Without the stage directions, the tragedy of Death of a Salesman could not be realised. To what extent do you agree?
"Without the stage directions, the tragedy of Death of a Salesman could not be realised." Beginning with an analysis of ... to what extent do you agree? Obviously Death of a Salesman is a play, so stage directions are very important in the development and the performance. But in some plays the stage directions are there just for confirmation, as the speech plays a large role in what happens logistically on the stage. But in Death of a Salesman there is a very different story in terms of stage directions, Arthur Miller wanted the tale of Death of a Salesman to be one that touched upon real life, all of the setting, the two story family house and the average car, as well as the characters, A husband working hard to provide the mother trying to do what she can at home and two sons trying to make the best out of what they have during their younger years. But to fully finish off this aim of reality Miller needed to include some stage directions that the reader can link too when the script is read through and also vivid imagery when the play is watched by an audience. My first example comes at the beginning of ACT 1. The script begins, as you would imagine, with stage directions, key to starting off a play so all of the actors know where to be placed. But Death of a Salesman is different, it has a 'page and a half' of stage directions, all in full detail which allows the first
Examine the Presentation of America in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'.
Examine the Presentation of America in 'A Streetcar Named Desire'. In the first scene of the play, one of the central protagonists, Blanche DuBois, is seen arriving at Stella's (her sister) home in Elysian Fields, where 'her appearance looks incongruous to the setting'. The contrast of the character to her setting, and her conflicts with the other characters is a motif used throughout the play to explore the social and cultural changes occurring in America when the play was originally published. We are introduced to the setting of the play in scene one, a street called Elysian Fields in a run-down quarter of New Orleans. The name Elysian Fields is ironic since, in classical mythology, it is meant to be paradise; the stage directions indicate the street is anything but! The area is described as poor, and the atmosphere is one of decay. Nevertheless, the playwright reveals some affection for the place referring to its 'raffish charm' and his lyrical images of the colours the sky imparts on the buildings in the evenings. Stella's apartment is cramped and not to Blanche's taste, she sarcastically remarks that only Edgar Allen Poe, renowned for his macabre poems, could justifiably describe it and surmises that New Orleans must be the "ghoul-haunted woodland of Weir". Williams provides a more realistic portrait of an urban area through the descriptions of the noises and smells,
My Last Duchess' we experience the view that the male should have the main role in relationships, in 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci' we hear of a relationship where the woman is in total control
What differing views and experiences of male-female relationships do you find in these poems, and how do the poets effectively express them? In the three poems we experience three different views of how male-female relationships should take place. In 'My Last Duchess' we experience the view that the male should have the main role in relationships, in 'La Belle Dame Sans Merci' we hear of a relationship where the woman is in total control of the man and has all the power. Finally in 'A Woman to Her Lover' we hear the view that both men and women should have an equal amount of power and no one should be dominant. In 'My Last Duchess' the thoughts of a very possessive and arrogant Duke of Ferrara are shared. He expected his wife to behave in a very conservative manner and wanted her to treat others as inferior. The Duke shows his position of power in the poem by referring to her as; 'My Last Duchess'. The Duke uses the possessive pronoun 'My' which shows that the Duke doesn't want anyone else to enjoy his wife's company and he wants her all to himself. This shows that he has power over his wife as he refers to her as a belonging; it also shows that he is arrogant as well as dominant. Furthermore, we can see that the word 'last' implies that the Duke had previous wives; it also suggests that she is his duchess no more and so something must have happened to her. As a result
An Interpretation of a Streetcar Named Desire.
