Examining Conflict

We live in a world where, without conflict, there is no entertainment. It is a convention of drama that there must be conflict between characters in order for it to be entertaining, and thus be successful. We can consider a text to be successful if the playwright is able to convey a view of a theme or issue to the audience that challenges our views as he or she originally intended. Through the conflicting views of characters, the audience is often exposed to attitudes and opinions different to their own. The One Day of the Year, by Alan Seymour, is a play that examines how through both the internal and external conflicts of different characters, we are exposed to an array of contrasting opinions, therefore validating the statement that this is successful drama. Your Job is to: Explore the conflict between characters and explain the reasons behind the conflict and give evidence to support your response. I have provided some examples/prompts to set you on your way (just to demonstrate the detail I would like you to go into). Characters like Wacka and Jan have been left blank (so you can think about sources of internal and external conflict).

Conflict between Characters

Alf On the Issue of National identity/ANZAC Day: Alf is a steadfast believer in Australia's superiority over other nations. He is jingoistic, xenophobic and stubborn. Example: The first impression the reader gains of Alf is from his opening statement: "I'm a Dot The character of Dot is conflicted in the sense that she cares for both Hughie and Alf, and is unwilling to take sides when the two are fighting: (proof pg 83) Hughie On the Issue of National identity/ANZAC Day: Hughie, on the other hand, works towards exposing Anzac Day for what he believes it truly is- an excuse to get drunk. Hughie has been brought up with Alf's version of Anzac Day celebrations, and it is this which has shaped his anti-Anzac Day views. These two points of views are in direct conflict with each Wacka Jan

bloody Australian and I'll always stand up for bloody Australia." (Pg 27) But more importantly, he believes
that Anzac Day is the one day of the year where he, and others like him, are considered heroes, and consequently can celebrate their heroism by getting blind drunk.

other, and are made all the more shocking by the fact that they belong to father and son- a relationship that is not traditionally in opposition. This conflict brings the audience's attention to the issues being explored, because these issues are the source of the conflict, and cannot be dismissed. By placing the opinions of Alf and Hughie towards Anzac Day at the extremes, Seymour forces the audience to consider a different point of view regardless of what their previous stance on the matter was. Why Alf feels so passionately about his own superiority on Anzac Day: It is the conflict that the character of Dot harbours which commences the act of acceptance and forgiveness in the other characters: Dot is the non-committal mediator: (find proof and explain why Seymour has chosen to do this) Why it is Alf's inflated sense of ego on Anzac Day which Hughie objects to most: The main conflict he holds with Alf is due to his objection to the way Alf

celebrates Anzac Day: Consider Hughies childhood as an explanation(p78) and Hughie's inner conflict stems from the fact that he is more educated than the rest of his family, and this makes him an outcast in his own home: