Morality

Question 1

‘Loot questions the distinction between those who break the law and those who uphold it’

Answer 1

Emma Parker

Question 2

Example 1:
Fay: You’ve been a widower for three days. Have you considered a second marriage yet?

[…]

McLeavy: Someone like yourself?

Fay: Exactly. Realize your potential. Marry at once.

Answer 2

Fay uses her sexuality to seduce and exploit Mr McLeavy. For example, Fay offers McLeavy a flower, as he prepares for his wife’s funeral and suggests that McLeavy should marry her.

Despite its seemingly innocent gesture, it has a symbolic meaning- one of sexual desire and temptation. Fay in Loot represents Orton’s satirical and anarchic approach to morality.

Orton critiques societal norms and institutions, exposing the superficiality of conventional morality and inverting gender stereotypes of women.

Question 3

Example 2:
Hal: I want the body stripped.

[…]

Hal: For the bonfire then. Her teeth can go in the river

[…]

Fay: What about payment?

Hal: Twenty per cent

Fay: Thirty-three and a third

Hal: You can keep her wedding ring

Fay: Is it valuable?

Hal: Very

Answer 3

Orton uses the act of stripping the corpse and the burning of the clothes to satirise the hypocrisy of society.

While death is traditionally treated with respect and veneration, characters such as Hal and Fay show irreverence and complete disrespect towards the corpse of Mrs McLeavy, who is the former’s mother.

The characters are driven by greed, selfishness and survival and lack morals.

Question 4

“Vindice usurps, irrevocably, the mind and soul of the revenger”

Answer 4

Walsh

Question 5

Example 1:
Gratiana: Men know, that know us, / We are so weak their words can overthrow us.

Gratiana: That enchant our sex; these are the means / That govern our affections. That woman will / Not be trouble with the mother long

Answer 5

Gratiana willingly going so far as to sell her own daughter and reject her motherly morals for financial gain underscores the susceptibility of individuals to the prospect of corruption, especially under societal pressures.

Question 6

Castiza: I cry you mercy; lady I mistook you / Pray did you see my mother?

Answer 6

On the other hand, Vindice’s sister Castiza symbolises purity. She remains chaste (as her name suggests) when her virtue is tested by Vindice-as-Piato, who tries to tempt her into immorality.

Her steadfast nature highlights the glimpses of hope throughout the play.

Question 7

Example 2:
Vindice: ‘Tis the best grace you have to do it well; / I’ll save your hand that labour

Vindice: And useless property, no - it shall bear a part

Vindice: As much as the dumb thing can, he shall feel

Answer 7

This absurd and farcical act highlights the perverse nature of humans and how the members of the court are driven by materialistic desires, with no higher ideals that can counteract their depravity.

For example, the love and devotion Vindice once had for his fiance, is corrupted in an instrument of vengeance.

Question 8

This play undercuts moral sentential with a radical and perverse black comedy

Answer 8

Smith