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The History Boys (Themes (Education (Example Quotations (Quotation 1 +…

- - - - Education - along with History and English - is probably the joint largest theme in the play; appropriate really considering that almost all of the play occurs in a classroom. Furthermore, the main exploration in terms of this theme is the question of "What is education?" / "What should education be for?"
    - - Quotation 1 + Analysis 1
        
        Quote: "That is not to say that I don't view education as the enemy of education itself."
        
        Analysis: This quote comes from Hector right at the beginning of the book, and is seemingly rather cryptic. This fits in with his "studied eccentricity" perfectly, although when picked apart all this quote actually says is that Hector believes that the current educative methods employed by schools and universities around the country are a direct counter to his view of knowledge being sacred and only "for the heart"; not to be used as "gobbets" to decorate some metaphorical tree.
      - Quotation 2 + Analysis 2
        
        Quote: "The transmission of knowledge is in itself an erotic act."
        
        Analysis: Another quote from Hector, this time on his view of how the boys should be taught - in a sense anyway. Here, he is trying to express how affectionate he is towards the boys; how passionate and personal his method of teaching is. Hector believes that he is giving the boys "the antidote" to life, that his "benediction" of knowledge is going to save them. This explains why he is so affronted by Irwin's calling his boys' knowledge "gobbets" - he believes all knowledge is sacred, that it should be kept for - and used only by - the heart.
      - Quotation 3 + Analysis 3
        
        Quote: "Plainly stated an properly organised facts need no presentation, surely."
        
        Analysis: This quote comes from the wholly underappreciated Mrs Lintott, who's views on the role of women in history at the end of the play are well-voiced and hard-hitting. Here however, we see her perhaps slightly too materialistic approach to teaching biting her in the a**, as it not only gives the headmaster a reason to be his usual demeaning self but also shows that her methods of teaching are rather lacking in that polish that universities are looking for. This allows for the introduction of the character of Irwin, the almost perfect middle-ground between Hector and Mrs Linott. Furthermore, by ridiculing Mrs Lintott, we are made to hate the headmaster even more, discrediting his view on education.
  - - - Sexuality is one of the main themes in the play, explored constantly by many characters throughout. Sexuality also links to identity / self-image as it directly affects both
    - - Quotation 1 + Analysis 1
        
        Quote: "I'm a jew. I'm small. I'm homosexual. I live in Sheffield. I'm fucked."
        
        Analysis: This is Posner's outpouring of feelings to Irwin in one of the later scenes in the play, in which he expresses his feelings of being trapped, of not having a chance at getting what - or who - he wants. The fact that he includes being homosexual in this list shows that he feels like being homosexual is a bad thing; something that should be suppressed. This is something he struggles with for most of the play.
      - Quotation 2 + Analysis 2
        
        Quote: "I don't understand it. I have never wanted to please anybody the way I do him, girls not excepted."
        
        Analysis: This shows Dakin struggling with his changing sexuality, as up until now he has only payed any attention to women. This is almost ironic, as we know Dakin as the objectifier of women, the most sexually secure of of all the boys. However, if we look closely, we may perhaps discern that he was - just maybe - trying a little too hard to be straight throughout the play, although that may just be retrospect speaking.
      - Quotation 3 + Analysis 3
        
        Quote: "I wondered about that. I might. Bring a little sunshine into his life. It's only a wank, after all."
        
        Analysis: This is perhaps the first time that we see Dakin being transparent about his feelings towards Irwin; that he would - essentially - have sex with Irwin to "Bring a little sunshine into his life." However, I believe that Dakin is still trying to be flippant here, to reduce the gravity of what he has just said - changing his sexuality reduced to a mere joke, the flippancy backed up by his quip at Fiona. This brings a whole new host of questions however, as he and Fiona are still "doing it" which begs the question, is he more on the fence than he would like to think? One thing we can derive from this - for certain - is that your personality is not necessarily defined by your sexuality.
  - - - The play is called 'The History Boys' for a start. Also, most of their lessons focus on the point of history, or how history should be taught / documented
    - - Quotation 1 + Analysis 1
        
        Quote: "This is history, distance yourselves."
        
        Analysis: This quote is from Irwin, when he, Hector and the boys are discussing how the holocaust should be taught as a subject. This shows his opinions at-least; he believes that history is a performance, a method of entertainment akin to journalism if you will. He is also shown linking this to education with his speech as to how to learn about "Stalin" ... "Mrs Thatcher" and "Hollywood" by studying "Henry VIII". This boils down to 'History isn't always what it seems, or doesn't have to be what it seems' - to put it in my own words.
      - Quotation 2 + Analysis 2
        
        Quote: "History is just one fucking thing after another."
        
        Analysis: This is - quite obviously - Rudge, expressing his rather blunt view of history. This is both ironic and humorous, as history is - quite literally - one thing after another and the unnecessary expletives are just adding to the overall comedic effect of his idiocy actually allowing him to perfectly and simply sum up the entirety of human history in one sentence.
      - Quotation 3 + Analysis 3
        
        Quote: "History is a commentary on the various and continuing incapabilities of men. What is history? History is women following behind with the bucket."
        
