Written concept of Our Countrys Good Scene 10, Act 1

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Written concept of Our Country’s Good Scene 10, Act 1

I personally have found the social, historical and political context of ‘Our Country’s Good’ fascinating. The way it manages to take an issue from many years ago, the treatment of prisoners and system of punishment, and relate it to similar issues today is very interesting. It makes us question important political and social issues today at the same time as entertaining us by allowing the characters to tell us their story. In the particular scene that I have chosen to write about we find Mary Brenham copying out ‘The Recruiting Officer’ (the play she and other convicts have been chosen to act out). She attracts the attention of John Wisehammer, another convict, who we learn has a love for words. This leads them to exchange on the sound and meaning of the words which are poignantly linked to their situation.

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If I was to play the part of Mary Brenham in this named scene, my interpretation would need to take into account the historical, social and political context of ‘Our Country’s Good’. In historical terms I would need to remember that although this play deals with issues found in today’s society, the actual text is set in 1787. Therefore, the way people would go about their daily lives would be very different to the present day. I would need to insure that my interpretation of Mary kept a sense of this different society within her. Despite being on a ...

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