In the play Our Country’s Good by Timberlake Wertenbaker, John Wisehammer appears as a convict who is taken to Australia after stealing snuff, which he blatantly denies. Being a Jew, Wisehammer encounters anti-semitism from Ross and Liz. Compared to other convicts, Wisehammer is more informed and educated. While exchanging words with Mary Brenham in Act I Scene Ten, Wisehammer displays his prowess in the English language by defining the different meanings in words such as ‘friend’, ‘country’, ‘indulgent’, and ‘innocent’. Wisehammer confirms this when he tells Mary that “I like words” (Wertenbaker and Keneally 50). He further explains that he used to read a dictionary that he got from his father, which further confirms his intellectualism.

Also, his informed and intellect character is shown in Act II Scene One where uses words which appear to be complex to Liz. He is also quick to notice that Arscott was deceived and betrayed by the sailor “He deceived you, he betrayed you” (Wertenbaker and Keneally 69). Wisehammer is also a resourceful character. She assists Mary to understand the meaning of the word ‘indulgence’ (Wertenbaker and Keneally 50). Also, when Liz is unable to understand the meaning of the term ‘assurance’ during the rehearsals, Wisehammer is quick to explain that it means ‘confidence’. In Act II Scene Seven, Wisehammer explains to Mary the use of the word will between the character Silvia and Plume. Another character trait of Wisehammer is that /he is courageous and fearless. Although Ralph is a lieutenant, Wisehammer engages him in an argument based on the kiss that ‘Plume’ kisses ‘Silvia’ on the stage during the rehearsals. Also, his courageousness is displayed where he writes a prologue that might appear to be provocative to the officers during the play. Wisehammer is also a secretive character, portrayed by his tight-lipped response when Ralph inquires about the whereabouts of Henry Kable, who it was later discovered that he had escaped from the camp.

Other character traits of Wisehammer includes affectionate, which he portrays in a statement to Mary, “You have a beautiful hand” (51) and “We could make a new life together, here. I would marry you,..” (86). Finally, Wisehammer claims to lack self-confidence where he replies to Mary that he is diffident. Due to the numerous character traits of Wisehammer, he can be considered to be a round character whose traits keep on developing throughout the play.

Although the play Our Country’s Good does not have an individual protagonist – portrays protagonist collectively as a group – John Wisehammer plays a significant role in supporting the theme of injustice in the story. He supports the theme of injustice by his repeated statements to Ralph, indicating that Ralph did not want Wisehammer to present the prologue that would paint the convicts as heroes in the play, “You don’t like it” (Wertenbaker and Keneally 86) and“You don’t want me to say it (Wertenbaker and Keneally 107). John Wisehammer is among other flawed convicts who collectively form the protagonist group, against the English officers who form the antagonist group. John Wisehammer writes the prologue which portrays the convicts as heroes and the English officers as villains. The statement, “We left our country for our country’s good” (Wertenbaker and Keneally 107) is found in Wisehammer’s prologue to portray the convicts as true patriots.

The character of John Wisehammer also develops throughout the play. In the beginning, Wisehammer would want to return to England. However, in the end, he prefers to stay in Australia because “no one has more of a right than anyone else to call [him] a foreigner” (Wertenbaker and Keneally 85). Furthermore, also Wisehammer shows interest and affection on Mary in the beginning of the play, he does not show disappointment or remorse when Mary finally falls for Ralph indicating that his character has evolved.