        Analysis: This is a small extract from Mrs Lintott's sudden and passionate rant about women's place in history. This is a view of history we don't often get to see in this play, as Irwin is the boy's true history teacher, and he is male. This also drives home the more unconventional view of history that Mrs Lintott is wielding, that history would be completely different if women had had a say. Behind the obvious comedic of Mrs "Totty" Lintott's rant, however, is a rather important historical point that history is dictated often by the induvidual, by the leaders and their representative actions of the masses.
  - - - Quotation 1 + Analysis 1
        
        Quote: "This is a school and it isn't normal."
        
        Analysis: This is a quote from the headmaster when he is calling Hector out - for want of a better term - for fondling the boys genitalia. This is perhaps the first and last time we actually agree with the headmaster. Bennett uses the direct contrast between Hectors whimsical, philosophic language and the headmaster's brutal frankness to emphasise to the reader just how "not normal" Hector's relationship with the boys is.
      - Quotation 2 + Analysis 2
        
        Quote: "Oh Scrippsy. I can't bear to listen, but I want to hear every word. What does that mean?"
        
        Analysis: Here we see another relationship which - at first glance at-least - seems completely opposite to the first. This quote is from Posner, who (for almost all of this play) is infatuated with Dakin. However, in both cases we are shown examples of unrequited love as none of the boys love Hector in the way he loves them. Contrary to Hector's plight, here the reader is made to feel pity for Posner; mainly through his questioning of Scripps - who himself has never had a serious relationship - making him seem helpless, even desperate perhaps.
      - Quotation 3 + Analysis 3
        
        Quote: "She's my Western Front."
        
        Analysis: Here we see Dakin showing off both his massive intellect and his even more gargantuan ego by comparing his relationship with Fiona - the headmaster's secretary - to the largest war in history. This makes the relationship seem more interesting and exciting than, for example, Rudge's (which he puts below rugby) and also makes it seem slightly possessive. This is because Dakin uses the possessive pronoun "my" when describing Fiona, which shows that he believes that he owns her. This touches on something Mrs Lintott says later, about women "following behind with the bucket."; women are the property of men, there to clean up their mess.
  - - - English is an important theme in the play, although perhaps the most minor of the top three. This is because much of what they learn in Hector's lessons is English-based, even though it is meant to be general studies. References to English literature are also used to explore many of the other main themes in the play
    - - Quotation 1 + Analysis 1
        
        Quote: "Paradox works well and mists up the windows, which is handy. 'The loss of liberty is the price we pay for freedom' type thing."
        
        Analysis: This is a quote taken from the very first scene in the play, which just goes to show how important a theme this is. Here we see Irwin conversing with a group of politicians about to pass a law to abolish trial by jury. He is saying that the manipulation of the English language is not only OK but actually commendable; that a bit of "paradox" is perfect for misting up the windows - almost exactly his take on history later in the play.This sets the audience up for the two becoming inextricably entwined at a later point.
      - Quotation 2 + Analysis 2
        
        Quote: "Except [these gobbets]are learned by heart. and that is where they belong like all the other components of the heart not to be defiled by being trotted out to order."
        
        Analysis: This is Hector's reaction to Irwin's calling his boy's knowledge "gobbets". Here we see Hector'stake on English - that it is "for the heart", an antidote for life. This is - we can assume - a result of his life circumstances, of his hidden homosexuality and his abhorrence for cold stone (probably still scared that he might forget the difference between that cold stone and learning).
  - - - This theme explores how people view themselves and how that differs to others. A prime example of this exploration is Posner's confession-of-sorts to Irwin
    - - Quotation 1 + Analysis 1
        
        Quote: "Dakin's navel, I remember, was small and hard like an unripe blackberry."
        
        Analysis: Here we see how external inputs can affect the boy's interpretation of their own self-image. Everyone tells Dakin he's good-looking and smart and sexually secure and - for most of the play - he remains all of those things. However, as soon as people start questioning his behaviour, it causes him to start asking questions too. Posner - on the other hand - is told that he is "small" and unattractive and doesn't stand a chance and thus ends up being unsuccessful and lonely in a secluded cottage.
      - Quotation 2 + Analysis 2
        
        Quote: "Hector was a man of studied eccentricity."
        
        Analysis: This is an example of where self-image is a product of the times. Hector is obviously at-least confused as to his sexuality, or even downright hiding it. This is not only shown in his supposed "benediction" of the boys, but also in his wife's only being mentioned once - insinuating that she is perhaps just a cover? Also, his studied eccentricity could just be a result of homosexuality (a horrifying stereotype I know, but isn't that seemingly common of the play?)
- - - - Overview - Irwin is the 'new blood', so to speak. He is brought in to allow the boys a fair chance at getting into Oxbridge universities, something that the other two teachers couldn't do. He is the optimisation of the headmaster's "renaissance man" - although I don't think he'd be too happy to find out that Irwin never actually went to Oxford. Irwin believes in twisting the angle you use, to "go in the back, or better still the side." of an argument to allow for the greatest impact - after all, "history is a performance" in his humble opinion anyway.
      - Quotations
        
        "Go in the back or better still, the side."
        