Vanessa Mendez Eng102.5817 Prof. Rosenblitt An Interpretation of a Streetcar Named Desire In a Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, jealousy is displayed in the character of Stanley Kowalski who was one of the protagonists of the play. Stanley Kowalski was a very arrogant man who believed everything had to go his way. Everything started when Blanche Dubois goes to visit her sister Stella Kowalski and her husband Stanley. Stanley was never nice to Blanche from the time they spent together and on. He was very disrespectful and always spoke to her with indirect statements. Stanley shows his brutality throughout the play displaying the feeling of jealousy. The first time was when he threw the radio out of the window, the second was when he hit Stella and the third was when he raped Blanche. My interpretation is that Stanley felt jealous towards Blanche because he believed that she was going to ruin his relationship with Stella. The first incident in which Stanley shows his brutality was at poker night. Poor Blanche turns on the radio in the other room; Stanley then hears the music and demands her to turn it off. When Blanche refuses he comes into the room and turns off the radio in bad manner. Then one of Stanley's friends named Mitch goes into the room and joins Blanche in a conversation. Blanche once again turns the radio on and this time she starts prancing around
Troy Maxson, the main character in August Wilsons critically acclaimed play Fences, talks about his father who was never there for him when he was a kid. Born in the southern United States, where African- Americans were racially discriminated during th
Oh Father, Where Art Thou? Thy Son Awaits Troy Maxson, the main character in August Wilson's critically acclaimed play Fences, talks about his father who was never there for him when he was a kid. Born in the southern United States, where African- Americans were racially discriminated during the time, Troy's father was evil and tortured him. He feels that he has been really supportive for his kids and he is what his father had never been to him. Troy grew up with a father who thought putting food on the table and roof over the head was the only thing a father has to do for his family. Despite Troy's attempt to be unlike his father, his style of talking to the kids and ordering them to respect him makes him exactly like his father. Fences, is not necessarily about how history repeats itself, but also how a person's past influences their life and decisions. Troy's father didn't support the family like a normal father did. His father, Maxson Sr. was there only to support his family basic needs; food on the table and roof over their heads. His father was never there for him or his family. Troy talks about his father being evil because of which nobody could withstand him and also his mother leaving him when he was young because of his father's evilness. He says: My mama couldn't stand him. Couldn't stand that evilness. She ran off when I was eight. She sneaked off one night
A View from the Bridge. Although Eddie is a good man, how do his weaknesses destroy him?
Although Eddie is a good man, how do his weaknesses destroy him? The play 'A View from the Bridge' by Arthur Miller centres on the Carbone family living in 1950's New York City. Within the tragic plotline, Arthur Miller vividly illustrates how an individual's life can be crippled under the weight of their own personality flaws. Miller intertwines this central notion with how personal obsessions, relationship issues and distrust explain the self destruction of the protagonist, Eddie Carbone; a second generation Italian - American and a hardworking longshoreman who attempts to provide his niece, Catherine, with a better and brighter future. With the arrival of Rodolfo and Marco, his obsessive love for Catherine causes him to subconsciously behave in a jealous and selfish manner, and due to his inability to understand his emotions, Eddie is in denial of his irrational actions. It is consequently Eddie's weaknesses that destroy him both emotionally and fatally, even supposing he is a good man. But how do they destroy him, and how much blame can we put on his weaknesses for the tragic outcome of the play? Despite the unscrupulous acts Eddie commits at the very end of this tragedy, he is still considered to be a good man throughout. In 'A View from the Bridge', Eddie works strenuously at the piers of Red Hook to sustain his current lifestyle, even supposing it may be recognised as
Blanche's world is often contrasted to the world of Stanley and Stella. Blanche firmly states the kind of world she wants: "I don't want realism...I'll tell you what i want. Magic!" In what way is Blanche's world an illusion?
Blanche's world is often contrasted to the world of Stanley and Stella. Blanche firmly states the kind of world she wants: "I don't want realism...I'll tell you what i want. Magic!" In what way is Blanche's world an illusion? We first meet Blanche in Scene 1 as she travels to her sister's flat in Elysian fields, New Orleans. Elysian Fields, being a mythological place, naturally leads Blanche to have high expectations and considering her sister's former residence of Belle Reve, Blanche is expecting something more grande than a two room flat in a less than respectable area but even when she sees it is not what she was anticipating she manages to almost romanticise it by relating it to something from an Edgar Allen Poe story ("Only Poe! Only Mr Edgar Allen Poe! - could do it justice!) Stella has adapted to the new way of life in New Orleans. She has lowered her standards and married "a different species" and in doing so she has maintained a grasp on reality. Blanche, by contrast, stayed in Belle Reve amidst the pretence that all was well, living in an ignorant bliss started generations back, of which she was the last survivor. She is one in a long line of people lost in illusion; her ancestors let Belle Reve get lost while they ignored the state of the deep South and their diminishing finances, instead favouring "epic fornications". Blanche continued this legacy, paying not only
The passage upon which is the center of discussion is taken from Act one, scene one of Molière's theatrical 17th century comedy Dom Juan.
