Economic Status

"The confessions when they came, said so much about the poverty of those communities. It was things like, 'The Devil gave me a big cake, and I said OK I'm yours.'"

A main motivation shown in this play is surviving despite poverty in their small town. This is important because it establishes Janet and Helen as more poor than their neighbors. See the The Enlightenment tab under Historical Context for more thoughts on how economic status contributed to their attitude and motivations of the characters in Dornoch.

Examples

JANET. No one helps me. Helen and me live alone.

JANET. We want for nothing. You bring us oatcakes and milk.

ELSPETH. I've oatcakes and cheese, Janet. And two rooms to my house. You've not even a chimney to yours.

NICK. What business have you with the Devil?

HELEN. I've eaten nothing but oats and a crumb of cheese since Tuesday.