4

With Hughes however and others like him there is no given tradition. Left wing art is experimenting with old forms and new forms, approved methods and discarded methods, seeking to create its tradition which will render more tractable the newer materials, the newer experiences forming the subject matter of our "new" drama.

Such appears to be the nature of the difficulty. What Hughes' lapses reflect is not inner incoherence between thought and emotion but the lack of available tradition to help him master the new content of art. The less the genius, the more important and needful the tools of the trade, and the newer these tools the more awkward and unsatisfactory will be the construction of the dramatic form and t the art bodying forth this form.

In this matter we see embodied the dilemma of present day writers, not an isolated failing of Hughes. Nor do these comments attempt to evaluate the play as "good", "bad" and so on. These comments aim to consider the function of the innovation in the structure of the play and the secret of its success of achieving immediacy.