Synopsis Strife (play)

1 synopsis

1.1 act i
1.2 act ii, scene i
1.3 act ii, scene ii
1.4 act iii

synopsis

the action takes place on 7 february @ trenartha tin plate works, on borders of england , wales. several months there has been strike @ factory.

act i

the directors, concerned damage company, hold board meeting @ home of manager of works. simon harness, representing trade union has withdrawn support strike, tells them make men withdraw excessive demands, , directors should agree union s demands. david roberts, leader of men s committee, tells them wants strike continue until demands met, although men starving. confrontation between elderly company chairman john anthony , roberts, , neither gives way.

after meeting, enid underwood, daughter of john anthony , wife of manager, talks father: aware of suffering of families. roberts wife annie used maid. worried strain of affair on father. henry tench, company secretary, tells anthony may outvoted board.

act ii, scene i

enid visits roberts cottage, , talks annie roberts, has heart condition. when david roberts comes in, enid tells him there must compromise, , should have more pity on wife; not change position, , unmoved wife s concern families of strikers.

act ii, scene ii

in open space near factory, platform has been improvised , harness, in speech strikers, says have been ill-advised , should cut demands, instead of starving; should support union, support them. there short speeches 2 men, have contrasting opinions. roberts goes platform and, in long speech, says fight against capital, white-faced, stony-hearted monster . ye have got on knees; ye give @ last minute save miserable bodies pain?

when news brought wife has died, roberts leaves , meeting peters out.

act iii

in home of manager, enid talks edgar anthony; chairman s son , 1 of directors. less sympathetic towards men, and, concerned father, says edgar should support him. edgar s sympathies men. receive news mrs roberts has died.

the directors meeting, bad-tempered, affected news. edgar says rather resign go on starving women; other directors react badly opinion put frankly. john anthony makes long speech: insisting should not give in men, says there 1 way of treating men — iron hand. half-and-half business... has brought upon us.... yield 1 demand, , make six....

he puts board motion dispute should placed in hands of harness. directors in favour; anthony alone not in favour, , resigns. men s committee, including roberts, , harness come in receive result. roberts repeats resistance, on being told outcome, realizes , anthony have both been thrown over. agreement had been proposed before strike began.