Observation

This question is on the friendship between Helena and Alison. Most candidate were not able to relate their responses to the general theme of a frustrating social life.

The question requires the candidates to:

• Relate the theme of the interplay of social class and marriage and its effects on friendship.
• Provide a detailed character description of Helena and Alison.

• Discuss Helena’s unexpected entry into the marital home of Alison, which reverses an improving but erstwhile tumultuous marital relationship Alison has been enduring with Jimmy. Helena rescues Alison by wiring Col. Redfern to come for his daughter.
• Comment on Helena’s relationship with Jimmy and how she exploits Jimmy’s emotional vulnerabilities.
• Account for the sudden return of Alison which complicates matters for Helena, as she is recognized as a usurper. Helena may be considered a bad friend to the extent that she took over Alison’s husband, Jimmy. But she made amends by confessing her sin and quitting when Alison returned.

Candidates’ responses reveal a shallow knowledge of the text and thus they scored low marks.