Our Country’s Good

by

Timberlake Wertenbaker

Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark Character Analysis

A man who, unlike his fellow guards, is focused on remaining loyal to his wife, Betsey Alicia. This, however, is quite difficult, since Alicia stayed behind in England when Ralph came to Australia to work in the penal colony. A pious man, Ralph says his prayers and writes in his journal, addressing his entries to Alicia and telling her about his life, including his frustration that he hasn’t been promoted to First Lieutenant yet. Just before he’s about to kiss Alicia’s picture a thousand times one night (something he does once a week), Harry Brewer visits him in his tent and mentions that Captain Phillip is looking for someone to direct a play in the colony. Because Ralph thinks Phillip never pays attention to him, he tells Harry to let the Governor know that he has some experience in the theater. As such, he becomes the director of the play, choosing The Recruiting Officer by the Irish playwright George Farquhar and beginning the casting. In particular, he’s impressed by Mary Brenham, whom he casts in the lead role. Throughout the course of rehearsals, Ralph develops a certain fondness for certain convicts and becomes convinced that the play has a positive effect on them. He even convinces Liz Morden to fight harder to prove her innocence when she’s sentenced to death for stealing. In one of the play’s final scenes, Ralph finds Mary rehearsing on the beach and joins her by reciting the lines of her character’s lover. When they eventually embrace, they find that they’re drawn to one another in real life. As such, they suddenly begin taking off their clothes, realizing they’re in love.

Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark Quotes in Our Country’s Good

The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark or refer to Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark . 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:
Punishment and Rehabilitation Theme Icon
).
Act One, Scene One Quotes

At night? The sea cracks against the ship. Fear whispers, screams, falls silent, hushed. Spewed from our country, forgotten, bound to the dark edge of the earth, at night what is there to do but seek English cunt, warm, moist, soft, oh the comfort, the comfort of the lick, the thrust into the nooks, the crannies of the crooks of England. Alone, frightened, nameless in this stinking hole of hell, take me, take me inside you, whoever you are. Take me, my comfort and we’ll remember England together.

Related Characters: John Wisehammer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Robert Sideway
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Four Quotes

Duckling’s gone silent on me again. I know it’s because of Handy Baker. I saw him as well as I see you. Duckling wants me, he said, even if you’ve hanged me. At least your poker’s danced its last shindy, I said. At least it’s young and straight, he said, she likes that. I went for him but he was gone. But he’s going to come back, I know it. I didn’t want to hang him, Ralph, I didn’t.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith, Handy Baker
Page Number: 14
Explanation and Analysis:

Do you know I saved her life? She was sentenced to be hanged at Newgate for stealing two candlesticks but I got her name put on the transport lists. But when I remind her of that she says she wouldn’t have cared.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Six Quotes

In my own small way, in just a few hours, I have seen something change. I asked some of the convict women to read me some lines, these women who behave often no better than animals. And it seemed to me, as one or two—I’m not saying all of them, not at all—but one or two, saying those well-balanced lines […], they seemed to acquire a dignity, they seemed—they seemed to lose some of their corruption. There was one, Mary Brenham, she read so well, perhaps this play will keep her from selling herself to the first marine who offers her bread—

Related Characters: Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark (speaker), Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip), Mary Brenham, Captain Watkin Tench
Page Number: 31
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Eight Quotes

DABBY. You’re wasting time, girl, he’s ripe for the plucking. You can always tell with men, they begin to walk sideways. And if you don’t—

MARY. Don’t start. I listened to you once before.

DABBY. What would you have done without that lanky sailor drooling over you?

MARY. I would have been less of a whore.

DABBY. Listen, my darling, you’re only a virgin once. You can’t go to a man and say, I’m a virgin except for this one lover I had. After that, it doesn’t matter how many men go through you.

MARY. I’ll never wash the sin away.

DABBY. If God didn’t want women to be whores he shouldn’t have created men who pay for their bodies.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Dabby Bryant (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark
Page Number: 39
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Nine Quotes

When I say my prayers I have a terrible doubt. How can I be sure God is forgiving me? What if he will forgive me, but hasn’t forgiven me yet? That’s why I don’t want to die, Sir. That’s why I can’t die. Not until I am sure. Are you sure?

