Steven Berkoff's Play 'Metamorphosis'
1500 Word Essay
Play as a whole
Metamorphosis
Context
Steven Berkoff wrote Metamorphosis in the late 1960’s. The play is about the dehumanizing effect of becoming part of a “machine” of an industrialized society. That living to work is vastly negative for human beings, and that as humans we need some sort of emotional or cultural richness or our lives are worthless and no better than an insect. This ties in well with the growing counter culture of the 1960’s. In which the old social orders were being changed –Hippy culture, Rock music, social revolutions in terms of black, women’s and gay rights, innovation and experimentation in music and the arts and what was “socially acceptable” had begun to destabilize the old social order. Berkoff makes Gregor Samsa a metaphor …show more content…
It aims to make the audience think about these things, to want to improve their world. The play was written in 1988 by Timberlake Wertenbaker. The play is set in the 1780s, where convicts and Royal Marines were sent to Australia as part of the first colony there. The play shows the class system in the convict camp and discusses themes such as sexuality, crime & punishment, the Georgian judicial system, rehabilitation of offenders, racism, prison overcrowding, immigration and the transformational power of theatre. Most of the characters in the play are based on real people who sailed with the First Fleet, though some have had their names changed. Our Country’s Good is obviously a political play, which has a lot to say about what society can or should be doing to deal criminal behavior. Whereas the play is 300 years ago but it is obviously aimed at today’s audience. It’s much clearer and understandable if the play was set it the past. Which means that by avoiding a situation about which the audience would already have preconceived ideas, they are able to think objectively about the issues within
Play as a whole
Metamorphosis
Context
Steven Berkoff wrote Metamorphosis in the late 1960’s. The play is about the dehumanizing effect of becoming part of a “machine” of an industrialized society. That living to work is vastly negative for human beings, and that as humans we need some sort of emotional or cultural richness or our lives are worthless and no better than an insect. This ties in well with the growing counter culture of the 1960’s. In which the old social orders were being changed –Hippy culture, Rock music, social revolutions in terms of black, women’s and gay rights, innovation and experimentation in music and the arts and what was “socially acceptable” had begun to destabilize the old social order. Berkoff makes Gregor Samsa a metaphor …show more content…
It aims to make the audience think about these things, to want to improve their world. The play was written in 1988 by Timberlake Wertenbaker. The play is set in the 1780s, where convicts and Royal Marines were sent to Australia as part of the first colony there. The play shows the class system in the convict camp and discusses themes such as sexuality, crime & punishment, the Georgian judicial system, rehabilitation of offenders, racism, prison overcrowding, immigration and the transformational power of theatre. Most of the characters in the play are based on real people who sailed with the First Fleet, though some have had their names changed. Our Country’s Good is obviously a political play, which has a lot to say about what society can or should be doing to deal criminal behavior. Whereas the play is 300 years ago but it is obviously aimed at today’s audience. It’s much clearer and understandable if the play was set it the past. Which means that by avoiding a situation about which the audience would already have preconceived ideas, they are able to think objectively about the issues within