The 39 Steps: sub-text

Understanding Sub-text in “The 39 Steps”

Sub-text refers to the underlying, implied messages in a character’s dialogue or actions, which are often left up to interpretation by the audience and other characters.
In “The 39 Steps”, the sub-text is crucial to understanding the motivations, secrets, and complexities of the characters.
It’s important to consider sub-text when analysing any character’s motivations or reactions to events. This will allow for a deeper and richer understanding of the play overall.

Richard Hannay’s consistent use of dry humour, for instance, serves as a sub-text suggesting his attempts to remain calm and collected despite the life-threatening circumstances he’s involved in.
Pamela’s initial mistrust of Hannay, despite evidence proving his innocence, sub-textually implies her adherence to law and order, but also perhaps an unconscious bias against his non-aristocratic bearing.

Sub-text also provides the audience with clues ahead of the main character. For instance, the seemingly innocent actions of Annabella have a sinister undercurrent that foretells her true role as a spy.

The scene where Hannay is stuck in the political rally sub-textually lampoons the empty rhetoric of politicians. Hannay gives an inspirational speech without knowing the party’s policies, highlighting the superficiality of political discourse.
The hectic pacing and slapstick humour often disguise the sub-text of the play, creating a conflict between the light-hearted presentation and the deadly seriousness of the espionage plot.

Conversations in the play frequently carry sub-textual hint of paranoia and suspicion, reflecting the anxious pre-World War II era when the play is set.

Several scenes are crafted with ironic sub-text to underline the gap between appearance and reality, a common theme in spy thrillers. For example, the villainous Professor Jordan appears as a harmless, affable host when Hannay first encounters him.

Finally, the recurring motif of ‘steps’ in different contexts in the play serves as a sub-textually powerful symbol for progress, pursuit, and escape.