The language in "The Royal Hunt of the Sun"

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The language in

“The Royal Hunt of the Sun”

Language can convey and determine many things shaping a play in many areas. It can provide a strong reflection of status, portray different cultures, and describe the set up of location and the characters within that location. It can you allow you an understanding into the period of time that the play is set in, display the themes and issues within a play and allow gives a voice to the playwright to express what feelings that have of particular issues. I will assess these areas in the “Royal Hunt of the Sun” and un-pick to a large extent how each of the above is used within scenes and describe the effect this creates.

        It is very clear from the language used in act one scene one in the description of Pizzaro that he is a character with a great sense of importance and high status. Not only does he seem to possess such powerful control, he is described to carry and portray this power within the emotions he gives out. Being described as ‘tough, commanding and harsh’…with gestures that are ‘blunt, often violent’ and using expressions that are ‘intense and capable of fury’ he is obviously aware of his position and exercises this status. The language Old Martin uses throughout the play is full of strong imagery and stressed emotions. Within his first speech he describes his image of Pizzaro using spiritual qualities ‘my bright image of salvation’ He shows a desperateness of character to please Pizzaro ‘when I’d have died for him.’ Through this we can see how Pizzaro’s status affects other characters within the play. Pizzaro’s high status is portrayed again when first meeting the Spaniards. Each shows an eagerness to serve through being addressed and responding with ‘sir’, this suggests they feel unimportant in his presence.

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   The style, the way it’s structured and the complexity of the language often reflect the status. We can make a comparison of Pizzaro (the Spanish leader) and Atahuallpa from act two, (the Inca god). Although they are both high in status their language is significantly different. Pizzaro often talks gently, and deeply of life and nostalgia, memories of the past ‘Fame is long death is longer, life was fierce with feeling, it was all hope.’ He displays this sense that all is lost. However Atahuallpa is bluntly opposite. He speaks of his status and shows the realisation that his ...

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