        "this is history, distance yourselves."
        
        "If you want to learn about Stalin study Henry VIII. If you want to learn about Mrs Thatcher study Henry VIII. If you want to know about Hollywood study Henry VIII."
    - - Overview - Mr Lintott is a mother figure for the boys, although even she is sexualised by the boys - who call her "Totty". She "force feeds" the boys facts, which works at A-Levels but wasn't good enough to get them into Oxbridge. Mrs Lintott is the reason Irwin was invited to teach the boys.
      - Quotations
        
        "Our headmaster is a twat. An impermissible word nowadays but the only one suited to my purpose."
        
        "Plainly stated and properly organised facts need no presentation, surely."
        
        "Durham was very good for history, it;s where I had my first pizza. Other things too, but it's the pizza that stands out."
    - - Overview - The headmaster is a misogynistic old man who only cares for the results in the league tables. He invites Irwin to help the boys get into Oxbridge not be cause he cares for them, but because he wants the school to look good. He also gropes Fiona - the secretary - which makes him a hypocrite.
      - Quotations
        
        "Think charm. Think polish. Think Renaissance Man."
        
        "You are very young. Grow a moustache. I am thinking classroom control."
        
        "Fuck the Renaissance. And fuck literature and Plato and Michelangelo and Oscar Wilde and all the other shrunken violets you people line up. This is a school and it isn't normal."
    - - Quotations
        
        "Hector was a man of studied eccentricity."
        
        "The transmission of knowledge in in itself an erotic act.
        
        "I didn't actually do anything. It was a laying-on of hands, I don't deny that, but more in benediction than gratification or anything else."
      - Overview - Hector is a paedophile, there is no nice way of putting it. He gropes the boys in turn - excepting Posner - as a supposed sign of his affection in the "erotic act" of the transmission of knowledge. He believes that knowledge is for the heart, not the exams - the main point of conflict between him and Irwin, who wants the boys to use the information in the exams.
  - - - Overview - Posner is definitely the most like Hector of any of the boys, even following (sort-of) in Hector's footsteps at the end. He is gay, and madly in love with Dakin - the latter doesn't reciprocate even when he is unsure of his sexuality toward the end of the play. This - and the struggle prior to getting his place at Oxford - ends up causing Posner to drop out of university and live as a hermit in the middle of nowhere, with "an allotment and periodic breakdowns."
      - Quotations
        
        "I'm a jew. I'm small. I'm homosexual. I live in Sheffield. I'm fucked."
        
        "Oh Scrippsy. I can't bear to listen, but I want to hear every word. What does that mean?"
        
        "He lives alone in a cottage he renovated himself, has an allotment and periodic breakdowns."
    - - Overview - Scripps is the only character in the play - aside from at the very end - who speaks to the audience out of chronological order. Many scenes in the play are non-chronological - most of them Irwin's - but only Scripps acknowledges the audience by talking to them in the past tense in middle of a present-tense scene. He is exceedingly religious, although it is hinted at that this changes at a later point in his life. Scripps also takes the piss out of his religion a lot throughout the course of the play - a source of constant comedy - even saying on one occasion that his even the vicar must think him mad for believing so (excuse the pun) religiously.
      - Quotations
        
        "And here history rattled over the points..."
        
        "What has truth got to do with it?"...."for the purpose of this examination the truth is, if not irrelevant, them so relative just to amount to another point of view."
        
        "Dakin's navel, I remember, was small and hard like an unripe blackberry."
        
        "The things I do for God."
    - - Overview - Rudge is the dimmest of the boys, although he is still smart relative to many other people. He is sportier than the other boys also, and ultimately it is this that gets him into Oxford - that and his family connections. Rudges father used to work the staircase at Oxford and one of the old professors recognised his family name. Rudge is so dedicated to his sport - in fact - that he choses rugby over his girlfriend (who we almost never hear about). He prefers to be force-fed the facts, as Mrs Lintott did, rather than having to think for himself in Irwin's "cutting-edge" classes.
      - Quotations
        
        "History is just one fucking thing after another."
        
        "Death, it's just one more excuse to patronise. I had years of that."
        
        "I'm keen on a film."
    - - Quotations
        
        "She's my Western Front. Last night, for instance, meeting only token resistance, I reconnoitred the ground... Are you interested in this?"
        
        I'm telling you, history is fucking."
        
        "I don't understand it. I have never wanted to please anybody the way I do him, girls not excepted."
      - Overview - Dakin is the smartest and best-looking of the boys in the play, and thus develops a fairly turbulent relationship with Irwin from the start. Initially, Dakin hates Irwin - believing strongly in Hector's methods of education. However, as we progress through the play, Daking becomes more and more like Irwin, even adopting his handwriting. This - along with his wavering sexuality at the end of the play - makes him seem unsure of himself, even though he spends the majority of the play trying to screw the headmaster's secretary.