East is East
East is East - Essay
East is East' is a play about family life set in Salford at the start of the 1970's. It focuses on the Khan family, specifically the children, who are coming to terms with their identity in a mixed race household dominated by an abusive father. In this assignment, I will explore how the conflicts and tension in the play are dramatically revealed through the use of humor. I will explore Act 1, Scene 1, and Act 2 Scenes 2, 4, and 5. Throughout these scenes I will look at the separate conflicts and tension concerning Abdul, George and Sajit.
It is necessary to observe George's behavior closely as his actions directly impact upon his family, especially his children. His character shows the crossing over of the two cultures. Abdul's character shows the clash of the two cultures and how they both try to overcome the other. He is the voice which speaks for the views of the children. Of all the children, Sajit's character most strongly embodies the conflicts and struggles of being trapped between two extremely different cultures. His trademark parka appears to symbolize his hidden inner feelings, since it is worn all throughout the play until his emotional breakthrough in Act 2, Scene 5 (further discussed later in this essay). The children of the family are aged between 12 - 23.
Act 1, Scene 1, has an everyday "family life" theme to it, with the family in a typical atmosphere which they are nearly always in. This act is useful as it helps set the play and introduces the lifestyles of the characters:
“The contrast of cultures should come out in the set dressing, wall paper, oil cloth, Islamic prayer stickers, a coffee table with a picture of the Taj Mahal, a Lazy Susan which is always full of washing.”
- (Act 1, Scene 1)
we are aware of the atmosphere and theme from this which helps set the play. We can see the contrast by having a picture of the Taj Mahal and then a Lazy Susan. A Lazy Susan is heavy slang which can help
East is East' is a play about family life set in Salford at the start of the 1970's. It focuses on the Khan family, specifically the children, who are coming to terms with their identity in a mixed race household dominated by an abusive father. In this assignment, I will explore how the conflicts and tension in the play are dramatically revealed through the use of humor. I will explore Act 1, Scene 1, and Act 2 Scenes 2, 4, and 5. Throughout these scenes I will look at the separate conflicts and tension concerning Abdul, George and Sajit.
It is necessary to observe George's behavior closely as his actions directly impact upon his family, especially his children. His character shows the crossing over of the two cultures. Abdul's character shows the clash of the two cultures and how they both try to overcome the other. He is the voice which speaks for the views of the children. Of all the children, Sajit's character most strongly embodies the conflicts and struggles of being trapped between two extremely different cultures. His trademark parka appears to symbolize his hidden inner feelings, since it is worn all throughout the play until his emotional breakthrough in Act 2, Scene 5 (further discussed later in this essay). The children of the family are aged between 12 - 23.
Act 1, Scene 1, has an everyday "family life" theme to it, with the family in a typical atmosphere which they are nearly always in. This act is useful as it helps set the play and introduces the lifestyles of the characters:
“The contrast of cultures should come out in the set dressing, wall paper, oil cloth, Islamic prayer stickers, a coffee table with a picture of the Taj Mahal, a Lazy Susan which is always full of washing.”
- (Act 1, Scene 1)
we are aware of the atmosphere and theme from this which helps set the play. We can see the contrast by having a picture of the Taj Mahal and then a Lazy Susan. A Lazy Susan is heavy slang which can help