Archer Shee Case Allegory
The entire play is an allegory of the case of George Archer Shee, a young cadet who was defended against the odds so well that he was actually acquitted of stealing a five shilling postal order. Archer Shee's family, particularly his father, had been very vocal in supporting George, and in publicly advocating for him; this is also allegorized in Rattigan's play, as the story is mostly told from the perspective of Winslow's family. Although the play's title suggests that Winslow is the main character, this honor actually falls to his father, and this allegorizes the public perception of the Archer Shee case and the way in which in both the real life story and the allegorical one, it is the fathers of the accused young men rather than the young men themselves who are the characters most familiar to the general public.
Family Loyalty Motif
The key motif repeated throughout the play is that of family loyalty. Winslow's sister does not think twice about advocating for and loudly defending her brother. She doesn't need to think about whether he is guilty or not because she knows his character and knows that he is innocent. Once Winslow's father comes on board, his loyalty know no bounds. He is determined to clear his son's name but more importantly than that, he wants him to have a fair hearing and not be railroaded. Were it not for the loyalty of his family young Winslow would likely have been dismissed from the navy in disgrace his life irreparably damaged.
The loyalty motif also exetenes to Catherine Winslow's wider extended family; her fiance's father feels that her loyalties should have been with her fiance and his family who have a storied history of military service, rather than with her younger brother; it is Sir Robert's obvious loyalty to her brother that finally wins her over and makes her view him in a far more romantic light.
David versus Goliath Motif
The motif of the underdog "little man" versus Goliath, in this case the state, is present throughout the play. Winslow is the ultimate underdog; he is a navy cadet, a fourteen year old schoolboy subject to the military justice that operates outside of the regular legal system. He is a child going up against very powerful adults; the Winslow family are civilians going up against the machinery of military and government. This motif introduces the story of the play and is also evident throughout.
Catherine's Father In Law Symbol
Catherine's father in law to be is a symbol of the military man who believes that what the government says is right, and that loyalty to the military should override loyalty to one's family. He is a stereotypical veteran officer who believes that authority should be neither challenged nor questioned and is symbolic of the officer classes in the British army at the time.
Sir Robert Morton
Sir Robert is an allegorical character based on Sir George Carson who defended George Archer Shee. Both men are politicians and barristers and both are unlikely defenders of the "little man". Like Carson, Sir Robert turns down a lucrative promotion so that he can continue in the defense of a young man in whose innocence he completely believes. Sir Robert is also allegorical of Carson in that both are political figures who unexpectedly act against their own best interests when throughout their careers they have made sure to protect themselves and their future careers.
