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John Arscott
Another convict in the penal colony, and an actor in Ralph’s play. Sideway is a smooth-talking and well-mannered man who presents himself as a sophisticated gentleman. A pick-pocket by profession, he has a great appreciation for the theater, since he used to go to plays quite often in England. Because of this, he convinces Ralph to cast him, and when he begins rehearsals, it becomes clear that his grandiose style will get in the way of his ability to act, as he presents himself as a lauded thespian and overacts every piece of dialogue. At the end of Our Country’s Good, he tells the other convicts that he plans to start his own theater company when he’s no longer a convict, assuring them all that they can all join him as actors.
Robert Sideway Quotes in Our Country’s Good
The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by Robert Sideway or refer to Robert Sideway. 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 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 Five Quotes
I have seen the white of this animal’s bones, his wretched blood and reeky convict urine have spilled on my boots and he’s feeling modest? Are you feeling modest, Sideway?
(He shoves SIDEWAY aside.)
Modesty.
Bryant. Here.
(DABBY comes forward.)
On all fours.
(DABBY goes down on all fours.)
Now wag your tail and bark, and I’ll throw you a biscuit. What? You’ve forgotten? Isn’t that how you begged for your food on the ship? Wag your tail, Bryant, bark! We’ll wait.
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Robert Sideway Character Timeline in Our Country’s Good
The timeline below shows where the character Robert Sideway appears in Our Country’s Good. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act One, Scene One
...in 1787, Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark counts softly and dispiritedly as a prisoner named Robert Sideway receives fifty lashes. When Sideway is let go, he falls into a heap on the...
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Act One, Scene Three
...discussion, Harry mentions that there was also an eighty-two-year-old woman who stole food from Robert Sideway, and when Phillip suggests that it’s unnecessary to hang such an old woman, Collins says,...
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Act One, Scene Five
As Meg leaves, Robert Sideway appears, greeting Ralph in a polite manner and telling him that he was “once a...
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Act One, Scene Eleven
During the first 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...
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Ralph begins the rehearsal with a scene that includes Sideway, who overacts his part by accompanying every word with a physical gesture. As Ralph tries...
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Act Two, Scene One
As Wisehammer informs Arscott that the sailor who sold him the fake compass “betrayed” him, Sideway, Mary, and Duckling appear and tell the chained convicts that they’ve come to continue the...
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Act Two, Scene Five
...to leave, Ross insists that these prisoners have nothing to hide from the guards, forcing Sideway to reveal his back, which is scarred by the 100 lashes he received on the...
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...lift her 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...
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Act Two, Scene Eleven
...the Aboriginal Australians are dying of small pox. “I hope they won’t upset the audience,” Sideway says, and Mary starts talking about how many people have come to see the play....
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Sideway insists that everyone practice their bow. Dabby, however, says she won’t be taking a bow...
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...anyone else to call you a foreigner. I want to become the first famous writer.” Sideway declares that he’s going to found a theater company in Australia once he’s free, assuring...
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