French Drama Commentary Melissa Chima Introduction The passage upon which is the center of discussion is taken from Act one, scene one of Molière's theatrical 17th century comedy Dom Juan. In this scene we are introduced to Sganarelle who is a servant to main Character Dom Juan, and we see chauffeur of Done Elvire, Gusman on this sole occasion. The character of Dom Juan however is not presented to the audience until the next scene-this is the only scene in which he and Sganarelle are not seen simultaneously. The play commences with a discussion between these two characters concerning Dom Juan. This entails Sganarelle in discussion to Gusman on the subject of Don Juan and his marrying Done Elvire, Dom Juan's most recent seduction, due to Gusman's confusion as to why Don Juan has abandoned her. This is a significant scene as it gives a characterization of the two main characters at the start of the play. Sganarelle describes Dom Juan whilst also representing his contradictory character to the audience. The audience is almost warned of Don Juan before he is able to appear on stage, dramatizing his entry. It is Sganarelles final speech which accomplishes this, and therefore merits a closer examination in a stylistic respect. The passage has a particular theme. It functions in order to portray both the subject of the discussion and the speaker. The tone is somewhat serious
Remind yourself of Act III Scene 1, Consider the dramatic significance of this episode and what it tells audience about eighteenth century views of marriage
Remind yourself of Act III Scene 1, from line 167, where Lady Teazle enters, to the end of the scene. Consider the dramatic significance of this episode in the play and what it tells the audience about eighteenth century views of marriage. Within this scene Sheridan further develops his characters with particular focus on Sir Peter Teazle who is largely exposed in his role as companion to Rowley and Sir Oliver, guardian to Charles, Joseph and Maria and also as husband to Lady Teazle. His stubbornness is revealed throughout, demonstrated by his ill-feelings for Charles, officious behaviour toward Maria and culminates with his inability to control his temper when bickering with his wife. And yet, in spite of such an unfavourable conduct, it is difficult for the audience to harbour any real resentment for the 'old dangling bachelor'. He might lose the ongoing verbal battles with Lady Teazle, but succeeds in gaining a degree of sympathy as we are privy to yet another of his sentimental asides concerning, but in the absence of his wife, 'How happy I should be if could tease her into loving me, though but a little'. Despite commencing as a reconciliatory and almost nostalgic exchange 'Yes, yes you were as kind and attentive - ' '..so I was, I would always take your part when my acquaintance used to abuse you..', its rapid descent into yet another passionate quarrel between Sir
Blanche and Mitch's relationship in "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams.
English Coursework Essay - Blanche and Mitch's relationship Text studied: "A Streetcar Named Desire" by Tennessee Williams Blanche and Mitch are two very different characters but in spite of this they connect instantly. Mitch is one of Stanley's oldest friends, and Blanche is Stella's sister. The first time they meet, they both notice a unique quality to each other. Blanche detects an awkwardness around Mitch, that makes him different from the rest of the other, boisterous boys. Mitch is curious about Blanche. She is different to all the other girls he has known, and in his eyes, she is romantic, and graceful. They share common ground because they have both lost someone they loved and they understand each other's feelings when it comes to death. I think they are drawn together because they see something in each other that they both need. Mitch needs Blanche because his mother is dying and she wants to see him settled down before she dies. Also, I think when she dies Mitch needs someone to take her place. Mitch also likes Blanche because he knows his mother would approve of her charm, intelligence and sophistication. Blanche feels she is "played out" meaning her youth is over, and her looks are fading. Instead of becoming a lonely spinster, she would rather put up with Mitch. Because of these reasons, I think that the something they see in each other is loneliness.
