Throughout Alan's life Dora constantly leaves out her husband's opinions when dealing with Alan. Dora allows her son to sneak over to the neighbours to watch television when her husband is not home: .
Dysart: But surely you don't have a set, do you? I understood .
Mr. Strang doesn't approve.
Dora (conspiratorially): He doesn't . I used to let him slip off in .
the afternoons to a friend next door. .
Dysart (smiling): You mean without his father's knowledge.
Dora: What the eye does not see, the heart does not grieve over, .
does it? Anyway, Westerns are harmless enough, surely? (Pg. 31) .
This quote suggests that Dora would rather Alan be happy watching Westerns, than agree with her husband and follow the house rules. The reasons behind Dora and Frank's discrepancies are because of their marriage. Frank believes that Dora married below her, and this is why they disagree on serious family issues. Alan's personality and actions as an adult stem from his mother's constant preaching of the bible as well as how she continuously disregards her husband's judgements. .
Dora's excessive preaching of the bible with Alan, as well as the disregarding judgement of her husband's opinions affects Alan greatly. Alan is taught to believe that everything that has to do with the bible or worship is a secret, he also has a prearranged hate for his father because of his parents' constant disagreements. Dora's constant preaching of the bible taught Alan to associate worship and passion with secrets, he is trained to believe that there is nothing better in life than God or worship. Dora's readings deposit into Alan's head to make him believe that his worship is always there: "always watching- seeing every move he makes. The effect of this on Alan is not pleasant. The night that Alan plans to consummate his relationship with Jill all he can see and feel beneath him is his passion, his worship: Nugget the horse.
