GCSE English Literature

Shakespeare
13 Topics
Understanding Macbeth
Character Analysis of Macbeth
Character Relationships in Macbeth
The Context of Macbeth
Language and Dramatic Techniques in Macbeth
Themes, Motifs and Symbols in Macbeth
Understanding Romeo and Juliet
Character Analysis of Romeo and Juliet
Character Relationships in Romeo and Juliet
The Context of Romeo and Juliet
Language and Dramatic Techniques in Romeo and Juliet
Themes, Motifs and Symbols in Romeo and Juliet
Understanding the Tempest
19th Century Novels
5 Topics
Understanding The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Chapter 5-10 Summaries of The Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde
Understanding Great Expectations
Great Expectations Character Analysis
Themes in Great Expectations
Drama
38 Topics
Themes in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time
Understanding DNA
Character Analysis of DNA
Character Relationships in DNA
Themes in DNA
Motifs and Symbols in DNA
Understanding A Taste of Honey
Character Analysis of A Taste of Honey
The Context of A Taste of Honey
Form, Structure and Language in A Taste of Honey
Themes in A Taste of Honey
Motifs in A Taste of Honey
Understanding The Princess and the Hustler
Character Analysis of The Princess and the Hustler
Themes in The Princess and the Hustler
Understanding Leave Taking
Character Analysis of Leave Taking
Themes in Leave Taking
2 of 2
Prose
19 Topics
Primary Character Analysis of Animal Farm
Secondary Character Analysis of Animal Farm
Themes in Animal Farm
Symbols in Animal Farm
Understanding Animal Farm
Chapter Summaries of Animal Farm
Understanding Lord of the Flies
Chapter 1-6 Summary of Lord of the Flies
Chapter 7-12 Summary of Lord of the Flies
Primary Character Analysis of Lord of the Flies
Secondary Character Analysis of Lord of the Flies
Themes in Lord of the Flies
Symbols in Lord of the Flies
Chemistry – Telling Tales Analysis – AQA Anthology
Odour of Chrysanthemums – Telling Tales Analysis – AQA Anthology
My Polish Teacher’s Tie – Telling Tales Analysis – AQA Anthology
Korea – Telling Tales Analysis – AQA Anthology
A Family Supper – Telling Tales Analysis – AQA Anthology
Invisible Mass of the Back Row – Telling Tales Analysis – AQA Anthology
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Character Relationships in DNA

GCSE English Literature Drama Character Relationships in DNA

Phil and Leah

Phil demonstrates his cruel nature through his long, torturous silences that are intended to flame Leah’s paranoia and insecurity. During her long monologues, Leah asks him, “Are you thinking about me?” and “Do I disgust you?”, but Phil doesn’t answer or give her the reassurances she needs.

Such is Leah’s desire for Phil’s approval and attention, she threatens to kill herself in the hope of getting a reaction from him. Her pleas for him to speak become more and more desperate as they get deeper into the crime. She says his name twelve times at the end of Act Two, but he continues to ignore her.

Their relationship becomes torn apart after Phil orders the killing of Adam, ignoring Leah’s objection to the idea. In their last scene together, Leah is completely silent apart from her crying. In a shift of character, Phil actually tries to put his arm around her to comfort her, but it is too late and she “storms off”.

Phil’s mournful “Leah? Leah?” after she goes hints that he did care for her, and perhaps he even feels regret for the way he has treated her.

Phil and Cathy

Phil recognises a fellow chimp-like personality in Cathy, and gives her the key tasks of stealing Adam’s clothes and also planting the DNA on Adam’s jumper. Cathy takes this one step further, finding a man who exactly fits the description in the false report.

Cathy and Phil work together on the murder of Adam. Without needing to be direct, Phil instructs Adam’s murder by saying “He can’t come back, Cathy.” Leah recognises the dominance of this new alliance, complaining to Phil “you sit there and you say nothing for years and suddenly now you’re chatting with Cathy.”

After being his obedient foot soldier, Cathy ends up taking over Phil’s leadership when he distances himself from the group. Richard says about the gang with Cathy at the helm, “You wouldn’t believe how things have got”, implying that Cathy has taken them to moral depths worse than when Phil was in charge.

Richard and John Tate/ Phil

The struggle for the leadership of the gang is established at the beginning of the play when John Tate feels threatened by Richard. This is following a comment by Lou that Richard is the only person other than John Tate whom she fears.

The two men nearly come to blows, when John Tate threatens to “hurt” him, and Richard responds by repeating, “You shouldn’t threaten me.” John Tate manages to reestablish his authority, but his insecurity about Richard exposes a weakness in his leadership.

When Richard attempts to resist Phil’s order that he work with Brian, Phil shows no such weakness. He ignores Richard’s protestations, and Richard – seeing a stronger leader – quickly falls into line.

At the end of the play, Richard takes Leah’s role in becoming desperate for Phil’s attention, pleading, “Come back, Phil. Phil?”

Evaluation of the Three Leaders

The table below evaluates the three leaders.

Protection of the gang /10Respect from the group /10Use of fear and violence /10Strategic ability /10Ruthlessness /10
John Tate8/10 – Tells Lou how he has always tried to “keep everyone together” and make “things better” for all the gang.  7/10 – Lou says the group respects John Tate for his achievements, but Phil easily asserts his dominance over him.  3/10 – He uses unconvincing threats of violence: “and if anyone says it I’m going to have to, you know, bite their face. Or something.”2/10 – No plan after Adam’s murder. He defers to Phil: “Cathy says you’re clever. So. What do we do?”4/10 – Enjoys striking fear into other students at school, but the guilt of Adam’s death is too much for him.
Phil9/10 – Protects the group from punishment. Justifies Adam’s murder by saying, “What’s more important, one person or everyone?”9/10 – The group marvels at his intricate schemes, demonstrated by the stage directions “They stare at him open-mouthed”.8/10 – Terrifies Brian into obeying orders by threatening to kill him: “You’ll land on Adam’s corpse and you’ll rot together.”10/10 – Shows cool-headed decisiveness when planning the cover-up and then the murder of Adam. The detail in his planning is startling. 8/10 – Very ruthless in the murder of Adam, but the guilt appears to take its toll on him by the end.
Cathy7/10 – Protects the group with the planting of DNA and then Adam’s murder, but she seems more motivated by her personal thrill of violence and criminal intent.5/10 – She rules by force at the end, though Richard suggests she is not a popular leader, with members commenting, “wasn’t it good when Phil was running the show?”10/10 – Rises to the top through her increasing thirst for violence. Richard describes how she “cut a first-year’s finger off”.7/10 – Takes the initiative in planting the DNA on a postman, but otherwise follows Phil’s instructions. Her leadership seems more characterised by senseless violence than strategy.  10/10 – Totally ruthless. She is excited by Adam’s death: “I’m not saying it’s a good thing, but in a way it is.” Shows no remorse for the postman’s arrest or the murder.
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