Summary Of The Play 'Gorgon'

This play ‘Gorgon’ by Elena Carapetis, is relevant for teenagers in todays society. They can relate to the main characters of this play and hopefully learn from their mistakes and experiences, the relationships in the play between the three characters and how they reacted to this certain situation. I could make personal connections to the characters, themes and issues in this play.

The events that occurred amongst the main characters can be related to the teens of today. Young adults may have been through similar situations or know someone who went through them which can relate to the main characters and learn from their mistakes. Stereo types are big in todays society, so for a play to generate the truth behind masculinity and feminism
the playwright highlighted these points for the audience to understand and can relate to. Carapetis had experienced someone in this situation and that affected many people including her, which inspired her to create this play so adolescents can relate. The audience was mostly made for teenagers as the main characters themselves were teenagers. It isn’t just teenagers who, after experiencing traumatic events, shut down but also adults who are told that they aren’t ‘manly’ if they show their feelings. Society has made when boys show vulnerability they are ashamed for being weak and told to ‘man up’ whereas girls are still strong if they show weakness. Although females show more emotion than men it isn’t healthy to block out the world for their mentality. The author wants us to understand that it is alright for men to show what they are feeling because it is humane. The relationships between the characters is somewhat an additional reason why the teenage audience can relate to the play and characters.

A further reason, this play is relevant to teenagers of todays society by connecting to the different types of relationships involved.
Teens can relate to the connection of friendships, relationships and family have between the main characters of the play and what they have in the real world. The relationship between the siblings, Maz and Lola, is shown how different genders are treated differently. For example, when Maz got a car for his birthday and Lola got an iPad mini, when Maz was killed in the car accident everyone remembered him as a great guy but only remember the good things about him while Lola, his twin sister was left not appreciated as much and got into trouble. I could relate to these connections with friends and family because I have my own experiences that link to the plays message. Lola and Lee were in similar situations (loss of a loved one) when they found each other and bonded after Lola finally helped Lee release his emotions he’s been holding for so long. This relationship between the two teens is something many teenagers, including myself can relate to and find relevant. Not necessarily the same ordeal but the connection and friendship they found. However, Maz and Lee’s friendship was a very typical boy friendship where they act tough and don’t show their emotions. Lee and Lola both reacted to the situation differently just as anyone else
would.

Each gender reacts emotionally differently to distinctive situations and the playwright wanted to show how men and women react to them.
In this play Lola is represents the females and Lee represents the males. As stereotypical society men are presented as tough and are not allowed to show weakness otherwise it isn’t manly but when something does happen in their life they shut down and don’t let anyone in to burst their bubble. Whereas, women show more emotion and feelings when told to ‘let it all out’ and feel better sooner but this is just a stereotype that has been passed down and does not naturally exist. Being masculine has to do with men’s pride. In the play they used ‘turning to stone’ as a metaphor of shutting everyone around them out. Lee could have been blamed for Maz’s death as he was guilty for living and this is a reason why he reacted the way he did. Men not capable of showing emotion only anger tend to to turn on women with
violence.

This shows that males and females are also treated differently in certain circumstances. The connection relationship between Lola and Lee showed the way they react to traumas. Lee could see that he could connect to Lola when she tried to help him so he shut down and couldn’t communicate because he wasn’t brave enough before the incident to admit that he liked her. This shows how men take the incidents in a different way to females. Lola cried and faced the real world and her parents whereas Lee didn’t cry because he felt if he started he wouldn’t be able to stop. When different people experience different traumatic events everyone reacts differently but as a teenager myself I also notice that males shut themselves out and don’t let anyone else in to help where as females release their emotions more freely. Thus, the play is relevant to teenagers of todays society and found that many teenagers including myself could relate to it.

It has been shown that this play is relevant for teenagers in todays society. They can relate to the main characters of this play and hopefully learn from their mistakes and experiences, the relationships in the play between the three characters and how they reacted to this certain situation.