A Slight Ache is a playabout a couple (Edward and Flora) who don't really love each other. Edward has fears that their marriage will break down, reflected in the slight ache he feels constantly. The marriage does break down when Flora runs off with the Matchseller, who she is attracted to. Main themes: dreams and desires, superiority and inferiority. Flora dreams about the Match Seller. Fears- a slight ache is only psychological, it represents Edward's fears. Flora's husband sees himself as a man's man: master of his house, knows nothing about flowers and stuff. Outside a silent match-seller. Is he a threat? What does he want? The play is about fear and how you deceive yourself by trying to disarm the enemy : social reality is made sinister by an eerie sense of symbolism.