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...