The Letterbox by Ann Marie Di Mambro
Genre: play
Themes: Domestic Violence, Female Solidarity, Child Abuse, Denial, Society Turning a Blind Eye, Society as Judgemental
The play is a short monologue.
Significance of the title: The Letterbox gives nothing away about the content of the play. This reflects the efforts of the main protagonist to give nothing away to society about her situation. A letterbox is the means of delivering messages from the outside world to those in the house: it connects us to the wider world. Martha is sending verbal messages to Wendy loaded with significance about the complexities of adult relations which the little girl does not fully comprehend.
It is framed by the appearance of “Jack and Jill”: this devise represents wider society and contrasts with Martha’s plight. Jack and Jill are happy, carefree stereotypical lovers. However, the nursery rhyme itself is quite violent, but the violence is trivialised by the regular rhythm. Violence in Martha’s life is not trivial, it is brutal, and her domestic reality does not conform to society’s expectation of the happy family.
Note the husband is never present. He is sleeping like a baby. Is he oblivious to the impact of his actions? Does he care? Does he think it is his right to treat his family like this? Does Martha think he has a right to treat her this way? Is the author saying that Martha is responsible for her own plight and that he is incidental? What do you think? Do some background thinking to support your understanding of the text.
Plight: a situation, especially a bad or unfortunate one. (Synonym: predicament)
Poignant: keenly distressing to the feelings; affecting or moving the emotions.
Apt: suited to the purpose or occasion; appropriate
A good piece of literature will require you to THINK in order to understand everything it is saying. Textual analysis is vital if you intend to produce a decent critical essay. Using a PEA table is one way of analysing texts and can help you become familiar with the text and begin to order your thoughts so that you are then able to follow a logical line of argument in your essay.
Martha is reassuring and comforting her daughter. She uses endearments such as “hen,” “angel” and “darling” when addressing Wendy. / “…I’m alright, love, you’re not to worry … No, I’m alright, I said … It’s a cold, cold night … No I’m alright, I don’t feel it … No on you go.” (Martha’s opening words). / Martha’s predicament is quickly revealed through the stage directions and Martha’s opening words. We can see that Martha is in pain and has blood coming from her mouth, yet she is caring and wants to protect her daughter from the danger of their domestic reality. She is obviously lying, repeating that she is alright and that she does not feel the cold, despite advising Wendy to keep herself warm because it is a “cold, cold” night. There is instant dramatic irony as we, the audience, know the reality and Wendy can only guess.
Wendy is frightened but brave and wants to help her mother. / “So get back to bed, eh? It’s the middle of the night … You what? … Oh don’t worry about it. Just take off the wet sheet and I’ll see to it in the morning.” / Wendy has obviously wet the bed. This is often a reaction to anxiety in children. She was probably in bed when the fight broke out as her mother says it is the middle of the night.
She has come downstairs and is checking on her mother. From the elipses and Martha’s responses we can tell she is repeatedly asking if her mother is OK which indicates doubt and anxiety. Wendy is taking a very responsible stance: one you would not expect of a little child. Martha’s patience is very touching and we sympathise with this woman who needs help but continues to deny her own needs for the sake of her child.
Further evidence of Wendy trying to share the responsibility of an adult. She is trying to protect her mum too.
Further evidence of Wendy trying to share the responsibility of an adult. She is trying to protect her mum too. / “Blood? …I’ll clean it up tomorrow hen … No, just you leave it. Leave it for now … I just don’t want you making a noise in case you wake him … Because he needs his sleep.”
“How can you help me, Wendy, you’ll be at school tomorrow.” / Wendy, a little girl who is in P1 or P2 possibly, offers to clean up the mess and to wake her father to let her mother back in the house: sensible and helpful suggestions. This child is not carefree. Wendy offers practical and emotional support. Martha continues to hide as much truth from Wendy as possible. She claims her husband needs his sleep when, in all probability, she is frightened he will start the violence again if he is woken up.
The very fact that this little girl, who is not getting her sleep and is anxious, is being sent to school indicates the “ordinariness” of what has just occurred. The family are trying to maintain an outward normality when the reality in the home is very different.
Wendy represents the voiceless innocents who are affected by domestic violence. / Wendy is never heard. Her words are indicated with elipses and we only know what she says by her mother’s response. / Wendy offers all the sensible solutions: wake Dad up to let Martha in; tell granny; tell the police; tell the teacher; run away. We do not hear any of these suggestions but we know from Martha’s response what has been suggested.
Martha’s responses are charged with emotions. / “… No, no, don’t wake him. Just leave him … I said leave him … Please, hen, please. You don’t tell people these things. It’ll be our secret…No, hen, no. Don’t write about this – please hen… I’m not crying, I’m not… you tell them nothing… Give you to strangers…I love you so much and I’m so, so frightened … Right I’ll stop. I promise I’ll stop. I’ll not cry any more if you promise not to tell your teacher … you promise? There’s a good girl. There’s my good, good girl.” / The repetition of phrases highlights Martha’s emotional state. Through repetition, Martha is trying to regain some control. She is trying to convince herself and Wendy that everything will be fine, just so long as they tell no-one. She also resorts to blackmailing Wendy: telling her that she will be given to strangers if she tells anyone. This is a form of child abuse and so Martha, who is being abused by her husband is, inadvertently abusing her daughter because of her desperation and fear. Mentally and emotionally Martha is out of control, hence the verbal repetitions and the denial of tears. She is entangling her innocent daughter in the crime. What would you do in this situation?
Martha is in denial and trivialises the violence, just as the nursery rhyme does. / “Your daddy loves us. I know sometimes maybe it’s hard to believe – but he does love us … well these things happen. It’s just the way men are.” / Your comments: word choice/Martha’s “explanation”.
“I’ll try not to let it happen again … Tomorrow I’ll clear up the mess – and try to be nicer to your dad … I’ll try harder … And so can you. We’ll try together, eh, me and you.” / Your comments: (repetition/female solidarity/anything else?)
Martha takes Wendy’s hand through the letterbox. /
“Well alright then, come on, wrap uptight – give me your hand – there we go. We’ll be like two tumshies.” / Your comments:
The simple four line song is apt and poignant.
Jack’s final comment reflects society’s assumptions and the cruel disregard many people exhibit for the suffering of others. It is an example of …
because …
Past Paper Questions:
Choose a play in which one of the main concerns is injustice or cruelty or exploitation
or betrayal.
State the main concern * and go on to show how the playwright deals with this concern in such a way as to involve your sympathies.**
· *Stating the main concern (the cruelty and injustice of domestic abuse) would be part of your introduction. Remember keep referring to ** throughout the essay not just at the end.