In the Wine Time: Analysis of Major Characters
"In the Wine Time: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the complex dynamics and struggles of a group of individuals living in an inner-city environment marked by poverty and substance abuse. Central to the narrative is Cliff Dawson, a former Navy man whose life is marred by unemployment, alcoholism, and domestic abuse. His wife, Lou, is portrayed as a conflicted character; while she loves Cliff, she is aware of his destructive behavior and grapples with her own addiction, especially as she navigates her early pregnancy.
The story also highlights their nephew, Ray, a kind-hearted youth caught between conflicting influences—his caring aunt and the negative examples set by Cliff and his peers. Ray's interactions reveal a desire for connection and a struggle for identity as he approaches manhood. In contrast, Red, an antagonistic presence in Ray's life, embodies the toxic traits of bravado and aggression, often targeting Ray as a source of amusement.
The supporting characters, including Bunny, Ray's girlfriend, and Minny, the neighbor who disapproves of Cliff's behavior, further enrich the narrative, illustrating the multifaceted relationships within their community. Overall, the analysis provides a poignant examination of personal failures and hopes against a backdrop of social challenges, inviting readers to reflect on the impact of environment and relationships on individual choices.
In the Wine Time: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Ed Bullins
First published: 1969, in Five Plays by Ed Bullins
Genre: Play
Locale: An industrial city in the northern United States
Plot: Naturalism
Time: The early 1950's
Cliff Dawson, an unemployed former Navy man who spent much of his Navy career in the brig. Cliff loves his wife and cares deeply for his nephew; unfortunately, he has few other admirable qualities. Though only in his twenties, Cliff largely has resigned himself to an unpromising life made tolerable through the numbing effects of alcohol. Boastful of his sexual prowess, he is a philanderer who physically abuses his wife and taunts her with his vulgar language. He has been unable to complete his collegiate studies, which were intended to improve his position, or to hold a job for longer than six months. Feeling unable to change the course of his own life, Cliff becomes preoccupied with the future of his nephew, who he believes has a chance of escaping the bleak fate of the inner city by joining the Navy.
Lou Dawson, Cliff's wife, who is in an early stage of pregnancy. She is a twenty-two-year-old black woman who spends her evenings under the influence of alcohol. Although admired by Cliff as a woman of integrity, she lacks concern for her own well-being. She criticizes her husband's abhorrent behavior, yet she realizes that he will not change his ways, and her love for Cliff will not allow any thought of leaving him. Her nephew also receives much of her attention and affection; he has been her ward since his mother (Lou's sister) died of alcohol-related causes. She adamantly opposes her husband's urging the youth to join the armed forces.
Ray, Cliff and Lou's nephew. An amiable youth, he readily gives assistance to those who need him. For him as for his guardians, drinking wine represents a primary form of recreation. Thoughtful, considerate, and usually slow to anger, Ray possesses a sensitivity to life not apparent in the other characters. He expresses love for his girlfriend and an attraction to a mysterious woman with whom he simply exchanges a smile each day. Nearing his sixteenth birthday, he strives toward manhood, appreciative of the affections of his aunt but finding himself drawn more under the influence of Cliff's advice and criticisms.
Red, a black youth in his late teens, Ray's antagonist. Like Cliff, he habitually drinks wine, uses profane language, brags about his sexual skills, and physically abuses women. Audacious and disrespectful, he seems to enjoy inciting hostility in others. Ray has become a special target of his contempt for people because Red sees the younger boy as a weaker opponent unable to answer his provocations effectively.
Bunny Gillette, Ray's attractive black girlfriend. Although well aware of Red's antagonistic relationship with Ray, she does little to discourage both the amorous and the abusive attentions of Red.
Bama, a black youth and Red's companion; he shares his friend's animosity toward Ray.
Doris, Lou's sister. She is a bold black woman in her twenties who carries a knife. Like Cliff and Lou, she has a concern for Ray's welfare.
Tiny, a small and attractive black teenager having an affair with Cliff, though she supposedly is Bama's girlfriend.
Silly Willy Clark, a large black man in his early thirties. He is Cliff's drinking buddy and is prone to pulling pranks.
Minny Garrison, a fat and middle-aged neighbor of the Dawsons. A busybody who detests Cliff's behavior, she once circulated a petition to have the Dawsons evicted from the neighborhood.