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Duckling Smith
One of the convicts in the penal colony. Liz is the most insubordinate prisoner of the entire group, often tempting the guards to punish her by misbehaving or speaking out of turn. It is for this reason that Governor Phillip wants Ralph to cast her in the play, eventually explaining to him that he wants to make an “example” out of her—not by executing her, but by spotlighting her “redemption.” However, he encounters some difficulty with this plan when Henry Kable, John Arscott, and several other prisoners try to escape. This affects Liz because a soldier claims to have seen her when he was drunk the night before the group ran away. Indeed, this soldier upholds that Liz helped Kable steel food for the journey. Because of this, Major Ross insists that she should be hanged. During her trial, Liz doesn’t advocate for herself, thinking that it won’t matter what she says. Luckily for her, though, Judge Collins and Governor Phillip suspect that this is why she doesn’t try to defend herself, so they give her another chance, ultimately convincing her to explain her innocence and thus avoid the death penalty.
Liz Morden Quotes in Our Country’s Good
The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by Liz Morden or refer to Liz Morden. 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 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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Explanation and Analysis:
During this conversation, Wisehammer and Liz are in chains because Major Ross has accused them of taking part in Henry Kable’s escape. As they pass the time, Liz asks Wisehammer why he was sent to the penal colony in Australia. When he insists that he’s an innocent man, she disregards this, trying to make the point that “it doesn’t matter” what a person says after they have been accused of a crime. “If they say you’re a thief, you’re a thief,” she says. This viewpoint suggests that Liz doesn’t trust the judicial system, automatically assuming that it’s rigged against people 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. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis
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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Explanation and Analysis:
In this scene, Mary, Duckling, and the other convicts in the play come to visit Liz, Arscott, and Wisehammer after they’ve been put in chains for allegedly helping Henry Kable escape. The fact that they want to continue rehearsing with their fellow cast members is a testament to how much the play has brought them together as a group. At first, everyone was hesitant to associate with Liz Morden, who has a bad reputation in the penal colony. Now, though, Mary and Duckling eagerly seek her out, hoping to keep working on the play with her even while she’s in 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. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim
Act Two, Scene Two Quotes
PHILLIP. Liz Morden—(He pauses.) I had a reason for asking you to cast her as Melinda. Morden is one of the most difficult women in the colony.
RALPH. She is indeed, Sir.
PHILLIP. Lower than a slave, full of loathing, foul mouthed, desperate.
RALPH. Exactly, Sir. And violent.
PHILLIP. Quite. To be made an example of.
RALPH. By hanging?
PHILLIP. No, Lieutenant, by redemption.
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Explanation and Analysis:
In this passage, Governor Phillip tells Ralph why he wanted Liz Morden to be cast as one of the leading roles in The Recruiting Officer. Whereas someone like Captain Tench would most likely want to make an “example” of a misbehaved criminal by publicly hanging her, Phillip wants to shine a light on her ability to change. Even though she is “full of loathing, foul mouthed, desperate,” and “violent,” Phillip believes that she’s capable of “redemption.” This suggests that he believes it’s possible for anyone to change, since Liz is apparently so far from perfect. Once again, then, the audience 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
Act Two, Scene Ten Quotes
COLLINS. My only fear, Your Excellency, is that she may have refused to speak because she no longer believes in the process of justice. If that is so, the courts here will become travesties. I do not want that.
PHILLIP. But if she won’t speak, there is nothing more we can do. You cannot get at the truth through silence.
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In this passage, Judge Collins and Governor Phillip discuss the fact that Liz Morden refused to speak during her trial. Rather than making a case for her innocence, she remained silent, leading the court to find her guilty of stealing food with Henry Kable. However, Judge Collins now voices his worry that Liz only “refused to speak because she no longer believes in the process of justice.” This is true, since Liz has already made it clear that she thinks it “doesn’t matter” what she says on her own behalf. “If they think you’re a thief, you’re a thief,” she 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. Accusantium recusandae voluptates. Explicabo minus tempore. Nostrum dolor asperiores. Ut aliquam officiis. Unde enim nesciunt. Commodi necessitatibus voluptas. Accusamus eaque omnis. Velit eaque error. Possimus corrupti soluta. Qui aut a. Rerum voluptas debitis. Voluptatem accusantium est. Mollitia eaque ipsa. Perferendis cons
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Liz Morden Character Timeline in Our Country’s Good
The timeline below shows where the character Liz Morden appears in Our Country’s Good. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act One, Scene Four
...his writing, he tells her about life in the colony, saying that a prisoner named Liz Morden was whipped for being “impertinent.” This, Ralph thinks, was much deserved, since Liz has...
