What others say about Quashia:
“Then mine will be Quashia. He is a prince – but
his father is dead so he is adopted by the Duke
of Northangerland.” - Emily Bronte, page 4
“I do have one final secret weapon. I don’t think
you’ve met my adopted son, Quashia?” -
Northangerland, Page 22
“Secret weapon, eh?” - Zamorna, page 22
“Quashia, I’d like to discuss your plans in more
detail. Shall we?” - Northangerland, page 22
“For all Zamorna’s play-acting I can tell
Quashia knows the truth...” Tin Soldier, page 32
“Be happy for me.” Mary Percy, page 33
‘Quashia is alone, aware that Mary is fooling
herself – what to do?’ - Stage directions, page
33
‘Quashia hardly waits for an answer before
dashing off, revenge in his eyes’ Stage
directions, page 39
“The answer won’t bring your father back” Lady
Zenobia to Quashia, page 44
“Go back to playing at politics, little prince.”
S’death to Quashia, page 44
“But Quashia you know this story. Glasstown’s
previous ‘royal’ family was killed in the
aftermath of the battle which brought
Glasstown to what it is now. Then you were
saved from being an orphan grubbing about on
the streets by my master.” S’death to Quashia,
page 45
What this tells us about Quashia:
This is Quashia’s first introduction, Emily does
not expand on his backstory in this moment
because it hasn’t been written yet. I think that
Quashia’s backstory is written into being when
Emily thinks of it, when she realizes she doesn’t
like that the pirates too the land to make
Glasstown.
This scene is the only clues I have to Quashia’s
political career. The subtext is important with
this one, Quashia has no real power in this
situation. Zamorna and Northangerland are too
busy with eachother, power grabbing, to listen
to Quashia.
Quashia is just being used as a symbol to get
Northangerland and Zamorna more votes.
This shows Quashia’s perception in this scene,
how he sees through Zamora's persona, he sees
the red flags that Mary Percy misses.
Stage directions like this show Quashia’s
tendencies to throw himself into situations he
doesn’t full understand. They also highlight
how emotionally driven he is for the rest of the
play.
This comment from Lady Zenobia is probably
what Quashia needs to hear in that moment,
but he ignores it. He also knows that the
alternative to not finding out the truth is a
lifetime of always wondering.
This jibe from S’death hurts because Quashia is
just realising how powerless he is, that that
actually despite his efforts neither
Northangerland nor Zamorna ever listened to
him.
This also lets Quashia know that S’death has
known how powerless Quashia was this whole
time and did nothing.
This is the biggest explanation of Quashia’s
backstory in the script. This explains how after
Quashia’s parents were killed Quashia was
always told he was ‘saved’ by Northangerland.
This is very far from the truth but it explains
why Quashia was trying so hard to please
Northangerland earlier, he thinks he is trying to

“You’re surely not ready to meet S’death again
yet?” Lady Zenobia to Quashia, page 55
“You wretched coward.” Northangerland to
Quashia, page 61
“You are dead to me.” Northangerland to
Quashia, page 61
“We cannot recognise such an illegitimate
claim.” Zamorna to Quashia, page 61
‘Quashia tries to rush forward. Lady Zenobia
grabs him.’ Stage directions, page 61
“Have we not enough divisions between us?
Quashia.” Mary Percy to Quashia, page 62
“Foolish boy, Quashia. You utter fool. Do you
really think you can fight against me?”
Northangerland to Quashia, page 62
‘Quashia produces a sword.’ Stage directions,
page 63
“And what are you going to do with that?”
Northangerland to Quashia, page 63
“You are no fighter, you’ve been
indoctorinated. You can barley hold it without
shaking.” Northangerland to Quashia, page 63
“I never wanted this, Quashia. You must believe
me.” Northangerland to Quashia, page 63
“But you are my son-” Northangerland to
Quashia, page 63
‘Quashia runs at Northangerland on the
repay him for his kindness.
Lady Zenobia says this to Quashia in their
march to Glasstown with the army, this shows
me something about their relationship, that
Lady Zenobia knows Quashia will run in head
first despite being afraid and that she wants to
care for him.
These lines are said as Quashia tries to face
Northangerland and Zamona before the battle.
The two tyrants just try to put Quashia down to
discourage him, but this actually shows their
fear in the situation that they might actually
lose.
It is only in these last scenes that Quashia
begins to hold a little power.
I love this stage direction, it shows Lady
Zenobia and Quashia’s dynamic perfectly. Lady
Zenobia is the thinker, and Quashia is the man
of action, only the combination of both leads to
the freeing of Glasstown.
Quashia’s passion sparks the rebellion and Lady
Zenobia’s brains makes it a successful one.
Mary Percy is desperate now, she realises that
her marriage was a bad idea, and now she just
wants things to go back to the way they were,
but Quashia doesn’t give everything up for her
like he used to.
