MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN ALAN AYCKBORN’S SEVEN MAJOR PLAYS A Thesis Submitted to Hemchandrachary North Gujarat University, Patan For The Degree Of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY IN ENGLISH By RAJESHKUMAR .A. PATEL Smt.R.R.H.Patel Mahila Arts College, Vijapur Under the Guidance of Dr. VASANT S. PATEL Retired Principal Shri & Smt. P.K.Kotawala Arts College, Patan March 2009 C E R T I F I C A T E This is to certify that the content of this thesis entitled “MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN ALAN AYCKBORN’S SEVEN MAJOR PLAYS”, to be submitted by Rajeshkumar A.. Patel carried out under my supervision, is the original research work for the award of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in English. I further certify that no chapter of the work has been submitted either partly or fully to other university or institute for the award of any degree. Signature of the Guide CANDIDATE’S DECLARATION I hereby declare that the work incorporated in the present thesis is original and has not been submitted to any University or institute for the award of a diploma or degree. I further declare that considerations made there in the thesis contribute in general to the advancement of knowledge in English and in particular to “MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS IN ALAN AYCKBORN’S SEVEN MAJOR PLAYS”. Signature of the Candidate PREFACE It was a wonderful and spiritual experience to go through a topic related to moral consciousness. Moral consciousness has been the prime function of literature. I passed through thrilling sensations while working on different aspects of moral consciousness presented in select plays. I am most grateful to my guide Dr.Vasant S.Patel who made close, helpful, encouraging and often indispensable comments on various aspects related to the thesis. I am obliged to him for considering me fit as a student. In a world torn by all kinds of conflicts, the voice of Alan Ayckbourn breathes the tone of sanity and the spirit of humanism – the significant values of modern life. Alan Ayckbourn’s excellent study of human nature and human motives pertaining to changing trends of morality is absolutely realistic and convincing. The divergent trends and tendencies of morality appearing in his work, are relevant to the present times and it has influenced me a lot in learning how to live better life. I hope that the thesis may help the readers and learners of Alan Ayckbourn in comprehending his work with a new angle. I would like to thank Shri Nanabhai V. Nadoda who helped me in downloading my ideas in computer with speed and excellence. I am obliged to him for his kind support. I am also grateful to Shri Kiritbhai Sharma, his family and relatives residing in London for their kind support in sending books and reference books from London in case of unavailability in India. I am obliged to my principal Dr.S.S.Patel, colleagues -Shri.P.M.Prajapati, Shri.M.H.Vankar, Shri.V.B.Patel, Shri.Dr.B.M.Prajapati, Shri P.R.Pandya for their guidance if and when needed. I thank the department of English comprising of Smt.J.K.Vohra and Shri A.S.Kapoor who showed their eagerness to help me at every step. Dr.J.M.Patel encouraged me for completion of the thesis in time. Besides, I am grateful to non-teaching staff members Shri V.M.Patel, Shri R.R.Ravat, Shri D.N.Patel, Shri S.M.Patel, Shri R.J.Brabhmbhatt, Shri J.J.Rathod, Shri D.S.Kharadi, Shri B.L.Bhangi who supported me indirectly for moral strength with their wishes. I am grateful to them all. Shri S.K.Parmar, librarian extended his help to me at every step. In addition, I am most grateful to my parents Shri A.N.Patel, Smt.I.A.Patel, wife Ritaben, brothers – N.A.Patel, K.A.Patel, sisters-in-law Alpaben, Anilaben, sister Gayatriben, brother-in-low Pravinkumar, younger members Archita, Mileshkumar, Nirav, Archit, Arpit, Rutvij, Heli, Utkarsh, Zil for their blessings, compliments and best wishes. Rajeshkumar A.Patel “In life, you get moments – just occasionally which you can positively identify as being among the happy moments. They come up occasionally, even take you by surprise and sometimes you are so busy worrying about tomorrow or thinking about yesterday that you tend to miss out on them all together.” ALAN AYCKBOURN AND MORAL CONSCIOUSNESS Art implants in people unorthodox ideas; it breaks the molds of provincialism in which people have been brought up; it disturbs and disquiets since it tends to emphasize individuality rather than conformity and works of art are often created of rebellion or disenchantment with the established order. Literature is the finest form of art which mirrors society. As literature teaches us to be better, it also preaches moral lessons. Improving the society, moral values are at the depth of