The Use and abuse of power in 'the club' by David Williamson
Ted
The ability to use and abuse power is heavily dependant on personality. This can be seen in David Williamson's 'The Club,' as Ted Parker is given power through his authority as Club President, but he is ineffective in exercising that power and unable to influence change or communicate opinion due to his frail personality. This weakened personality, conveyed by Williamson, results in other characters within 'The Club' disrespecting Ted. This disrespect can be seen as Danny Rowe, the captain, says to Ted "You watch the way you talk to me in the future, Parker, or you'll end up getting flattened." (P17). This statement made by Danny reveals the dominance prevalent, as the club captain is undermining the club president. Danny intentionally uses Ted's last name to convey his dominance, and his disliking towards Ted, thus making evident the disrespect towards him. Ted then replies to Danny's threat sarcastically by saying "That's lovely. A player threatens the Club President with physical violence and nobody says a word." (P17). This reply reveals that Ted is seeking respect from other members of the club, in order to back him up against Danny's physical threat. Ted becomes aware of his issue, as he is unable to gain or maintain power through the use of his personality, and thus tries to empower and manipulate the committee, to take advantage of the political power involved. The ability to use and abuse power is heavily dependant on personality, therefore, although Ted is given authority, he is ineffective in exercising such power due to his weak personality.
Jock
The individual can change their morals, beliefs and values in order to gain more power. This is evident in 'The Club' by David Williamson, as Jock Riley, the club's Vice President, consistently changes his morals, beliefs and values to better himself over other members of the club. During discussion, Laurie makes evident that "Jock is an old bastard. Two years ago he was thumping the table in Committee meetings and yelling at the top of his lungs that the Club would never stoop to buying players." (P21). This reveals Jock's morals and beliefs in regards to buying players during the period of Laurie being coach, as he did not want him to gain possession of talented footballers through transfers, in order to get back at Laurie for getting him fired as coach. It is later divulged, after Jock believes Laurie is being replaced by Rostoff, that Jock yet again changes his morals, beliefs and values to better the club and himself through social status. Jock says "Of course we're going to buy more players. We're going to go on the biggest buying spree in the history of the game." (P24). This statement contradicts Jock's previous statement, as he believes that bringing in Rostoff, along with a number of high profile signings, will better himself and raise his social status throughout the clubs fans. This is a profound example of wealth being abused as power. Whilst Jock is talking to Geoff, he says "we're throwing out the old tradition that the coach has to have played for the club." (P43). This is yet another example of Jock dismissing his beliefs in order to gain more power and maintain the power he already obtains. It is evident that, in 'The Club,' Jock changes his morals, beliefs and values in order to better himself and to gain more power.
Gerry
Power can be gained through effective knowledge and intelligence. This is evident in 'The Club' by David Williamson as Gerry Cooper manipulates others into being in combat with each other in the furtherance of his own objectives. Gerry sees the club as a business, his appointment as merely a job and eschews emotion in his decision making. It is evident that Gerry is in it more for personal gain than for the benefit of the club. Whilst discussing with Laurie about offloading one or two of the clubs older players, Gerry says "I'm just an administrator, you're the expert." (P27). This statement is ironic as it is evident that Gerry has the power and he knows it himself. He tries to manipulate Laurie's thinking through his knowledge and intelligence in order to get him to agree to sell Danny, as he's "the only player we've got that has big money on his head..." (P27). This statement reveals that Gerry has little interest in the game and is solely focused on the business side of the club. Gerry's intelligence is then challenged at the end of the book as he says "What'll happen if the Club starts winning for the rest of the season?" (P60) and "I can get rid of a moralistic coach any day, but a moralistic coach who's winning games could be bloody hard." (P60) These quotes reveal that Gerry, although is knowledgable and intelligent, sees the club as a business and that he is in it for personal gain than for the benefit of the club. Power can be gained through effective knowledge and intelligence, in which is evident through Gerry, although is challenged in his decision making.
