How I learned to Drive

The final play of the semester turned out to be very different to all the other plays we have read so fare. How I Learned to Drive by Jill Dolan was a really interesting play that kept me intrigued the entire read. The story line of the play was simple but how it was presented and portrayed was quite different to anything we have read thus fare. It reminded me of watching Hollywood movie thriller as it went back and forth in time leaving the viewer to connect the dots.

While the play jumps back and forth in time, the play writer cleverly makes it apparent through what the characters are saying as to what stage in life they are currently at. The most commonly used technique for this was one of the characters mentioning the age of the other. The play is situated around the relationship between Peck and Li’l Bit. It is interesting how the play writer drops hints to the audience about their relationship. It’s a well structured play that kept me interested until the final line.

Feminism

While near the end of the semester I began look back at all the plays and articles we have read and analysed. Than I read over the play “Top Girls” by Caryl Churchill, to see that it just like all the other plays has intriguing in its own sense. The play that is set in the modern day captures to opposing sides feminism. The caretakers verse the working woman, a debate that has plagued the 21st century.

The play really got me thinking about what is a stereotypical female’s role in today’s society. There is no doubt more and more women are becoming in depended and work for themselves. However through my experience growing up I have personally seen the majority of woman play the role of caretaker to a family while the man is the bread winner.

The play “Top girls” does not side with either but rather portrays the point of view of both sides. I would have to admit this is not a topic I have spent much time thinking about before. However, this play really gets me wondering. Today’s society is changing rapidly and what was once the norm is now being questioned.

Fences.

The play Fences by August Wilson, has been may favorite play we have read and discussed this semester. This basic concept of the play was again about the american dream however is portrayed from the perspective of African americans. The monologue/lecture by troy to cory(son) in scene 3 of act 1, I found extremely interesting and entertaining to read.

I personally refer to this scene as “how come you never liked me scene”. This comical in the sense that his father is telling his son that he doesn’t have to like him, as that was not part of the deal of having him as a son. While it would seem that this could be almost scaring for a son to hear, they way in which he presents the information makes it seem that the son takes it as lesson. It is interesting that underneath this comical scene there is a underlining truth.

It is expected that parents have a duty to bring up there children to the best of there ability by giving them as many opportunities as they possibly can. However, there is nothing saying they have to like there children. This raise the question to what extent does a father or parent have responsibility to there child?

The Cherry Orchard.

I found the Cherry Orchard to be an enjoyable read with a good twist. I noticed that by the end of the first act the play had well established foundation to lunch off. The major characters had been well introduced and the plot of the play was already beginning to become complex.

I noticed that there was plenty of discussion about the past. For example in the opening scene we learn that it is taking place in a nursery that Ranevsky and Gayev grew up in. Ranevsky in particular really likes to discuss her child hood memories which really help the audience understand her. It is evident that the characters speaking about their past is an easy way for Chekhov to introduce the audience to the character by giving them some background information.

Lopakhin reveals the direction of the play by strongly enforcing his opinions of the financial situation in which the family has found itself. This causes the first sign of tension in the play which indicates this is an important and touch topic. This makes it apparent that play is going to structured around this dilemma of money verse’s heritage. However, the play becomes much more complex in the following acts.

Desdemona's role

I thought the interview with Kent Thompson by Phillip C. Kolin was very interesting and gave a very different perspective on the play Othello in comparison to what I had personally created, in particular the way in which Thompson illustrated the character Desdemona.

Thompson, when choosing a character for the roll of Desdemona, was looking for someone in late 20s to middle early 30s. I personally, and I believe most people; saw Desdemona as a young beautiful girl who was simply being cared by romance throughout the play(aged around 23). However, Thompson had a different point view. He saw Desdemona as a more knowledgeable and wiser character. The reasoning Thompson wanted Desdemona to be older was because he believed a modern interpretation to fit in with the clash of cultures that is at the centre of Othello.

This changes the dynamics of the whole play with Desdemona being a central character in the play. While rereading the play it easy to see how Thompson gets this interpretation of Desdemona being a more experienced character. It no doubt adds more depth to the play, as you begin to questions Desdemona’s decisions. It is interesting that Kolin states that Desdemona was played initially as a victim in the play. However Thompson is now trying to portray her as a more defiant character amongst an all mall cast. When I read the play I saw her as a victim that really just got caught in the wrong crowd.

Othello: Plot

While Othello, Written by William Shakespeare was a long read, I felt intrigued and captivated throughout the whole play. In class the other day I was dedicated the job of analysing the plot of the play Medea. Because of this I found myself paying extreme attention to the plot while reading the play Othello.

