Josie dresses up in an old shawl and a pair of heels to imitate her grandmother, saying she has saved ‘Seventeen million pound’, by doing things like drinking boiled socks instead of tea.
At the wedding, Mrs Kilbride asks Caroline and Carthage to guess how much she spent on her shoes and doesn’t notice the sarcasm when Carthage says ‘Tell us how much they were, Mother, before we die of the suspense’. She is so proud of her shoes that she takes individual photos of them ‘while they are new and clean’.
When Carthage confronts his mother for wearing a ridiculous outfi t to his wedding, she replies indignantly, ‘What! I am not! How was I supposed to know the bride’d be wearin’ white as well?’
Discussion
Mrs Kilbride’s behaviour is so ridiculous that it is impossible to take her seriously. Even little Josie makes fun of her when she is not around. She doesn’t notice Carthage’s sarcasm or his glares because she is so wrapped up in her own nonsensical world in which she is the centre of attention.
‘Mrs Kilbride is a terrifi c comedy character in the play By the Bog of Cats.’ Do you agree or disagree with this statement? Support your answer with reference to the text.
Catwoman
Catwoman is a blind woman in her late fi fties who wears a coat of cat fur and eats mice. She has the ability to talk to ghosts and predict the future. The local people believe it is bad luck not to invite Catwoman to gatherings. Father Willow adores her and begs her to come on holiday with him every year.
Catwoman warns Hester to leave the Bog of Cats in order to avoid a terrible tragedy. Catwoman has
known Hester since she was a baby and she tells Hester that her mother was a gifted composer and singer of songs, but that she turned mean and bitter. At the wedding, Catwoman meets the ghost of Hester’s murdered brother and leads him to his sister’s house. All her efforts to do good come to nothing when Hester ignores her advice and ends by taking her own life and that of her daughter.