The ability to use and abuse power is heavily dependant on personality. This can be seen in David Williamson's 'The Club,' as Ted Parker is given power through his authority as Club President, but he is ineffective in exercising that power and unable to influence change or communicate opinion due to his frail personality. This weakened personality, conveyed by Williamson, results in other characters within 'The Club' disrespecting Ted. This disrespect can be seen as Danny Rowe, the captain, says to Ted "You watch the way you talk to me in the future, Parker, or you'll end up getting flattened." (P17). This statement made by Danny reveals the dominance prevalent, as the club captain is undermining the club president. Danny intentionally uses Ted's last name to convey his dominance, and his disliking towards Ted, thus making evident the disrespect towards him. Ted then replies to Danny's threat sarcastically by saying "That's lovely. A player threatens the Club President with physical violence and nobody says a word." (P17). This reply reveals that Ted is seeking respect from other members of the club, in order to back him up against Danny's physical threat. Ted becomes aware of his issue, as he is unable to gain or maintain power through the use of his personality, and thus tries to empower and manipulate the committee, to take advantage of the political power involved. The ability to use and abuse power is heavily dependant on personality, therefore, although Ted is given authority, he is ineffective in exercising such power due to his weak personality.
Jock
The individual can change their morals, beliefs and values in order to gain more power. This is evident in 'The Club' by David Williamson, as Jock Riley, the club's Vice President, consistently changes his morals, beliefs and values to better himself over other members of the club. During discussion, Laurie makes evident that "Jock is an old bastard. Two years ago he was thumping the table in Committee meetings and yelling at the top of his lungs that the Club would never stoop to buying players." (P21). This reveals Jock's morals and beliefs in regards to buying players during the period of Laurie being coach, as he did not want him to gain possession of talented footballers through transfers, in order to get back at Laurie for getting him fired as coach. It is later divulged, after Jock believes Laurie is being replaced by Rostoff, that Jock yet again changes his morals, beliefs and values to better the club and himself through social status. Jock says "Of course we're going to buy more players. We're going to go on the biggest buying spree in the history of the game." (P24). This statement contradicts Jock's previous statement, as he believes that bringing in Rostoff, along with a number of high profile signings, will better himself and raise his social status throughout the clubs fans. This is a profound example of wealth being abused as power. Whilst Jock is talking to Geoff, he says "we're throwing out the old tradition that the coach has to have played for the club." (P43). This is yet another example of Jock dismissing his beliefs in order to gain more power and maintain the power he already obtains. It is evident that, in 'The Club,' Jock changes his morals, beliefs and values in order to better himself and to gain more power.
Gerry
Power can be gained through effective knowledge and intelligence. This is evident in 'The Club' by David Williamson as Gerry Cooper manipulates others into being in combat with each other in the furtherance of his own objectives. Gerry sees the club as a business, his appointment as merely a job and eschews emotion in his decision making. It is evident that Gerry is in it more for personal gain than for the benefit of the club. Whilst discussing with Laurie about offloading one or two of the clubs older players, Gerry says "I'm just an administrator, you're the expert." (P27). This statement is ironic as it is evident that Gerry has the power and he knows it himself. He tries to manipulate Laurie's thinking through his knowledge and intelligence in order to get him to agree to sell Danny, as he's "the only player we've got that has big money on his head..." (P27). This statement reveals that Gerry has little interest in the game and is solely focused on the business side of the club. Gerry's intelligence is then challenged at the end of the book as he says "What'll happen if the Club starts winning for the rest of the season?" (P60) and "I can get rid of a moralistic coach any day, but a moralistic coach who's winning games could be bloody hard." (P60) These quotes reveal that Gerry, although is knowledgable and intelligent, sees the club as a business and that he is in it for personal gain than for the benefit of the club. Power can be gained through effective knowledge and intelligence, in which is evident through Gerry, although is challenged in his decision making.