Bennett uses the form of monologue in "Bed Among the Lentils" as a way of portraying the story in the eyes of the narrator. If written as plays proper they would be different stories, more objective, rounded and altogether fairer on the people the narrator is talking about. This fact makes the monologue a great way of only portraying one side of the story, seeing the world through the narrators eyes.
             In "Bed Among the Lentils" Susan is a product of society, but not in the ways we would expect, she appears to almost rebel against the way society views her. In the first line of Susan's description we hear that she is a vicars wife who "is thin and nervous and probably smokes," immediately we are hearing a description that is contradictory to societies pre-conceived ideas of what a vicars wife should be.
             Susan's first few words show us that it's not just her appearance that is different, "Geoffrey's bad enough but I'm glad I wasn't married to Jesus," Certainly not the words that we would expect from a vicars wife. Bennett throws the reader straight in at the deep end showing us how stereotypical society can be and our pre-conceived ideas aren't always right. Forcing us into reality that Susan is no "normal" vicars wife.
             We are then in shock again in the third paragraph to find a vicar with a sense of humour. Followed with a sermon on sex. Certainly not what you would expect in a church. Susan's unexpected wit about her religion adds certain pathos towards her.
             The second page introduces to Susan's desires of a life that is very different from the one she lives in. The sudden change in rhythm highlights that we are about to learn something important about Susan. "Roads busy. Sunday Afternoon. Families having a run out." Stressing the change in Susan's tone. The view that religion has ruined her life becomes appar...