Our Country’s Good
The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by John Wisehammer or refer to John Wisehammer. 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 One, Scene One
Quotes
At night? The sea cracks against the ship. Fear whispers, screams, falls silent, hushed. Spewed from our country, forgotten, bound to the dark edge of the earth, at night what is there to do but seek English cunt, warm, moist, soft, oh the comfort, the comfort of the lick, the thrust into the nooks, the crannies of the crooks of England. Alone, frightened, nameless in this stinking hole of hell, take me, take me inside you, whoever you are. Take me, my comfort and we’ll remember England together.
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Act Two, Scene One
Quotes
WISEHAMMER. I am innocent. I didn’t do it and I’ll keep saying I didn’t.
LIZ. It doesn’t matter what you say. If they say you’re a thief, you’re a thief.
WISEHAMMER. I am not a thief. I’ll go back to England to the snuff shop of Rickett and Loads and say, see, I’m back, I’m innocent.
LIZ. They won’t listen.
WISEHAMMER. You can’t live if you think that way.
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MARY. Liz, we’ve come to rehearse the play.
WISEHAMMER. Rehearse the play?
DUCKLING. The Lieutenant has gone to talk to the Governor. Harry said we could come see you.
MARY. The Lieutenant has asked me to stand in his place so we don’t lose time. We’ll start with the first scene between Melinda and Brazen.
WISEHAMMER. How can I play Captain Brazen in chains?
MARY. This is the theatre. We will believe you.
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Act Two, Scene Seven
Quotes
DABBY. When dealing with men, always have a contract.
MARY. Love is a contract.
DABBY. Love is the barter of perishable goods. A man’s word for a woman’s body.
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Act Two, Scene Eleven
Quotes
From distant climes o’er wide-spread seas we come,
Though not with much éclat or beat of drum,
True patriots all; for be it understood,
We left our country for our country’s good;
No private views disgraced our generous zeal,
What urg’d our travels was our country’s weal,
And none will doubt but that our emigration
Has prov’d most useful to the British nation.
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Get the entire Our Country’s Good LitChart as a printable PDF.
John Wisehammer Quotes in Our Country’s Good
The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by John Wisehammer or refer to John Wisehammer. 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 One, Scene One
Quotes
At night? The sea cracks against the ship. Fear whispers, screams, falls silent, hushed. Spewed from our country, forgotten, bound to the dark edge of the earth, at night what is there to do but seek English cunt, warm, moist, soft, oh the comfort, the comfort of the lick, the thrust into the nooks, the crannies of the crooks of England. Alone, frightened, nameless in this stinking hole of hell, take me, take me inside you, whoever you are. Take me, my comfort and we’ll remember England together.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene One
Quotes
WISEHAMMER. I am innocent. I didn’t do it and I’ll keep saying I didn’t.
LIZ. It doesn’t matter what you say. If they say you’re a thief, you’re a thief.
WISEHAMMER. I am not a thief. I’ll go back to England to the snuff shop of Rickett and Loads and say, see, I’m back, I’m innocent.
LIZ. They won’t listen.
WISEHAMMER. You can’t live if you think that way.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
MARY. Liz, we’ve come to rehearse the play.
WISEHAMMER. Rehearse the play?
DUCKLING. The Lieutenant has gone to talk to the Governor. Harry said we could come see you.
MARY. The Lieutenant has asked me to stand in his place so we don’t lose time. We’ll start with the first scene between Melinda and Brazen.
WISEHAMMER. How can I play Captain Brazen in chains?
MARY. This is the theatre. We will believe you.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Seven
Quotes
DABBY. When dealing with men, always have a contract.
MARY. Love is a contract.
DABBY. Love is the barter of perishable goods. A man’s word for a woman’s body.
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Act Two, Scene Eleven
Quotes
From distant climes o’er wide-spread seas we come,
Though not with much éclat or beat of drum,
True patriots all; for be it understood,
We left our country for our country’s good;
No private views disgraced our generous zeal,
What urg’d our travels was our country’s weal,
And none will doubt but that our emigration
Has prov’d most useful to the British nation.
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Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
