The History Boys

by

Alan Bennett

Teachers and parents! Our Teacher Edition on History Boys makes teaching easy.

Fiona Character Analysis

She never appears on stage, but Fiona is the Headmaster’s young secretary. Throughout the play, she is also seeing Dakin. We learn about her mostly in the context of Dakin’s sexual exploits, which seem to be numerous. The Headmaster also pursues Fiona, and Dakin eventually uses this fact to try to keep Hector in his job.
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Fiona Character Timeline in The History Boys

The timeline below shows where the character Fiona appears in The History Boys. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act 1
The Purpose of Education Theme Icon
History and Truth Theme Icon
Sex and Sexuality Theme Icon
Class and Gender Theme Icon
Still in the classroom, Scripps and Dakin discuss Fiona. Dakin uses a metaphor of World War I to explain his sexual conquests. He says... (full context)
History and Truth Theme Icon
Sex and Sexuality Theme Icon
Class and Gender Theme Icon
...Dakin certainly knows more than Irwin does, at least about the school, because he’s seeing Fiona, the Headmaster’s secretary. Irwin says that he didn’t know that. Mrs. Lintott says that he... (full context)
Act 2
History and Truth Theme Icon
Sex and Sexuality Theme Icon
Class and Gender Theme Icon
...taking anyone on his motorcycle. Dakin says that’s because he’s been fired—he found out through Fiona. Scripps is surprised, but they both agree that they won’t miss the “genital massage.” Dakin... (full context)
The Purpose of Education Theme Icon
History and Truth Theme Icon
Sex and Sexuality Theme Icon
Hope and Failure Theme Icon
...he writes like Dakin. Dakin says that he talks about Irwin so much now that Fiona has to have sex with him to get him to stop talking. Scripps asks if... (full context)
The Purpose of Education Theme Icon
Sex and Sexuality Theme Icon
Hope and Failure Theme Icon
Scripps begins to ask Dakin about having sex with Fiona, and Posner asks whether Dakin is ever worried about not having sex to look forward... (full context)
History and Truth Theme Icon
Sex and Sexuality Theme Icon
Hope and Failure Theme Icon
Class and Gender Theme Icon
...whether there’s any difference between Hector’s gropings and the Headmaster’s own pursuit of his secretary, Fiona. The Headmaster eventually agreed to give Hector another chance. Scripps says that “everybody’s happy.” Dakin... (full context)