How does Alan Bennett make the audience feel empathy for Doris in A cream Cracker under the Settee?

A cream cracker to a lower place the settee is a spectacular monologue written by Alan Bennett in 1987 for television, as part of his Talking Heads series for the BBC.Doris is in her seventies. This hints at her cosmos old and vulnerable in need of care and assistance. Moreover, she outlines that she does not ons express scentingst to dust, this is by chance because she is physically unable or consumed by her thoughts.Zulema says that her dustings days are over. This makes you feel sorry for Doris and oceanic abyssly empathise with her. She may strike a fear of dirt rupophobia or she may besides be an exceptionally sanitary person.Furthermore, Zulema exploits Doris old age and feelings by locution she doesnt consider the sense she was born with, this maybe true but it is blustering towards Doris feelings. Then again, Zulema does have the right to announce her mind, as she has to put up with Doriss nagging all week.Doris is never satisfied with Zulemas housekeeping sayi ng, Zulema doesnt dust, she half-dusts This emphasises Doris obsession with cleanliness, maybe suggesting that she has OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder). Alternatively, maybe occupying her mind with such things helps her forget the melancholy she feels deep within.However, as we progress through the monologue we learn that Zulema in item intimidates Doris. Ultimately, making Zulema the more dominating character. She does not hesitate in copulation Doris I am the only person that stands between you and Stafford House. In vio new-made of this, Doris is adamant that she allow for not lose her independence and is sure that she will remain in her own home.Another good example of this is when she shoves the dust storm down the side of the chair. We can only assume that Doris does this to deflect a lecture or confrontation with Zulema, preventing further distress. Again, we feel empathy for Doris as important issues such as treatment of the aged, growing old and vitality choices ar e brought to our attention. Therefore, we can conclude that she sometimes feels unhappy and unsettled in her own home.In the midst of all this, the fact remains Doris is injury from a numby leg. Alan Bennett deliberately places talk intimately her leg between pauses so that the auditory modality has time to focus on and consider Doriss flowing bureau and thitherfore feel a broad deal of compassion for her. These strategic pauses are used constantly throughout the monologue, giving us trade to sympathise with.Throughout the monologue, the ending of each look is indication by the simple stage direction Go to black. This maybe connotes a temporal shift or the passing of time. Moreover, before each scene fades to black, Alan Bennett gives the earreach something to ponder over and keep in the back of their heads.For the altogether of the monologue, Doris speaks to us directly. This enhances her vulnerability, yet she maybe biased, as we only know her forefront of view and nobo dy elses. This leads us to believe that Doris thinks everything revolves around her and she may get by across as self-centred or self-obsessed. Then again, we feel great benevolence for Doris as she is isolated, cut off from reality, and maybe unwanted by a society, which considers her as an outsider.The setting changes throughout the monologue, as Doris travels to various separate of her home, nevertheless she remains in the equivalent location. This connotes a very inactive nature, suggesting that Doris hardly ever goes out and mostly stays in the same room. According to her, I never get a bona fide caller, this promulgates us the only visitor she probably has is Zulema. We feel great empathy for Doris because she is lonely, lacking a faithful companion. Furthermore, the moving from the comfy position of her settee possibly indicates the accomplishment from a secure and comfy position in life to her current situation. Still, this isolated place is her comfort zone, perhaps s ignifying that she is more likely to tell the truth as she is under no pressure and can speak of her own free will. Subsequently, she does in fact unravel the truth about various stages in her life.Another clever device Alan Bennett uses to make the audience feel empathy for Doris is humour and Doris certainly has a sense of humour, we realise this when she says, approve God and close all gates. The audience finds it easier to empathise with her because they can laugh with her and not at her. Her dry, sarcastic humour is a hit with audience off all ages.As Doris discusses her husband Wilfred, she talks about him acquire mad ideas, stating how absurd they were and how he never got round to it. Yet, according to her, A kiddydve solved all that. This makes us wonder why Doris does not have a child and whether she has any family at all. We suddenly feel a great deal of compassion for her because her only family, Wilfred, has passed away. Later on, we discover that she did have a baby, which also passed away. If it had lived I might have had grandchildren now, she explains. Our degree of sympathy for Doris expands to greater lengths. Death is certainly one of Alan Bennett says of gaining empathy for his characters.Further on in the monologue we discover that Doris and Wilfred were not very outgoing people. Doris plainly explains, We werent the gregarious type. This implies that even when Wilfred was alive, Doris was a secluded, reserved individual. Then she refers to Wilfred, he thought he was, but he wasnt. This gives us the impression that Wilfred could have been a brotherly person except Doris stood in his way as she essentially controlled their relationship. We feel empathy for both characters here since they never really experienced anything amazing in their lives except for grief and now for Doris, loneliness.This could all change though if Doris intractable upon leaving home and moving to Stafford House but apparently You go daft there, theres nowhere el se for you to go but daft according to Doris. peradventure Doris is against the idea of leaving home because all her memories of Wilfred will remain there or she might just feel afraid and unprepared to pose the real world on her own at a late stage in her life.Towards the end of the monologue, Doris hears the voice of a police officer, enquiring as to why her home lights are off. Instead of asking for his help, she lets him leave. It is assumed by the audience that Doris later dies, because she feels the time is right. Also as the conclusions to Bennetts plays are normally miserable. Her last words are Never mind. Its done with now, anyway. Then the blithe FADES, a sense of desperation and sadness fill the readers heart and mind, no greater empathy can possibly be felt for Doris at this stage. This dramatic and powerful text leaves the audience wondering, hoping. This is without doubt Alan Bennetts cleverest writing technique