Hay Fever (Themes)

Themes

Absurdity

Much of the humor in Hay Fever derives from the way Coward’s characters, despite being placed in ordinary situations, behave in odd and unexpected ways. These eccentricities make typical interactions seem ridiculous to the viewer. The Bliss family leaps to melodramatic and emotional extremes at the slightest provocation, leaving their guests at a loss for how to respond and highlighting the absurdity of social and romantic conventions that might otherwise be accepted as normal. While Coward’s exploration of this theme was primarily in the service of entertainment, there are also elements of social criticism in his mocking of conformity.

Culture Clash

Although the characters in Hay Fever (save Clara) belong to the British upper class, they can still be divided into two separate groups, each reflecting a different worldview or “culture.” The four members of the Bliss family follow their own unique rules for personal interaction, rules that allow them to slip into fictional roles and act out melodramatic plots whenever the mood strikes them. The four weekend visitors, contrastingly, follow the conventional rules that instruct people to act according to their “real” social roles, behaving in a polite and predictable manner even if this means denying their genuine inclinations or feelings. These two cultures clash over the course of the weekend visit, resulting in the abundance of silly situations that amuse the audience.

Family

In this play, the members of the Bliss family have problematic relationships with outsiders, yet they are able to interact contentedly — if oddly — among themselves. In a reversal of the typical family drama plot, none of the potential romantic connections with their weekend visitors are able to rival or disrupt familial bonds; a fact that is clearly illustrated in the final scene when the four Blisses sit around the breakfast table absorbed in their own idiosyncratic conversation while their guests slip out unnoticed.

Illusion Vs. Reality

The line between illusion and reality is constantly crossed in the Bliss household. Elements of theater and fiction are freely integrated into everyday life as family conversations slide into dialogue from a play or family members begin to act out melodramatic emotions they do not genuinely feel. But Coward also reveals — through the small deceptions of the “normal” visiting characters — that the “real” world is just as full of play-acting as the Bliss world — only people accept these everyday illusions in the name of good manners and social convention.

Individualism

The unusual beliefs and behavior of the Bliss family, which confound their guests and amuse the audience, also reflect an individualistic ideology that celebrates people who rebel against the restraining conventions of society at large. Each Bliss is a unique individual and follows his or her inclinations without considering the opinion of others. Being a homosexual, Coward was particularly sensitive to the narrow definitions of “normal” that society placed on people. His celebration of the Blisses’ individuality can be read as a veiled criticism of such prescriptive social mores.

Topics for Further Study

• Several critics have commented upon the strong connections between Hay Fever and Edward Albee’s 1962 play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Compare and contrast these two works, considering how each playwright takes a similar situation and setting and develops it to very different effect.
• Both Coward as an individual and the plays he wrote are often associated with 1920s “Bohemian” culture. Research the meaning and evolution of the term “Bohemian” in early twentieth-century western culture. Once you have a good sense of what the term means, consider whether it accurately describes the worldview of Coward and his characters.
• In addition to being a playwright, Coward was a talented composer and lyricist. Locate and listen to some recordings of Coward’s songs. Then consider how the lyrics and melodies of the music relate to the theme and tone of Hay Fever.
• More so than some artists, Coward is considered to have revealed facets of his personality in his plays. Research Coward’s biography — including both his public persona and his private existence as a closeted homosexual — and then consider the question of how his comedies, including Hay Fever, might be seen to reflect his character and/or life experience.