How does Willy Russell make is sympathise for Shirley Valentine?

How does Willy Russell make is sympathise for Shirley Valentine Willy Russell's big hit screenplay, 'Shirley Valentine', we examine the life of this middle-aged house wife and her struggles with her boring life. From the very beginning of her Secondary School times till now, Shirley's life was wasteful. No one listened to her opinions; no one really cared about her. Now she is a lonely, low classed person. This sympathetic connection between Shirley and the audience is illustrated in many ways, using a variety of dramatic techniques such as flashbacks. Flashbacks have revealed Shirley's past, it shows the reasons to why Shirley has become her lonely self. Then one of her closest friend Jane tells Shirley that she won tickets to Greece and Shirley is coming. After arriving at Greece, Shirley met a man called Costas, they go onto a boat and Shirley has an affair. After an affair and some happy moments in Greece she had at last fulfilled her life. She has found her inner self and has fallen in love with the idea of living. This whole story is linked to the writer of this play Willy Russell's past. There are many similarities such as Willy Russell was born in Liverpool and the story of Shirley Valentine is based in Liverpool. On top of this Willy Russell grew up in a materialistic atmosphere, this taught him to view the world for many women during the 1980's. This story

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Economic comparisons of First world countries and their GDP.

3. I would classify Italy as a first world country because of it's fairly high GNP. Greece would be a developing nation because of it's fairly high IMR and low GNP. 4. Social - In both Greece and Italy there is an importance and tradition up held with family. In Italy, for example, the family comes first. Historically families have ruled over Italy such as the Sforzas of Milan and the Gonzagas of Mantua. Even today, escpecially in Sicily and Palermo, feuds between families arupt and break into fights, hence the Mafia was formed which is controlled by superior families. Although, in Italy, modern life is starting to break up the family trait, it is still a great pleasure to congregate with other family relations for a large meal. Just like the Italians, Greeks also eat with their familes, usually extended by grandparents living with them. Yet in Greece they tend to eat their lunch later than they do in Italy. In Greece a typical day would include waking up at 6:30, working / going to school from 8:00 until 2:30 when the family returns home to have lunch ( the main meal) together. Lunch finishes at 3:30 and then its time for at snooze until 5:00. At 5:30 Dad returns to work until 10:00. Whilst dad is working mother and children relax by watching television until 10:00 when father returns and dinner is had. After dinner the family relaxes until 11:00 when its time for bed.

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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british and irish film essay

The producers of British and Irish film use a set of codes and conventions to reinforce the myths about Britain. True or not true? I have chosen the film Shirley Valentine, 1989 to show that I agree that the producers of British and Irish films use a set of codes and conventions to reinforce the myths about Britain. I will discuss Margaret Thatcher and her policies; I will discuss how Britain saw a revolution during Thatcher's reign as Prime Minister and how by 1989, the time of the films release the country was completely different to how it had been before. Social Mobility will be the main subject as I discuss the question. The reason for this is because the film puts emphasis on this throughout. I will also discuss 'Class Crazed Britain' and how this affected us at the time. The Mise en scene will be used to analyse the particular sequence I will use to prove that producers of British and Irish film use a set of codes and conventions to reinforce the myths about Britain, although I will discuss other elements of film making also. Narrative, Genre, Cinematography, Editing and Sound. In 1989, Britain was led by Margaret Thatcher. By this time she had been in power for ten years and made radical changes to the country-radical changes that would deem significant forever. She decided that we should no longer be living in a welfare state. A state that Edward Heath

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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shirley valetine