He’s realised that there's more to life and girls
whose heads are as empty as flowerpots. This is
a breaking point for them, Mary Percy is finally
died something from the man who used to
constantly do anything for her.
These lines are during the duel between
Northangerland and Quashia. It shows what
kind of father Northangerland was, a
manipulative one. He tries several tactics to
break Quashia’s spirit, to get him to give up but
Quashia hears none of it.
This shows Quashia’s determination for his
cause, but also how he is blind to anything but
his singular goal of avenging his family.
battlefield. He lays a glove at his foot. They
make eye contact as Northangerland picks it
up. The two begin to fight, but Northangerland
quickly gets the upper hand.’ Stage directions,
page 63
‘Quashia holds Mary as she falls, then stands to
face Northangerland again.’ Stage directions,
page 63
‘Quashia goes to fight on. Northangerland spins
Quashia’s sword from his grip. Northangerland
buries his blade in Quashia’s chest, Quashia
pulls it in closer and stabs Northangerland in
the chest then pulls out the blade. Both fall to
the ground.’ Stage directions, page 63
What Quashia says about others:
“That’s... when?” Quashia about Mary Percy’s
engagement, page 32
“You surely arent going to waste yourself on
him, are you?” Quashia to Mary Percy, page 33
“He’s nowhere near good enough for you.”
Quashia to Mary Percy about Zamorna, page
33
“Mary please?” Quashia to Mary Percy, page
33
“I warned her.” Quashia about Mary Percy to
Lady Zenobia, page 37
“She looked beautiful.” Quashia about Mary
Percy to Lady Zenobia, page 37
“If you’re looking for gossip to fill your society
pages, Wellesley, we’re not interested.”
Quashia to Charles Wellesley, page 37
These stage directions show how tender and
sweet Mary Percy and Quashia’s relationship is.
That despite disagreements Quashia would be
there for her if she needed him.
This shows Quashia’s skill with a blade, but that
Northangerland is better.
The fact that Quashia pulls the knife in closer to
himself shows that he has accepted his own
death and no longer cares for his own safety,
only getting revenge.
What this tells us about Quashia:
Here you can see how Quashia was about to
burst into something like ‘That’s ridiculous you
can’t marry him’ but he stops himself because
Northangerland is there.
This shows us how much power
Northangerland wields over Quashia, that a
mere glance could shut him up. Northangerland
never lets Quashia forget his place.
In this scene Quashia tries to warn Mary Percy
not to marry Zamorna, and he does so quite
informally. The informality of the lines shows
the easy-going nature of the relationship.
However it also hints to the fact that Quashia
has feelings for Mary Percy, but she cannot see
him as anything but a brother.
The stakes are high for Quashia in this scene,
Mary Percy is the only person to really pay
attention to him, love him even a little bit. He is
losing his best friend.
By this point in the play Quashia has become
quite bitter, he has lost the last good thing in
his life: Mary Percy.
This shows how Quashia is still not over Mary
Percy but is trying to drink his sorrows away at
the wedding.
This snap at Charles Wellesley shows how
Quashia thinks of himself as above people like
Charles. He has probably heard rumours about
how Charles is not a gentleman, and just out for
his own gain. It's also mentioned earlier in the

“S’death? The man with the haggard face?”
Quashia about S’death, page 38
“They never told me, what are you saying? That
S’death knows whos responsible?” Quashia to
Charles Wellesley, page 39
“He wasn’t lying. I could see it in his eyes.
S’death has known all this time.” Quashia
about Charles Wellesley to Lady Zenobia, page
44
“You snake, always the sinister shadow to
Northangerland’s footstep.” Quashia to
S’death, page 44
“You see everything that happens in this
kingdom.” Quashia to S’death, page 45
“I will kill you.” Quashia to S’death, page 45
“He’s lying.” Quashia to S’death, page 45
“Northangerland has poisoned all of
Glasstown.” Quashia to Lady Zenobia, page 46
“I fear he may have spies everywhere. Eyes in
every camp. Even this one.” Quashia to Lady
AGA about Northangerland, page 53
“You stole from my family.” Quashia to
Northangerland, page 61
script that Charles made up rumours about
Mary Percy stealing from the poor (Page 14).
Therefore in defence of Mary Percy’s honour
Quashia would hate Charles out of principle.
This shows that Quashia has been raised as a
gentleman, despite being locked away like a
hostage.
This line shows that Quashia has never really
cared for S’death, despite them sharing a
palace for the last 10 years.
This is the first instance Quashia starts using
‘they’ as an enemy, something he continues to
do when thinking about Northangerland and
Zamorna.
This is the moment that Quashia realises that
the answers he’s always wanted are out there
and doesn’t stop until he gets them.
These lines tell me that Quashia is quite good at
reading people, and that he knows Charles
better than he thought.
