A Personal Response to A Thing of Beauty-

        “A Thing of Beauty” by Charles Kray is a very interesting story about how a Nazi soldier interrogates nuns at a convent. This is a particularly interesting topic because it is unusual and it explores the different outcomes of the situation. It was very surprising that the colonel did not kill Sister Benedicte even though he knew that she was actually Edith Stein. Kray’s use of tone and sarcasm in the script helps create the backbone of the story and builds tension in the play.

        The structure of the play is very simple yet it is an important aspect of making the play appealing. The Prioress and the Colonel start off by talking about the Colonel’s search for Edith Stein. This is not only an exciting beginning that gets the audience interested, but it is also very informative because it introduces what the play is about and what the intentions of the colonel is. As the play progresses, the Colonel insist on the interrogation of Sister Benedicta, because he had a strong instinct that she is, or was, Edith Stein. During the interrogation, both the colonel and Sister Benedicta learnt a lot from each other. They both have different point of views and they explain to each other why they believe in their principles. At the end, the colonel becomes convinced that Sister Benedicta is Edith Stein, but he does not take her away to kill her, because after listening to her teachings, he has a better understanding of the situation. The ending is important because it’s the final moment to see the Colonel’s decision in what happens to Sister Benedicta.  

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        Throughout the story, Kray builds the tension, keeping the audience involved. In the beginning the tension already starts because the Colonel immediately wants to find this Edith Stein and is going through extreme measures to find her. “…nineteen innocent nuns are taken off a train like criminals and sent to a concentration camp.” The audience is in suspense during Sister Benedicta’s interrogation with the Colonel because with every question he asks, the audience wonders if she will be put into concentration camp. At the end of their conversation, the suspense is at its peak because it is the final moment ...

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