Sailmaker- Themes Flashcards
“My da’s a sailmaker”
Family Relationships- Alec and Davie
This shows that Alec is naive and proud of his father’s skill as a sailmaker, although he doesn’t work as one anymore
“But that wasnae yer fault”
Family Relationships- Davie and Billy
That shows that Billy is caring and tries to comfort his brother with dealing with his wife’s passing
“God, ah’m shattered”
Grief
This shows that Davie is both physically tired and emotionally drained due to the death of his wife
At the very end of the play, when Alec and Davie are struggling to stay warm due to the fact that they hadn’t paid the electricity bill, they start to burn their belongings from the glory hole. One of these items is the toy yacht
Family Relationships- Alec and Davie
This marks the end of Alec and Davie’s father-son relationship and shows that Alec is moving on with his life
“I was standing there, crying- real big deep sobs”
Grief
This shows that Alec is trying to cope with his mother’s death through crying
“Ah’ve got a bit of bad news for ye son. Yer mammy’s dead”
Grief
Davie gives his son the news of his mother’s passing bluntly which shows that he doesn’t want to show his emotions and is struggling to deal with his grief
“When did the Lord Jesus come into your heart?”
Religion
When the African visitor asked Alec a question, he was startled and didn’t know how to answer, showing that he wasn’t truly religious, but rather he used religion as a way to deal with his mother’s death
“Ye don’t like green, do ye?”
Religion
This shows that Billy is bigoted and dislikes the colour green for the sole reason that Celtic’s football kit is in the colour green
In the first act of the play, Alec and Ian play enthusiastically, talk about comics and discuss a better life outside of Glasgow, in America
Family Relationships- Alec and Ian
This shows that both Alec and Ian are close at the start of the play and they both want to escape the poverty in Glasgow
“As long as ye keep movin it doesnae hit ye”
Grief
This shows that Davie is trying to ignore his emotions and doesn’t want to address his grieving
“Away ye go! How can a colour be bad? Just because Catholics wear it”
Religion
This shows that Davie is open minded and isn’t bigoted, unlike his brother Billy
“Blue an white. Best colours in the world”
Religion
This shows that Billy is bigoted and thinks that blue and white are the best colours due to the fact that Rangers wear those colours
“Ye need a trade”
Social class
Ian has the classic working class mentality like his father
“Goin tae a good school. Go on tae the University. Decent job”
Social class
Davie tells his son to stick in school and get a higher education to escape the poverty of Glasgow
“Aw toffeenosed wee shites”
Social class
Ian thinks that everyone in school thinks they are better than everyone else
