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George the Dog
Throughout the play, the characters drink alcohol and offer it to others. Alcohol is another example of something that’s supposed to bring its consumers happiness, but which often ends up making them sadder and lonelier. In this way, alcohol is an apt symbol for the tawdry, superficial pleasures the characters pursue, and the alienation they often feel as a result.
Alcohol Quotes in Absurd Person Singular
The Absurd Person Singular quotes below all refer to the symbol of Alcohol. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Act One
Quotes
SIDNEY: What?
EVA: Did I put that glass in there?
SIDNEY: Er—yes.
EVA: My God, I knew it, I'm going mad. I am finally going mad.
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MARION: Oh, that's lovely. Just that teeny bit stronger. You know what I mean. Not too much tonic . . .
SIDNEY: No, well . . .
MARION: Perfect.
SIDNEY: Actually, that's neat gin, that is.
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Act Two
Quotes
JANE: Shall I tell you something—Sidney would get so angry if he heard me saying this—but I'd far sooner be down here on the floor, on my knees in the oven—than out there, talking. Isn't that terrible. But I’m never at ease, really, at parties. I don't enjoy drinking, you see.
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Act Three
Quotes
RONALD: Drink? No, I don't honestly think so. She's always liked a—I mean, the doctor did say she should lay off. But that was only because it was acting as a stimulant—She hasn't touched it lately.
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Alcohol Symbol Timeline in Absurd Person Singular
The timeline below shows where the symbol Alcohol appears in Absurd Person Singular. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Act One
...to get home to her children, finds Dick Potter’s jokes horrible, and doesn’t like the drinks. Ronald complains that Jane spilled soda on his trousers while pouring him a drink.
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...better now that it has a little tonic water—however, Sidney points out that it’s pure gin. Marion teases Sidney, “what are you trying to do to me?” Sidney points out that...
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Act Two
...little bit of liquor in the flat. As he rummages through the drawers looking for alcohol, he reminds Eva that the people coming to the flat that night are really Eva’s...
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...asks, “How’s the invalid?” and Ronald replies, “Very groggy.” Marion shrugs and offers everyone a drink. She gives a drink to Eva, just as she’s used the screwdriver to open the...
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Marion offers Ronald a drink, and Ronald replies, in a strained voice, “I feel very peculiar.” Jane goes to wash...
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Act Three
Ronald offers Eva a drink, and she accepts after turning it down the first time. Just then, the bell rings,...
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Ronald enters the room, noting that there seems to be little alcohol left in the house, even though he bought some recently. He guesses that his maid...
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Ronald returns with the drinks, and the three of them toast and drink. Geoffrey notes, “Bit quieter than last Christmas,...
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...her that she needs to put on warmer clothing. After Marion asks him for a drink, Ronald starts to say, “The doctor said very plainly …” Marion cuts him off, saying,...
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Ronald offers Sidney and Jane drinks, and Sidney mentions that he’s just come from Walter Harrison’s party. He turns to Geoffrey...
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...that the presents are a set of electrical screwdrivers for Ronald and a bottle of gin for Marion. Jane also gives Ronald two “rather ghastly woolly toys” for Ronald and Marion’s...
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The game begins, and everyone but Jane and Sidney begins dancing. Marion dances in a shaky “classical ballet...
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