You should always respect and love me, Edward, not for myself, I may not deserve it, but as I respected and loved my own father, because he was my father. Through our father we love our Queen and our God.

This quote, from Clive in Act I, Scene three illustrates Clive's mindless acceptance of history and tradition. Clive does not see the absurdity of his argument that Edward's respect for him should not have anything to do with Clive's personal behavior. Clive also connects loyalty to family with loyalty to country, implying the parallel between colonial and sexual oppression. Clive's comment comes on the heels of Edward getting caught playing with Victoria's doll again.

Clive's statement to Edward tempers slightly the image of Clive as a ruthless, overbearing patriarch. Clive recognizes that he "may not deserve" Edward's respect, but he demands it nonetheless because his father demanded his respect. In many ways, Clive is an unknowing vessel of oppressive British values. Clive cannot separate love and duty. He believes that Edward should love him because of his role as father, thus absolving himself of any responsibility to be an understanding, compassionate parent.