How does Russell invite the audience to sympathise with Shirley? In the play ["Shirley Valentine"] feeling sympathy for Shirley is a regular occurrence, Shirley Valentine is a character who was endlessly trapped and is taken for granted, but then rediscovers herself. Shirley mourns for the lost possibilities of her ''unused life,''. Shirley Valentine was written in the 1980s, as a kitchen sink drama, by a play writer named Willy Russell. He presents a basic ordinary woman's working life, with unhappiness, regret, humour and at twist. This essay will be analysing the effects of the character, action; dramatic devices: languages, ideas, themes, and show how the audience is invited to sympathise with Shirley. I find Shirley to be humorous and a gentle person, looking for an easier, comfortable, relaxed life with a hint of spice! In the opening lyrics Russell cleverly combines words of sorrow and sympathy towards Shirley. Some of these are "Shirley Valentine just wasn't there any more, a girl was born to fly: all her dreams, dreams are broken." This introduction of influencing words already paints a picture in the mind about the character before she is introduced, hence triggering impressions into setting the frame of mind to a sympathetic mode. Shirley is portrayed as a sad house bound woman, forgotten, not appreciated nonexistent (not liteary) ["anymore"] and a woman with

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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“I believecomedy is the best way to learn the truth about ourselves. Maybe it’s noaccident that human beings are the only animals that laugh.” (Jack Rosenthal).What truths about human nature does Willy Russell hope to teach his audiencethro

"I believe comedy is the best way to learn the truth about ourselves. Maybe it's no accident that human beings are the only animals that laugh." (Jack Rosenthal). What truths about human nature does Willy Russell hope to teach his audience through his play Shirley Valentine and how does he achieve this? "Funny isn't it? You know, when you've pictured something and you've imagined how somethin's gonna be well, it never turns out like that does it?" Willy Russell effectively conveys the complexity of human life through his play "Shirley Valentine" using comedy, language, play structure and characterization. I think the main truth conveyed during the play is that the majority of people are not content with their life and everyone has dreams of a different life. They have a set routine like Shirley and Joe, "So just think how exciting it would be if for once you had your tea at quarter past six. It'd make the headlines." But most people do not change this routine. Shirley however seizes the chance she is given by her best friend Jane and challenges her reality. Shirley follows her dream "I'd like to drink a glass of wine in a country where the grape is grown. Sittin' by the sea just sippin' wine and watching the sun go down." The audience see Shirley's character develop. Shirley starts off very unsure of herself but Jane gives her the confidence despite Joe's criticisms to be

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  • Level: GCSE
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How do the dramatic techniques used in the play help audience to understand the importance of Shirley's transformation?

Shirley Valentine How do the dramatic techniques used in the play help audience to understand the importance of Shirley's transformation? In 'Shirley Valentine' Willy Russell presents the transformation of a stifled middle-aged woman who changes dramatically from her married self. This is represented by the use of different dramatic techniques such as voiceovers, flashbacks, monologues and other effects which are some of the devices Willy Russell uses to display changes during the play. This will alter the audiences view towards Shirley - a stifled, bored, middle-aged woman to an outgoing, adventurous and free woman. This play is influenced by kitchen sink drama although it is not exactly similar. A kitchen sink drama is about pessimistic working class men, with an emphasis on domestic realism and their social problems. However in this play the main protagonist is a woman. This play also contains humour unlike a kitchen sink drama but both type of play are similar as these plays are based on the unfulfilled life of the main character. This play is focused on a working class life, social problems and relationships of a woman who hasn't fulfilled her life and is stuck at home. The character of Shirley represents the frustrations of working class women who remains isolated from the outside world and instead have to dwell in work of domestic labour. From this we can tell that

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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Shirley Valentine - How do the dramatic techniques used in the play help the audience to understand the importance of Shirley's transformation?

Shirley Valentine How do the dramatic techniques used in the play help the audience to understand the importance of Shirley's transformation? In this essay I will be looking at how the dramatic techniques used in the play "Shirley Valentine" help the audience to understand the importance of Shirley's transformation. In the play Shirley makes a very dramatic change. At the beginning of the play she was lonely, she was just an ordinary working housewife, her relationship with her husband Joe wasn't very good, she hardly went out and she talked to her kitchen wall. "There's a women three doors down- talks to her microwave...talking to a microwave Wall, what's the world coming to". This shows us that she thinks its normal to be talking to a wall but not to a microwave which makes the audience think that she is a bit weird and a "...nutcase..." which she gets called by her husband. When she goes to Greece that's when she starts to change. She is no more the housewife she used to be, shes finally happy, she goes out more, she starts living her life again and more importantly she becomes Shirley Valentine again. The audience feel by the end of the play that she changed her life for the better and that she overcame some of her fears by leaving her husband Joe to go to Greece. The play "Shirley Valentine" was written by Willy Russel. His life experience influenced the play because