Othello had very structured plot with a clear beginning, middle and end. However, the key to a tragic play is that plot creates events that are fearful and pathetic. The best example of where Shakespeare’s shapes a fearful event is in the ending when Othello comes to the realization that Desdemona is innocent. I personal was shocked and felt the fear Othello must have felt when he was delivered this information. After this scene Othello begins weep and cry over his mistakes. This also gives a clear message of a pathetic, helpless character.

A tragic play according to Aristotle is meant to situate around one character. Shakespeare does not conform to this element as several characters play an important part in the play. Igao and Othello are the two dominate characters while it can be argued that both Cassio and Desdemona play vitual roles.

I feel that analysing the plot while I read the play, made it for a more exciting read as I tried to predict what would happen next.

Poetics

Poetics by Aristotle was not an enjoyable read for me personally however it did make some interesting statements and comparisons. Aristotle went into great depth of explain the six constituent elements of tragedy and how they came about.

The most intriguing part of Aristotle article is when he discusses the tragic side of tragedy: Pity and Fear and the patterns of the complex plot. Aristotle states “the construction of the finest tragedy should be not simple but complex, and at the same time imitative of fearful and pitiable happenings”. After this he continues with several complex examples of non tragic plots and characters. This particular line really drew my attention to how in depth and analysed these plays are. While I guess I never really thought how people write plays, I would never have guessed that a play writer would be so careful in trying to portray these emotions to enforce the play to be a tragedy.

However, I was very wrong indeed. For example Aristotle has broken down the plot of tragic to be the imitation of an action where is complete and whole. Confusing? Aristotle stresses that the play is not centralised around one character but influenced by several character and the events that occur around them.

Overall a tragic play is one confusing play to write or analysis.

Marriage

The play Medea by Euripides, I believe is an over dramatic version of the average divorced family in today’s society. The play is prioritised around a wife (medea) seeking revenge on her unfaithful husband (Jason). Jason and medea have two children which medea has decided to kill in order to get back at unfaithful husband. Medea believes the pain of killing two children will be over powered by the satisfaction of hurting her husband. Yes, this is a really dramatic play.

Obviously these kinds of actions would not go unpunished in today’s society and even if one was to mention such thoughts, it would cause some serious questioning. I’m not an expected on the topics of marriage failures but It’s hard to not be related to one in today’s culture. It’s almost fully accepted to get a divorce today for any reason. However, i think the play medea is a dramatic version of todays divorces in the sense that the children are the ones who suffer the most. In the play the children suffer the ultimate price there life, today the children are more likely to suffer emotional and mental damage. Marriage is a sacred bond that should be honoured by both parties.

Dead End Job

I vastly enjoyed reading the play Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller and found the relationship between Willy and his old boss Mr Wanger and his son Howard Wagner who has taken over the business in which Willy works. Willy is under the impression that if the Mr Wanger was still alive and in control of the company, he would be in charge of the New York section. However this is not the case and Willy is working a sales in out in the middle of nowhere.

It is evident that Willy has spent his whole life working this job in hope that he will be promoted and moved up the Hierarchy of the company. However, due to the change of leadership this never occurred and he is now 63 and stuck in the same dead-end job. This particular part of the play drew my attention and made me start questioning my future.

I always took the optimistic approach that things would always work out alright. But in this play Willy simply seems to never succeed and almost become crazy in a sense. What is it to have a dream or a future goal? What is it we really want and why do we want it? This play has provoked many of these thoughts into my head and the only real answer I can put to them is family. The reason I feel I do most things is for my family. I think Willy’s family is very fragmented and this is the reason for the fighting and constant indecisions thought-out the whole family.

Across the world

While reading the play “Fires on the mirror”, a section by Norman Rosenbaum called “sixteen hours difference”, caught my attention. The section is about a young man who receives a call from his wife asking him to come home as there is problem. He rushes home to be informed by his good friend that his brother has been killed amongst the riots in Crown heights, Brooklyn, America.

I found it intriguing that it hadn’t even entered his mind that his brother could have been harmed. His brother was on the other side of the world and got caught up in the wrong crowd and payed the ultimate price. I went on to read the other sections, “My Brothers Blood” to find his brother was murder for being a Jew. Not because he had done someone wrong but because he had a different belief system. Norman now seeks revenge not just on the people who killed his brother but also every American who represents the injustice justice system. Only 1 of the 20 people who attacked his brother was arrested.

This section really drew my attention because I am also 16 hours away from home and also have a brother. The thought that I could possible get a random phone call with this kind of news, simply scares me. It was only in 2005 when the Cronulla riots (also racially motivated) broke out in Queensland (where I live) and 23 people were injured. We think ourselves as invincible and our family will always be there but happens when uncontrollable circumstances occur? Where do we turn? What action do we take?

I have read my syllabus and accept the terms of the course