literary works. Though aestheticism and moralism differ from one another yet they are entirely related. Plato and Tolstoy favoured moral values in literary works. John Addington Symonds discussed literature as a criticism of life and added: If one thing is proved with certainty by the whole history of literature down to our own time, it is the self - preservative instinct of humanity rejects such art as does not contribute to its intellectual nutrition and moral sustenance… All art to be truly great, must be moralized -- must be in harmony with those principles of conduct, that tone of feeling which it is the self - preservative instinct of civilized humanity to strengthen… 1 Alan Ayckbourn, after Shakespeare alone, is Britain’s most performed playwright and acknowledged as one of its most skilful directors. Dismissed first as mere boulevardier he is now seen as a modern comic playwright. In 1997, for services to the theatre, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II bestowed upon the playwright who has for thirty years written plays for the Theatre- in- the- Round, Scarborough,the title of Sir Alan Ayckbourn. He may be introduced in the following aspects. 1.1 Life Alan Ayckbourn is still writing for the stage. A brief report of his life is as under: Alan Ayckbourn was born in Hampstead, London on 12 April, 1939. His mother was a novelist Irene Worley (Mary ‘Lolly’ James) and his father, Irene’s second husband Horace Ayckbourn was a distinguished orchestral violinist with the London Symphony Orchestra. Alan Ayckbourn was educated at the historic Haileybury Public School in Hertford. In 1946 the mother remarried a bank manager and he had to live at Billingshurst, Wisborough Green, Horsham, Uckfield, Heyward’s Heath and Leaves. Ayckbourn got Barclay’s Bank Scholarship to Haileybury school. At 17 he left school and started writing house plays. He edited house magazine. He toured Netherlands in school production of Romeo and Juliet (1955) as well as eastern USA and Canada in 1956 for Macbeth. Ayckbourn was good at cricket. He left school with “A’’ level in English and History. He joined the renowned theatre impressario Sir Donald Wolfit’s acting company for three weeks working as an assistant stage manager. He worked as unpaid student assistant stage manager at Worthing. From there he moved to Thorndike Theatre, Leatherhead. Ayckbourn met Rodney Wood who invited him to join the Library Theatre, Scarborough. Stephen Joseph, one of the forces, got on well with Ayckbourn and became a mentor to him. His acting inadvertently led to his first professional commission as a writer. In 1958 Alan Ayckbourn. Complained Stephen for better roles. Stephen made a condition that he should write his own play. Alan Ayckbourn wrote The Square Cat which was a big success for the company in the summer, 1959. Stephen commissioned a second play. Alan Ayckbourn married Christine Allen in 1959. They had two sons but separated some years later. He continued to act and to write for the Studio Theatre Company in Scarborough until 1962 when he was involved in the formation of the Victoria Theatre, Stoke - on - Trent with Stephen Joseph and Peter Cheeseman. He produced Mr.Whatnot in London in 1964. He started his career as radio producer for the B.B.C. in Leeds. He used the pseudonym ‘Peter Caulfield’ during 1965-9. He became director of productions at Scarborough in 1970. After the death of Stephen Joseph he worked hard with Ken Boden, Alfred Bradley and Rodney Wood to keep Library Theatre active. He left Scarborough for two years to direct for the National Theatre Company in London during 1986-7. In 1987 he returned to Scarborough. Since 1996 he has directed plays at Stephen Joseph Theatre. In 1997 he married Heather Stoney and was honoured with the title ‘Sir Alan Ayckbourn’. He has been writing, directing plays. He has written 69 full plays and more than 20 revues and a few short plays for children. There is a fine chart of biographical outline in Alan Ayckbourn by Michael Holt as follow: 1939 Born 12 April in Hampstead, father a violinist ,mother a writer of romantic novels 1940 Weekly boarder at local boarding school. Mother remarries a bank manager. Lives at Billingshurst, Wisborough Green, Horsham Uckfield, Hayward’s Heath, and Lewes. 1941 Barclay’s Bank Scholarship to Haileybury School. Writes house plays; edits house magazine; tours Netherlands in school production of Romeo and Juliet (1955); and eastern USA and Canada in Macbeth (1956) Also’ quite good at cricket’ 1956-7 Leaves school with A levels in English and History. Acting assistant stage manager with sir Donald Wolfit’s production at Edinburgh Festival. Unpaid student assistant stage manager at Working with small walkon barts. Then weekly rep in Leatherhead, summer season in Oxford as stage manager/actor.