Oleanna Essay
Aimee O’Connell
ENWR 106-40 Oleanna Reflection
When beginning to read the play “Oleanna” by David Mamet, I expected a more classic and shakespearean feel given the title- one might think of Othello or Ophelia but instead as I continued I found the play to be more modern, it could even be occurring in the present. The first act started off with John as the protagonist and the main character. Though, there is not much to like about either of the characters, in my opinion, and the likes and dislikes of both characters change as the play progresses. I would not categorize the play as a comedy, obviously, but it would be hard to call it a tragedy too. If John is the protagonist than Carol would have to be the antagonist, however the events of the play switch so suddenly that at the end of the story I began to think that maybe Carol was the protagonist all along. Considering all that we are getting here is dialogue and not the thoughts of each character or the way they are speaking, it is hard for us to completely trust either one of the characters. The set-up of a play is more life-like, in real life we do not get to read how they are feeling we must take everything at face value.
There are three key moments that happen throughout the play, each one belonging to it’s respective act. The first being when John tells Carol that they can break the rules when it comes to her grade. Regardless of whether or not this was an innocent request or even favor on John’s part, it shows that John is not as professional and willing to bend the rules. The second moment I felt that was important was in the second act on the second page, this is when Carol starts to speak as if she is more educated or intelligent than she was originally letting off in the first act. At this point, the credibility of both characters have been shattered. John is no longer a professional teacher about to come into his tenure because of his willingness to break the rules for a (female) student; Carol who
ENWR 106-40 Oleanna Reflection
When beginning to read the play “Oleanna” by David Mamet, I expected a more classic and shakespearean feel given the title- one might think of Othello or Ophelia but instead as I continued I found the play to be more modern, it could even be occurring in the present. The first act started off with John as the protagonist and the main character. Though, there is not much to like about either of the characters, in my opinion, and the likes and dislikes of both characters change as the play progresses. I would not categorize the play as a comedy, obviously, but it would be hard to call it a tragedy too. If John is the protagonist than Carol would have to be the antagonist, however the events of the play switch so suddenly that at the end of the story I began to think that maybe Carol was the protagonist all along. Considering all that we are getting here is dialogue and not the thoughts of each character or the way they are speaking, it is hard for us to completely trust either one of the characters. The set-up of a play is more life-like, in real life we do not get to read how they are feeling we must take everything at face value.
There are three key moments that happen throughout the play, each one belonging to it’s respective act. The first being when John tells Carol that they can break the rules when it comes to her grade. Regardless of whether or not this was an innocent request or even favor on John’s part, it shows that John is not as professional and willing to bend the rules. The second moment I felt that was important was in the second act on the second page, this is when Carol starts to speak as if she is more educated or intelligent than she was originally letting off in the first act. At this point, the credibility of both characters have been shattered. John is no longer a professional teacher about to come into his tenure because of his willingness to break the rules for a (female) student; Carol who