The best example of humor and pathos mixed into one (Talking Heads - Alan Bennett)

Member Name: thedavey2k

Product:	Talking Heads - Alan Bennett
Date:	15/12/01 (511 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Hilarity and sadness all rolled into one

Disadvantages: None!!!

This collection of monologues, by Alan Bennett, is one of the funniest, yet tragic books I have ever read. It was originally written for the television (BBC) and was broadcast in 1989. The collection consists of six different monologues, each capturing the recurring themes that are so important in maintaining the excellence within these stories. Recurring themes include loneliness, alienation, isolation, unhappiness, and lack of self-knowledge.

The first one, "A chip in the sugar" is about a middle aged man, Graham, who lives with his mother. We gradually learn that he has long-term mental health problems, and has to take 'tablets' - particularly when he's stressed. He and his mother (who have, by some, been taken to be husband and wife) bump into an old aqquaintance of his mother's in the street one day, and he begins to invade their lives. He frequently visits Graham's mother, and takes her on 'little outings'. Graham resents this interference, and becomes isolated. The upshot of the whole monologue is the revelation of Graham's secret sexuality - the inference is that he's homosexual, although it is never openly declared. This, to us, accounts perhaps for his mental health problems, and why he is living with his mother at his age. Fortunately for him, his mother's relationship is broken off, and he can return to his life with her. However, the story exposes a severe loneliness - one which we sympathise hugely with.

Susan, in "Bed among the lentils", is a vicar's wife, in a typical English country village. We soon discover, however, that she is feeling hugely disatisfied with her life. She feels she has wasted it, and resents everything that her husband stands for. We learn that she doesn't even believe in God - and that explains why, in her desperation, she turns to two very un-christian sources - alcohol, and infidelity.....

"A lady of letters"
features Irene, a middle-aged spinster, who leads a very solitary life. However, she has one thing to keep her busy - writing. No, not a novel (something she resents, because they 'don't ring true') but letters (hence the title). She generally writes letters of complaint, and the first one we see is about funeral directors smoking at a funeral she has recently attended (of someone she barely knows). However, her letter writing gets her into serious trouble, when she complains about the couple opposite abusing and neglecting their son. She bases this assumption on her not seeing him outside, and the couple going out every night. However, it turns out that the child was in hospital with leukemia. We discover this as the police come to arrest her after the child dies. At the end of the monologue, we see her in prison - quite a changed character. The irony is, that prison has actually become her one source of liberation and freedom. The story ends with "I'm so happy"

I'll leave the remaining three for you to read yourselfes. I have to say though, that within the tradgedy, is a great deal of humour. Bennett has a true talent to juxtapose humour and pathos in such a way that makes us laugh and cry at the same time. It is a truly magnificent collection

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