These lines show Quashia’s Shakespearian side
in it’s best light. He uses alliteration in his
insults to give more punch, and has many
similarities to Shakespeare’s Hamlet in his
revenege scheme.
This is an empty threat from Quashia but shows
how far he is willing to go to get information. It
also shows how he is really quite a young man,
playing at being an adult. He’s just copying
what he’s seen others do and S’death sees
through this threat.
S’death is not lying in this scene, Quashia just
wishes he was. This shows how is takes Quashia
a few moments to actually digest the
information that S’death is immortal.
These lines allude to Quashia’s paranoia and
anger at Northangerland he realises that
Northangerland has his fingers in everything
and is enraged by it.
These lines speak of Quashia’s silent pain all
these years. He has been isolated and used a
“You lied to me for years. You raised my in your
home, like a pet, a hostage, a prisoner.”
Quashia to Northangerland, page 61
“I’m sorry Mary, but it has to be done.”
Quashia to Mary Percy, page 62
“Kill you, Northangerland.” Quashia to
Northangerland, page 63
“This only ends one way.” Quashia to
Northangerland, page 63
What Quashia says about himself:
“I wish to get better treatment for my people,
sir.” Quashia to Zamorna, page 22
“I was too young to remember, or perhaps
somehow I can't.” Quashia, page 45
“I’ve no time for this! I want blood, not
honour.” Quashia, page 46
political weapon from a young age. When he
finally gets to face Northangerland he’s had
time to collect his thoughts and he eloquently
calls Northangerland out for his crimes.
Quashia is desperately trying to be an adult, but
the hurt behind these words is still fresh which
makes these lines have a child-like undertone.
This moment between Mary Percy and Quashia
is where their relationship breaks. I was talking
to Lissi (who plays Mary Percy) about this scene
and we decided that even if Mary Percy and
Quashia survived the battle they would not
have gotten together because of this moment.
Mary Percy took Quashia for granted and
thought he would always do anything for her,
but Quashia is realising that there is more for
him out there and some unavailable girl. Mary
Percy has made her decision to marry Zamorna,
Quashia cannot always rescue her from
everything.
However at the same time, Quashia knows that
if he saves Glasstown there is a chance he can
save Mary Percy too. But this not so that they
can be together and more so that Glasstown
can be free. Quashia realises how naive Mary
Percy is and how he deserves better, and so
does Glasstown for a queen.
These lines show Quashia’s grit in not listening
to Northangerland and sticking to his resolution
to get revenge.
What this tells us about Quashia
This line shows us Quashia’s hopeful side, how
he is young and thinks he can change the world.
It also shows how he naturally has a heart for
the people of Glasstown.
This is the only glimpse into what Quashia may
remember of his childhood, it’s possible that he
saw many traumatic things when Glasstown
was conquered and blocked these details out.
This kind of amnesia is called Dissociative
Amnesia.
This line shows the biggest shift in Quashia, at
the beginning he wants to be the perfect little
gentleman, and to please Northangerland. But

“I’d still go alone to fight Northangerland.”
Quashia to Lady Zenobia, page 55
“I want to slay him myself.” Quashia about
Northangerland, page 56
“I, prince Quashia, have been joined by the
Queen and her warriors, and we will free
Glasstown.” Quashia, page 61
“I will avenge my father and regain my home.”
Quashia to Northangerland, page 61
“All I ever wanted was a father, and you took
that from me, twice.” Quashia to
Northangerland, page 63
“I’ll never believe anything you say again.”
Quashia to Northangerland, page 63
“Not anymore. Now I fight for my real father!”
Quashia to Northangerland, page 63
“I now must avenge Mary’s death too.”
Quashia to Northangerland, page 63
when giving up ‘honour’ he is also giving up the
gentleman’s code to focus on his goals. He is
breaking out of what’s been drummed into
since he was a child and is stepping forward to
protect his land and his family.
Quashia is a man of big words, he is very
melodramatic like the other Glasstown
characters and these lines confirm it.
These are some of Quashia’s most eloquent
lines, this is where we see him as the rebel
leader and is a big growing up point for him. In
the earlier scene with S’Death, Quashia wasn’t
ready to kill anyone but now he is, thus
showing character growth.
This is a core line for Quashia, he is desperate
for love, that’s why he hyper fixates of Mary
Percy and why he tries so hard to impress
Northangerland. But eventually he realises that
nothing he does will ever be enough for
Northangerland and that actually he’s been lied
to all these years.
This reinforces Quashia’s deep distrust for
Northangerland to the audience. It also shows
how Quashia has to internally remind himself
not to trust Northangerland because part of
him wants to believe the lies but he can’t live
like that anymore.
This shows how Quashia has now separated his
biological father from Northangerland in his
head.
This adds more weight to Quashia’s need to
fight and helps to justify his death to the
audience.