Sailmaker

Question 1

Summarise the story

Answer 1

Set in Glasgow in the early 1960s, the play follows the lives of father and son, Davie and Alec, who are grieving the loss of their wife/mother. The play follows their life over ten years and looks at Davie’s decline as he loses his job as a sailmaker due to the declining industry in the Glasgow ship yards.

Whilst Davie’s behaviour becomes more questionable during the play, Alec grows up, becomes more independent and flourishes academically. He loses the respect for his dad that he had at the beginning of the play.

Question 2

What is Alec like in act one

Answer 2

Respects his dad (Davie) and is dependent on him,

Coming to terms with the recent loss of his mum.

Looks to religion to offer him comfort during his time of hardship.

A dreamer,

Best friends with Ian.

He seems to be doing well in school.

Question 3

How old is alec at the start of the play and end of it.

Answer 3

Eleven when the play starts but around twenty one when it finishes.

Question 4

What is Alec like by the end of the play

Answer 4

Becomes increasingly aware of how flawed his dad is.

Starts to distance himself from his working class background as he learns more about the world.

Is no longer convinced by religion and does not find comfort in it any more.

Has become distant with Ian as they go their own ways (Ian goes to work while Alec continues to pursue education.)

Question 5

What do we know about Davie at the start of the play

Answer 5

He is a middle aged man from Glasgow. He has lost his job and his wife in a short period of time.

Question 6

What is Davie like at the beggining of the play

Answer 6

Struggling to cope with the loss of his wife and job.

Highly skilled and self eduacted, but doing nothing with it.

A good relationship with his son (Alec).

Keeps his emotions in to help Alec.

Feels insiginificant and worhtless.

Question 7

What happens to Davie in act one?

Answer 7

He loses his job as a tick man.

He loses his wife at the start of the play.

(He lost his job as a sailmaker before the events of the play.)

Question 8

What is Davie like at the end of the play?

Answer 8

Encourages Alec to get an education and a good job.

Struggling to understand Alec’s interest in the Mission.

Is in person decline with drinking and gambling.

Is living in poverty, struggling to pay the bills.

Lacks motivation.

Question 9

What is Ian like at the beginning of the play?

Answer 9

Practical and realistic.

Can be narrow minded when it comes to religion and bigoted against Catholics.

Has a clear goal to work with his dad and earn a living

Has a good relationship with Alec.

Question 10

What do we know about Ian at the beginning of the play

Answer 10

He is the cousing of Alec and nephew of Davie. Similar age to Alec. The two boys get on well, they are different because of the influence of their dads.

Question 10

What is Ian like at the end of the play.

Answer 10

Achieves his goal of working with his dad.

Recognises the difference between himself and Alec, especially when Alec went to private school.

Desperate to work and will do anything and move anywhere to do so.

Continues to have a strong relationship with his dad, Billy.

Question 10

What do we know about Billy from the bignning of the play?

Answer 10

Father of Ian and brother of Davie. Much more practical than his brother, Davie.

Question 11

What is Billy like at the beginning of the play

Answer 11

Practical and always in employment

Sympathetic to Davie (to a degree)

Sterotyipcal “working class” man who did not show his feelings.

Also bigoted when it comes to his love for rangers and being protestant which has rubbed off on Ian.

Question 11

How is the theme of relationships explored in sailmaker

Answer 11

Billy and Ian have a consistently strong relationshsip. BIlly has taught Ian a lot about hard work and dedication, which is reflected on Ian’s own beliefs.

On the other hand, Davie’s and Alec’s relationship starts off well as they try to support each other through their mutal grief. However as the play progresses, Davie gambles and drinks more, and Alec becomes more middle class, distancing him from his traditionally working class dad.

Question 11

What is Billy like at the end of the play?

Answer 11

Less supportive of Ian’s ambitions to travel, despite their close relationship.

Risk adverse, as he turns down Davie’s offer of going into business with him.

Still very hard working, and doing overtime.

Question 11

How is the theme of poverty/social class explored in Sailmaker

Answer 11

Billy and Ian are prepared to move anywhere in order to gain employment, which stops them from facing unemployment and poverty.

Alec is very intelligent who is working towards getting a secure job. However, Davie is made unemployed due to the decline in industry in the ship yards in Glasgow. Due to this, he feels worthless, and can’t keep a job. This coupled with his drinking and gambling, plummets him into poverty.

Question 11

How is the theme of Grief/loss explored in sailmaker

Answer 11

Alec is grieving the loss of his mum, and Davie is grieving the loss of his wife, unable to move on.

Her death has a huge impact on both characters: Alec expresses his emotions freely, whereas Davie is unable to share how he feels and thinks he needs to keep his emotions to himself.

Question 12

How is the theme of bigotry/religion developed in sailmaker.

Answer 12

Billy and Ian (both protestants and rangers fans) are both bigoted towards Catholics and Celtic fans. Largely, it is clear that Ian has beeen influenced by his dad here.

On the other hand, Alec is religious at the beginning of the play and turns to God to help him cope with the loss of his mother. However by the end of the play he is more sceptical about religion.

Question 13

How is the theme of aspirations/Dreams developed in sailmaker?

Answer 13

Billy and Ian are both practical people. They work had and, whilst they are not academic, they aren’t afraid to get their hands dirty and move to earn money.

On the other hand, Davie is intelligent but has a selftaught education. He is highly skilled as a sialmaker by craft. He has high ambitions for his son, Alec, and doesn’t want him to struggle in the same way that he has. He wants him to do well at school and get a goob job.

Question 14

How is symbolism used in Sailmaker

Answer 14

At the beginning, the yacht represents the hopes and dreams of the characters within the play. It also represents the desire to escape.

As the play progresses, it comes to represent Alec and Davie’s failing relationship, but also Davie’s shortcomings in general. He has failed to find a new career and failed to provide for himself and Alec. When the yacht is used for wood to heat the house, this could represent the bleak state of Alec and Davie’s relationship at the end of the play.