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  • Level: GCSE
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George W. Russell - A Study of his life, paintings and impact on Irish culture

MICHAEL ARRHENIUS DIT, AUNGIER STREET GEORGE W. RUSSELL Æ A STUDY OF HIS LIFE, PAINTINGS AND IMPACT ON IRISH CULTURE INTRODUCTION George William Russell (Æ), poet, painter, statesman and friend of many. George Russell definitely was all of those things. But why is it that I, a visiting student from the far North, takes such an interest in a man who despite his greatness not many people outside Ireland has heard of. When asked about visual arts in Ireland, names like Jack Yeats, Paul Henry and James Barry might be heard but only people with a deep interest in Irish culture will also mention George W. Russell, or Æ as he is more commonly known. But Æ Russell was, and still is, Irish culture, which is what I will try to prove to you with this paper. My first encounter with Æ Russell was when I heard about one of the greatest love stories ever heard, the Irish legend about Deirdre and Naisi. Æ Russell took this tale and made it into a play, the one and only play he would ever write, published in 1901 under the name "Deirdre". The mythological tales has always been a keen interest to me and to learn that Æ Russell wrote plays, poems and painted pictures with mythological content, sure was a true excitement for me. But to get a better understanding of what kind of man Æ Russell was and what he had done for Irish culture I embarked on a cultural trip around Dublin. I

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Shirley valentine by Willie Russell.

Adam Bowen GCSE Literature Coursework: Twentieth century drama -- Shirley valentine by Willie Russell Shirley Valentine is a romantic comedy, set in Liverpool, about a woman a called (Surprisingly) Shirley Bradshaw. She is married to a man called Joe. When Joe and Shirley were married, they loved each other passionately, but as the years went on her life became a monotonous routine of washing up plates, glasses and dishes and making meals for her husband. She has resorted to talking to the kitchen wall because she is so bored. Shirley though, can never remember the exact point in which her lovely marriage turned into a horrible nightmare. Her marriage becomes so routine that Joe eats particular meals on particular days and if he does not get them on the write allocated days he gets very upset! Things take an unexpected turn in Shirley's boring life when her feminist 'all men are potential rapists' friend, Jane, wins two tickets for a holiday in Greece after she enters a magazine competition. Shirley is unwilling to accept Jane's invitation to come on holiday with her. Shirley can not imagine going away on holiday on general principles and she can not see herself as being independent. She feels guilty how Joe would cope if she went away for two weeks, leaving all the cooking and cleaning for him to do! Jane eventually convinces Shirley to accompany her on the holiday.

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  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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The dramatic techniques used in play Shirley Valentine

Shirley Valentine In 'Shirley Valentine' Willy Russell presents the transformation of a stifled middle-aged women. The dramatic techniques used in play help the audience to understand the importance of Shirley's transformation were monologues, flashbacks and voiceovers. At the end of the play the audience would be pleased for Shirley for the reason that she has changed so much and she is very happy because she can make a start to her life. The play, Shirley valentine was written by Willy Russell. His life experiences influenced through the play. He couldn't work in many places because he wasn't a qualified person. As Shirley was a housewife she couldn't work anywhere. Willy Russell bring into being play writing and he enjoyed it. Shirley went Greece and found a job they're which she loves doing. Willy Russell worked in a Saloon so he would have in sighting about the lives of women. This play is influenced by kitchen sink drama, this play is about Shirley who is an example of a stereo typical house wife, working class woman, she does things like shopping, cleaning, cooking and taking care of the children and so on. Shirley is also an example of a pessimistic woman who is constantly thinking that disappointing things are going to occur. Russell Satirise feminism in the play through Jane's attitude, saying men are only after one thing, which is sex, "Jane - All men are

  • Word count: 1877
  • Level: GCSE
  • Subject: English
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