A Kind Of Alaska Essay Research Paper

A Kind of Alaska by Harold Pinter Deborah critic- When Deborah, who has been in a comatose state for twenty-nine years, finally awakens, her first sight is of a person she does not know. Deborah does not know where her family is, and she is confused. She does not understand what the doctor, Hornby, is telling her. Hornby is trying to explain to Deborah what has happened to her. Deborah tells him, There s something very shady about you (13). Deborah does not know why, but she does not like Hornby, her doctor, from the beginning of the play. Deborah does not understand what has happened to her, so she taking her frustration out on Hornby. The situation that Deborah is in is clearly not up to her standards, and therefore, neither is her doctor. jester- Although Deborah does not mean to be funny, many of the statements that she says are exactly that. Since she is disorientated, many of the statements that she says can be attributed to Deborah s confused state. While the doctor, Hornby, is trying to explain Deborah s situation to her, she is still thinking of things that happened twenty-nine years ago. While the doctor is explaining how she awoke, Deborah states, And you are my Prince Charming. Aren t you? Oh speak up. Silly shit. All men are alike (15). Deborah is not trying to be funny, and her situation is not a humorous one, but Deborah is still amusing. deviant- Deborah is not like everyone else. Eventhough she has been is a sleep like state for twenty-nine years, she still believes that she has been practicing her dancing. While talking to her doctor, Deborah states, I ve kept in practice, you know. I ve been dancing in very narrow spaces (17). Deborah believes that she is a wonderful dancer. She also believes, as she very well may have, that she has been practicing dancing throughout the past twenty-nine years. If Deborah was practicing her dance moves, then the very narrow place where is practices is the confines of her brain (17). dreamer- When one thinks of a dreamer, it is usually someone who wants to be rid of their actual life to live their fantasy life. In Deborah s case, it is the other ways around. Deborah has been without the people she knows and loves for twenty-nine years. Her dream is be reunited with them and continue life as she left it. Deborah really wants to have a birthday party. While she is talking to her sister Pauline, this becomes evident. Deborah states, I want to go home…Is it my birthday soon? Will I have a birthday party? Will everyone be there? Will they all come (21). Deborah dreams of being reunited with her family and friends. Deborah desperately dreams of living the life she remembers. loner- Deborah s has been alone for the last twenty-nine years. She has had no one but herself to interact with. when she first awakes from her sleep, her frustration at being isolated from everyone and everything is apparent. Deborah states, No-one hears what I say. No-one is listening to me (11). Because of her condition, Deborah was completely isolated from the rest of the world. Her thoughts were never heard, and her words were never spoken. traditionalist- Deborah believes that her parents will take care of her. This is a thought that is similar among children everywhere. When Hornby is explaining to Deborah that she has been asleep, her response is simple. Deborah states, If I sleep late my mother wakes me up (12). Deborah believes that her mother takes care of her. survivor- What Deborah has had to go through is very hard to believe. The fat that she awoke from her coma and was coherent is enough to make her a survivor. While talking to Hornby it becomes apparent that Deborah believes that she was dead. Deborah states, You mean I m dead… I don t feel dead… (14). Deborah has just awoken and survived twenty-nine years of a coma like state. The simple fact that she is able to communicate and after this occurrence makes Deborah a survivor. rebel- Deborah s condition for the past twenty-nine years goes against the status quo. The same holds true for her states of mind. Deborah still thinks that she is sixteen years old. Although she has slept for the past twenty-nine years, in Deborah s mind, she has lost no time. Although rebels struggle against the status quo, in Deborah s case, she is simply different then the status quo without having to try very much. When Deborah is speaking to Hornby about how she awoke her different way of thinking is revealed. Deborah states, Did I just wake up by myself? Or did you wake me up with a magic wand (15). Pauline conniver- When Deborah first awakens, the only person she sees is her Doctor, Hornby. Later in the play, Deborah is reintroduced to her sister, Pauline. When Deborah asks about her family, Pauline hides the truth from Deborah. Pauline knows that their mother has passed away, and their father is blind. Pauline goes ahead and tells Deborah that their parents are on a cruise and that she spoke to them this morning. Pauline states, I spoke to them all… Daddy s not to well…and Mummy (18). Pauline deliberately hides the truth from her sister, Deborah. caregiver- Pauline cares for her sister, Deborah, very much. While Deborah was in the coma, Pauline visited Deborah regularly. Hornby states so while he is talking to Deborah. Hornby states, She (Pauline) has been coming to see you regularly…for a long time…She has never forsaken you (20). Pauline remains dedicated to her sister throughout Deborah s sleep like state. Pauline cares a great deal for her sister, and remained doing so even when Deborah was not aware of it. martyr- Pauline believes that she has felt the pain of Deborah s experience. While her husband and Deborah s doctor, Hornby, is speaking, this becomes obvious. Hornby states to Deborah, She (Pauline) has suffered for you (20). Pauline acts as if she had to sacrifice her life in order to take care of Deborah. Pauline thinks that her suffering is comparable to the state that Deborah was in. Pauline believes that she has suffered for her sister. loner- Pauline is a woman who feels alone. She is married to Hornby, but she still claims that she is a widow. After talking to her sister, Deborah, it becomes apparent that Pauline to feels alone. Pauline states, I am a widow (20). Pauline has a husband, and yet she still feels alone. She may feel that Deborah was more important to her husband as a patient then Pauline was to Hornby as a wife. Hornby caregiver- Hornby, Deborah s doctor, cares very much for his patient. He has been taking care of Deborah since this unfortunate incident that occurred twenty-nine years ago. Hornby has stood by Deborah s side throughout the duration of her sleep like state. When Deborah first awakes, after an injection is given to her by Hornby, she is confused about what is happening. Deborah wants to know who Hornby is and what he has done to her. Hornby states, I am here to take care of you (13). Hornby, throughout this entire ordeal, has done everything he could to help Deborah. At the same time, one must realize, that doctors need patients. It is a relationship that goes hand in hand. As much as Deborah needs the assistance of Hornby is the same as how much