(full context)
Act One, Scene Five
...Mary’s character, Silvia (who is the play’s lead). As Ralph tries to lead this audition, Liz Morden arrives, much to the chagrin of Dabby, who looks at her confrontationally while Mary...
(full context)
Act One, Scene Seven
...up, he suggests that she join Ralph’s play. He then explains that Dabby Bryant and Liz Morden are also in the cast, and Duckling agrees to participate. “How is Lieutenant Clark...
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Act One, Scene Eight
...Mary replies. The two convicts decide to focus on their lines again, and before long, Liz Morden joins them. Though Dabby bristles at her presence, Mary eventually helps her with her...
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As Liz and Dabby fight, Ketch Freeman enters and asks why they’re “at each other’s throats.” The...
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Act One, Scene Eleven
...rehearsal of The Recruiting Officer, Ralph gathers the convicts he’s casted, including Sideway, Wisehammer, Mary, Liz, Dabby, Duckling, and Ketch. As Ralph tries to begin, the prisoners insult Ketch because he’s...
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...as he yells, “My wiper! Someone’s buzzed my wiper!” Looking about himself, he jumps at Liz and starts to fight her, but Ralph separates them and forces Sideway to continue the...
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Deciding to rehearse a scene with the female convicts, Ralph calls Liz and Mary to the front of the group and asks them to read for him....
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...in the escape, Ross says, “You’re Jewish, aren’t you?” Lastly, he turns his attention to Liz and claims that she was seen near the colony’s food supply the previous night with...
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Act Two, Scene One
Having been placed in chains, Liz, Wisehammer, Arscott, and Caesar sit next to each other as Liz relates her life story....
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Liz and Wisehammer discuss the idea of returning to England after their sentences are over. Liz...
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Act Two, Scene Two
Governor Phillip tells Ralph that he wanted Liz to do the play because he wanted to make an “example” of her. Although she’s...
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Act Two, Scene Five
Major Ross and Captain Campbell escort Caesar, Wisehammer, and Liz to the second rehearsal of The Recruiting Officer. All of them except Liz are allowed...
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...skirt to show her tattoo. Just as she’s about to obey him, though, Sideway faces Liz and delivers his line, stopping Ross from continuing to exert his power over the convicts....
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Act Two, Scene Six
Later, Harry summons Ketch to take Liz’s measurements in preparation for her hanging the next day. Apologetically, Ketch tries to measure Liz,...
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After measuring Liz, Ketch apologizes again, telling her that if he doesn’t hang her, someone else will. At...
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Act Two, Scene Seven
...with him because she can’t stop thinking about the fact that he’s going to hang Liz the following day. “One has to transcend personal feelings in the theatre,” Ralph insists, but...
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Act Two, Scene Ten
In a meeting about Liz Morden, Judge Collins tells Ralph, Major Ross, Captain Campbell, and Governor Phillip that the convict...
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Ralph says that Liz did tell Harry Brewer she was innocent, but Harry is dead and was never able...
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Judge Collins sends Campbell to fetch Liz, whom he gives one last chance to defend herself. Explaining that they’ll be forced to...
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Having gotten the truth out of Liz, Governor Phillip asks why she didn’t advocate for her innocence earlier. “Because it wouldn’t have...
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Act Two, Scene Eleven
...many people have come to see the play. Noticing Duckling—who is mourning the loss of Harry—Liz tells her that Dabby could fill in for her, but Duckling insists upon doing it...
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...Australia once he’s free, assuring everyone that they can join. Everyone loves this idea, including Liz, who says she’d happily be part of Sideway’s company. “And so will I,” Ketch chimes...
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...and Caesar finally “pulls himself together.” Having heard this reference to hanging, Ketch turns to Liz and tells her that he wouldn’t have been able to hang her.
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