The aim of this essay is to see how Alan Ayckbourn uses language inorder to depict his characters in his play MotherFigure from 1974. By using a pragmatic approach, including Gricean maxims,speech acts and politeness theories, I will examine how the three maincharacters communicate and what conclusions can be drawn from this. First, Itake a look at the language strategies given to each of the characters as theyenter the stage. After that I look at the interaction and the struggle forpower. The conclusion I made is that Lucy has many bald-on records, which makesher role very powerful. Rosemary, on the other hand, maintains her weak statusby using many politeness strategies and vague utterances. Terry, the thirdcharacter, is forced to surrender to the adult-child power struggle that Lucyhas been caught up in.

Families in much of William Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha fiction are built upon traditional patriarchal structure with the father as head and provider and the mother or mother figure in charge of keeping the home and raising the children. Even though the roles appear to be clearly defined and observed, the families decline and disintegrate.