Related Characters: Ketch Freeman (James Freeman) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Midshipman Harry Brewer
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene One Quotes

MARY. Liz, we’ve come to rehearse the play.

WISEHAMMER. Rehearse the play?

DUCKLING. The Lieutenant has gone to talk to the Governor. Harry said we could come see you.

MARY. The Lieutenant has asked me to stand in his place so we don’t lose time. We’ll start with the first scene between Melinda and Brazen.

WISEHAMMER. How can I play Captain Brazen in chains?

MARY. This is the theatre. We will believe you.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker), John Wisehammer (speaker), Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Midshipman Harry Brewer, Liz Morden, Henry Kable
Page Number: 69
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Two Quotes

When he treats the slave boy as a rational human being, the boy becomes one, he loses his fear, and he becomes a competent mathematician. A little more encouragement and he might become an extraordinary mathematician. Who knows? You must see your actors in that light.

Related Characters: Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Major Robbie Ross
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:

PHILLIP. Liz Morden—(He pauses.) I had a reason for asking you to cast her as Melinda. Morden is one of the most difficult women in the colony.

RALPH. She is indeed, Sir.

PHILLIP. Lower than a slave, full of loathing, foul mouthed, desperate.

RALPH. Exactly, Sir. And violent.

PHILLIP. Quite. To be made an example of.

RALPH. By hanging?

PHILLIP. No, Lieutenant, by redemption.

Related Characters: Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark (speaker), Captain Watkin Tench, Liz Morden
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:

What is a statesman’s responsibility? To ensure the rule of law. But the citizens must be taught to obey that law of their own will. I want to rule over responsible human beings, not tyrannise over a group of animals. I want there to be a contract between us, not a whip on my side, terror and hatred on theirs.

Related Characters: Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Captain Watkin Tench
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Five Quotes

I have seen the white of this animal’s bones, his wretched blood and reeky convict urine have spilled on my boots and he’s feeling modest? Are you feeling modest, Sideway?

(He shoves SIDEWAY aside.)

Modesty.

Bryant. Here.

(DABBY comes forward.)

On all fours.

(DABBY goes down on all fours.)

Now wag your tail and bark, and I’ll throw you a biscuit. What? You’ve forgotten? Isn’t that how you begged for your food on the ship? Wag your tail, Bryant, bark! We’ll wait.

Related Characters: Major Robbie Ross (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Dabby Bryant, Robert Sideway, Captain Jemmy Campbell
Page Number: 78
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Seven Quotes

DABBY. When dealing with men, always have a contract.

MARY. Love is a contract.

DABBY. Love is the barter of perishable goods. A man’s word for a woman’s body.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Dabby Bryant (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , John Wisehammer
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis:
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Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark Quotes in Our Country’s Good

The Our Country’s Good quotes below are all either spoken by Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark or refer to Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark . 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:
Punishment and Rehabilitation Theme Icon
).
Act One, Scene One Quotes

At night? The sea cracks against the ship. Fear whispers, screams, falls silent, hushed. Spewed from our country, forgotten, bound to the dark edge of the earth, at night what is there to do but seek English cunt, warm, moist, soft, oh the comfort, the comfort of the lick, the thrust into the nooks, the crannies of the crooks of England. Alone, frightened, nameless in this stinking hole of hell, take me, take me inside you, whoever you are. Take me, my comfort and we’ll remember England together.

Related Characters: John Wisehammer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Robert Sideway
Page Number: 7
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Four Quotes

Duckling’s gone silent on me again. I know it’s because of Handy Baker. I saw him as well as I see you. Duckling wants me, he said, even if you’ve hanged me. At least your poker’s danced its last shindy, I said. At least it’s young and straight, he said, she likes that. I went for him but he was gone. But he’s going to come back, I know it. I didn’t want to hang him, Ralph, I didn’t.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith, Handy Baker
Page Number: 14
Explanation and Analysis:

Do you know I saved her life? She was sentenced to be hanged at Newgate for stealing two candlesticks but I got her name put on the transport lists. But when I remind her of that she says she wouldn’t have cared.

