The Black Bonspiel of Wullie Maccrimmon - Essay Example

Osazuwa Eromosele Dr. Sherry Klein English 110-002 February 5, Curling “A Gentleman’s Game” The play known as ‘The Black Bonspiel of Wullie Maccrimmon’ is a play written by the Canadian writer, W.O. Mitchell. Its original version was transmitted during a half-hour radio show that was broadcast in July, 1950. Even though the plot was set in Khartoum, it was mostly inspired by the tale of Faust. The plot tells the story of Wullie MacCrimmon, who was a philosophical shoe mender, and his dream of winning the MacDonald Brier. To fulfill his dream, Wullie enters a curling match with the Devil where he places a gamble. Wullie wins the gamble by placing a small silver rivet beneath the sole of the Devil’s curling-boot. Curling is a game that is marked by opposing teams shaking hands before and after the game. When a participant makes a disappointing shot, the opposing players as well as the audience do not cheer this action or deride it. In addition, the participants cannot use objectionable tactics such as distracting the opponents when making their shots. The scoring of goals is also performed in amicable ways. Due to the presence of these characteristics, curling has long been referred as a “game of gentlemen” as it reflects values like honesty, respect, and fair play. However, in the play, these values were not observed in the game between Wullie MacCrimmon and the Devil. The mannerisms adopted by both parties were contrary to the game’s rules. Of the two, the Devil, who was referred to as “Old Cloutie” was the fairer player (Michelle and Michelle 68). In the 1930s, there arose a conflict in the region of Wildrose, Alberta. The town’s morality squad began to lobby for a by-law that would bann the playing of the game of curling on Sundays. However, the sport’s local fanatics, led by Wullie MacCrimmon, who was the local cobbler, were not happy with this proposition. In the play, Mr. O. Cloutie, also referred to as the Devil, becomes entangles in the conflict as he is searching for a business opportunity involving acquisition of Wullie’s soul. However, Wullie makes a counter-proposal involving a curling game played against the Devil. At stake is his soul; while the prize is a sure win in a prestigious curling championship. He states, ‘I would give anything….to skip the winning rink in MacDonald Brier Finals’ (Michelle and Michelle 54). Wullie regrets making the wager almost immediately, and has to try and persuade his friends to help him. The game of curling calls for opposing teams to conduct proper introductions before and after the match; so as to meet and finally thank each other for a game well played. The Devil is inhospitable in that he does not make proper introductions. Wullie’s teammate, Clock, is surprised by Mr. Fawkes’ reluctance to be hospitable, and takes the initiative to engage him. Clock’s surprise is soon turned to annoyance, as the execution of improper introductions extends to the Devil’s second, Judas Iscariot. The unpleasant opening greetings include Judas Iscariot introducing himself while jingling pocket change. Instead of Mr. Macbeth responding to greetings properly, he chooses to sing a song that rattles Clock, among other teammates of Wullies’. The end of the match exhibits the same scenario as the opening. Instead of a handshake to thank the opponents for a game well-played, the Devil is full of accusations as he seeks to explain why he had lost the game. Another aspect of the curling game that marks a point of divergence between the Devil and Wullie’s game concerns fair play. The Devil devised many tactics that would help him to win the curling game. First, as Wullie’s teammate, Malleable, prepared to take his shot, the Devil “deliberately and blatantly stuck out a hoof and tripped him” (Michelle and Michelle 94). Mr. Malleable then fell flat on the ice in foetal position and hurt his already fragile back. Attempts by Reverend Pringle and Annie to get the Devil to admit to tripping Mr. Malleable were futile as the Devil blatantly denied the notion. Even Wullie acknowledged that the Devil does not play fair when he stated, “he has a bad name for not playing fair” (Michelle and Michelle 94). In the play, the Devil tries to compel Wullie to forfeit the match as their signed contract did not include a clause permitting the substitution of a player. However, he received a taste of his own medicine by the counter argument that held the opposite of that assertion to be true; the contract also did not directly prohibit the substitution. In the end, Reverend Pringle’s character comes across as a satisfactory portrayal of a pastor who, in spite of being something of a spoilsport, was a wise and reasonable enough to know when to relinquish the rules for the greater good. Reverend Pringle joined Wullie’s team when Wullie chose to become a part of the United Church from the Continuing Presbyterian. Wullie and his teammate Pipe would imitate the Devil in disregarding the rules when they managed to get through to Mr. Macbeth, who was the Devil’s third Curler. The two convinced Mr. Macbeth that he would not be able to sweep for the Devil in future if they won because Wullie would be the new third. According to the contract between the Devil and Mr. MacCrimmon, he would curl third if they were able to defeat the team comprising of Malleable, Clock, and Pipe. Due to this pressure, Macbeth curled offstage while Judas and Fawkes swept the wrong way. Wullie then fixed the Devil’s boots with a sterling rivet, to which he was allergic. This resulted in the Devil being unable to walk straight, thereby shooting wrong. The participants as well as audience in a curling game should not cheer or jeer when an opponent makes a poor shot. Moreover, they are encouraged to congratulate a good shot by their opponents. Wullie congratulates his teammate, Clock, for his first curl unlike; the Devil who did not believe in congratulating anyone. However, Clock criticized the Devil’s team for curling in the opposite manner, where the skip who curls last comes first, and the lead last. The Devil’s team had also turned the scoreboard upside down in a reincarnation of a “Black Bonspiel.” In rare congratulations to his teammate, the Devil stated, “Nice rock, Mac” (Michelle and Michelle 89). However, when the Devil tripped Mr. Malleable, he was pointing to the contract between him and Wullie, so as to forfeit the match. This shows the competitive nature of the relationship between the two. Still, Wullie was able to challenge the Devil when he asked him to forfeit the match if he is not willing to let the Reverend Pringle replace the injured Malleable. The Devil jeered at Wullie’s team, at one stage stating, “I had expected a better match from your rink” (Michelle and Michelle 99). The Devil increased his attacks, and called for Wullie and his rink to concede. He then mocked them through statements such as “Never win a bonspiel on bald ends” (Michelle and Michelle 100). Wullie also violated the rules of the game by cheering whenever the Devil made poor shots. He stated, “I think we have this one boys; we have old Cloutie by the tail on a downhill pull” (Michelle and Michelle 104). The audience of Malleable, Pringle, and Pipe also cheered when the Devil hogged his final rock. They also celebrated winning the match, contrary to the rules of the “gentleman’s game.” The curling game between Wullie and the Devil is not characteristic of the “gentleman’s game.” It does not embody values such as honesty, respect, and fair game. In the play, both parties go to enormous lengths to ensure that they win the game at the expense of the other. The Devil does not a play fair game when he deliberately pushes Malleable, thereby hurting his back. Wullie also goes against the rules by fixing a silver rivet in the Devil’s shoes which makes him unable to walk. The devil gets his final two shots wrong, thereby guaranteeing victory for Wullie’s team. However, at the end, Wullie MacCrimmon is easily the best representative of the “gentleman’s game”. Work Cited Mitchell, Ormond, and Barbara Mitchell. The Devil is a Travelling Man. Toronto: Oxford University Press, 2009. 58-107. Print. Read More