Theme Analysis of Our Country's Good

Crime and Punishment

It has previously been argued that poverty lead to the high number of 'criminals' in 18th century England. The criminals were often dumped into North American colonies, until they rebelled. The characters in OCG were given conditional pardons; their death sentences turned into transportation.

Watkin Tench: "If you commit a crime, you are a criminal"

• Represents the belief that people are born criminals
• Believes that all crimes should be punished, despite the circumstances surrounding the crime
• Lockeian beliefs (criminals should enjoy no more rights than a slave, there is no room for redemption)

Captain Arthur Phillip: "Was it necessary to cross fifteen thousand miles of ocean to erect anopther Tyburn?"

• Does not want the convicts to be hanged.
• Wants to create a different kind of society where redemption is possible

David Collins: hanging would "serve as a sharp example"

• Belief in redemption via exemplary justice
• Believed that without fear (of punishment, of the authorities) the new society would not work

Nature vs. Nurture

This theme is prevalant mostly in discussions between officers, where they speak about whether the play is worthwhile, whether criminals are born to be criminals or whether the way they were raised plays a part in the crimes they've committed.

Liz Morden is a prime example of the 'nurture' argument. Her circumstances pushed her to do what she did, as seen when she was arrested. She speaks of how her father betrayed her and how she…