Related Characters: Midshipman Harry Brewer (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Duckling Smith
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 15
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Six Quotes

In my own small way, in just a few hours, I have seen something change. I asked some of the convict women to read me some lines, these women who behave often no better than animals. And it seemed to me, as one or two—I’m not saying all of them, not at all—but one or two, saying those well-balanced lines […], they seemed to acquire a dignity, they seemed—they seemed to lose some of their corruption. There was one, Mary Brenham, she read so well, perhaps this play will keep her from selling herself to the first marine who offers her bread—

Related Characters: Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark (speaker), Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip), Mary Brenham, Captain Watkin Tench
Page Number: 31
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Eight Quotes

DABBY. You’re wasting time, girl, he’s ripe for the plucking. You can always tell with men, they begin to walk sideways. And if you don’t—

MARY. Don’t start. I listened to you once before.

DABBY. What would you have done without that lanky sailor drooling over you?

MARY. I would have been less of a whore.

DABBY. Listen, my darling, you’re only a virgin once. You can’t go to a man and say, I’m a virgin except for this one lover I had. After that, it doesn’t matter how many men go through you.

MARY. I’ll never wash the sin away.

DABBY. If God didn’t want women to be whores he shouldn’t have created men who pay for their bodies.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Dabby Bryant (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark
Page Number: 39
Explanation and Analysis:
Act One, Scene Nine Quotes

When I say my prayers I have a terrible doubt. How can I be sure God is forgiving me? What if he will forgive me, but hasn’t forgiven me yet? That’s why I don’t want to die, Sir. That’s why I can’t die. Not until I am sure. Are you sure?

Related Characters: Ketch Freeman (James Freeman) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Midshipman Harry Brewer
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 47
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene One Quotes

MARY. Liz, we’ve come to rehearse the play.

WISEHAMMER. Rehearse the play?

DUCKLING. The Lieutenant has gone to talk to the Governor. Harry said we could come see you.

MARY. The Lieutenant has asked me to stand in his place so we don’t lose time. We’ll start with the first scene between Melinda and Brazen.

WISEHAMMER. How can I play Captain Brazen in chains?

MARY. This is the theatre. We will believe you.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Duckling Smith (speaker), John Wisehammer (speaker), Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Midshipman Harry Brewer, Liz Morden, Henry Kable
Page Number: 69
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Two Quotes

When he treats the slave boy as a rational human being, the boy becomes one, he loses his fear, and he becomes a competent mathematician. A little more encouragement and he might become an extraordinary mathematician. Who knows? You must see your actors in that light.

Related Characters: Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Major Robbie Ross
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:

PHILLIP. Liz Morden—(He pauses.) I had a reason for asking you to cast her as Melinda. Morden is one of the most difficult women in the colony.

RALPH. She is indeed, Sir.

PHILLIP. Lower than a slave, full of loathing, foul mouthed, desperate.

RALPH. Exactly, Sir. And violent.

PHILLIP. Quite. To be made an example of.

RALPH. By hanging?

PHILLIP. No, Lieutenant, by redemption.

Related Characters: Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark (speaker), Captain Watkin Tench, Liz Morden
Related Symbols: Public Hangings
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:

What is a statesman’s responsibility? To ensure the rule of law. But the citizens must be taught to obey that law of their own will. I want to rule over responsible human beings, not tyrannise over a group of animals. I want there to be a contract between us, not a whip on my side, terror and hatred on theirs.

Related Characters: Captain Arthur Phillip (Governor Phillip) (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Captain Watkin Tench
Page Number: 71
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Five Quotes

I have seen the white of this animal’s bones, his wretched blood and reeky convict urine have spilled on my boots and he’s feeling modest? Are you feeling modest, Sideway?

(He shoves SIDEWAY aside.)

Modesty.

Bryant. Here.

(DABBY comes forward.)

On all fours.

(DABBY goes down on all fours.)

Now wag your tail and bark, and I’ll throw you a biscuit. What? You’ve forgotten? Isn’t that how you begged for your food on the ship? Wag your tail, Bryant, bark! We’ll wait.

Related Characters: Major Robbie Ross (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , Dabby Bryant, Robert Sideway, Captain Jemmy Campbell
Page Number: 78
Explanation and Analysis:
Act Two, Scene Seven Quotes

DABBY. When dealing with men, always have a contract.

MARY. Love is a contract.

DABBY. Love is the barter of perishable goods. A man’s word for a woman’s body.

Related Characters: Mary Brenham (speaker), Dabby Bryant (speaker), Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark , John Wisehammer
Page Number: 85
Explanation and Analysis: