The purpose behind John Marszalek’s book, The Petticoat Affair: Manners, Mutiny, and Sex in Andrew Jackson's White House, is to thoroughly examine the Petticoat Affair, the notorious political sex scandal that plagued Andrew Jackson’s first term, and which historians claim led directly to the dissolution of President Jackson’s cabinet in 1831 and, “the worst split between a president and vice president in American history.”…
Nichols and May’s skills as storytellers lie in their understanding of human relationships, a mastery that is expressed in the sketch through their delivery of character. The improvisational nature of Nichols and May’s dynamic is apparent in the conversational tone of this sketch. Nichols and May play off each other well and develop the relationship between the mother and son in a short amount of time. The dysfunction of this relationship drives the scene by creating conflict, which the characters exploit to the fullest extent. For instance, the mother in the sketch begins the call normally and proceeds to guilt trip her son with hyperbolized ¬¬reactions. May’s delivery emphasizes the nagging, worrisome traits of the character. The exaggeration of her character’s dysfunction is the focus of humor in the skit. However, once the sketch breaks down to reveal the emotional truth of the characters, the growing distance in the relationship between mother and son, a sense of gravitas hits the audience and asks us to consider our the…
The two protagonists from “The Jilting of Granny Weatherall” and “Miss Brill” have different lives, but still share similarities within their personality and the way they view life and themselves. Granny Weatherall lives an eventful life, unlike Miss Brill who has set a routine. However, both of this characters have a hard time letting go of the past, are easily upset when they are not in control and consequently, they each have developed their own mechanism to protect themselves from emotional pain.…
-In the end, Stanley's down-to-earth character proves harmfully crude and brutish. His chief amusements are gambling, bowling, sex, and drinking, and he lacks ideals and imagination. His disturbing, degenerate nature, first hinted at when he beats his wife, is fully evident after he rapes his sister-in-law. Stanley shows no remorse for his brutal actions. The play ends with an image of Stanley as the ideal family man, comforting his wife as she holds their newborn child. The wrongfulness of this representation, given what we have learned about him in the play, ironically calls into question society's decision to ostracize Blanche.…
The play uses the conventions of theatre of the absurd to accentuate these struggles; the play shows a meaningless and threatening world where not even an innocent child is safe. The play also portrays that in this world people cling to abstract ideas of love and family to try and find meaning, which is shown in the way Ray and Sylvie refuse to move on with their lives and instead live everyday clinging to the memory of their once happy family. This is shown clearly in the preface, where Ray and Sylvie jump from topic to topic nonsensically and always referring back to Ruby, as well as in the way Sylvie reacts when Ray speaks of Ruby in past tense. In class we explored their struggle to move on in workshops of the preface. Ray spoke in slowly in hushed tones, while Sylvie spoke in a hurried and confused way, creating tension through the differences. The nonsensical dialogue of the opening was spoken in confused tones, demonstrating that Ray and Sylvie could understood the ‘normal’ life the once led and were struggling to try and have it…
Throughout the play ‘Much Ado about Nothing’ the relationship between Benedick and Beatrice is rather unusual. They begin by deceiving themselves, making them think that they have no feelings for each other, the wage a ‘merry war’ against each other, throwing witty remarks and insults at each other.…
The past few weeks I have been reading the play Blood Brothers written by Willy Russell. It is the story of twin brothers who are separated at birth. Wealthy Mrs Lyons, who is not able to have her own children, blackmails her maid, Mrs Johnstone into giving her one of her new born twins. Mrs Lyons says all Miss Johnston’s other children well benefit, as the Johnston’s have little money. The women agree that it should be their secret and no one else will ever know the truth. The play explores many themes, some being, superstition, friendship and social class. This essay will discuss the changes in the relationship between Edward and Mickey, while also looking at the conveyed themes.…
Both Jack and Algernon pretend to be a man named Ernest to satisfy their love interest's wish, reflecting the Victorian obsession of social appearance and standing. This obsession may have lead to this hypocritical nature of lying and cheating in order to look truthful and honest. There is also the way marriage is handled within the play that contrasts with Victorian society. Marriage in the play is treated as a simple process, with a simple proposal, then engagement, and then marriage. This view pokes fun at how Victorian parent plan in great detail about their children’s marriage, shown especially with Lady Bracknell, who questions Jack after his proposal to Gwendolen, and scrutinizing every aspect of his status. During the questioning, she is quick to judge the status of Jack’s finances, occupation, and housing, describing the concerns of many upper class Victorians of the time. Also, this play allows the couples wins their marriage, even with the disapproval with their guardians.. Likewise, despite the truth eventually coming out, all the main characters get their happy ending, which in essence illustrate that although Victorian society discourages dishonesty, the individuals of the Victorian time will allow it to pass if it is going to benefits them in some way, either now or later.…
Notably, he treats the characters as players of his game, manipulating their lives and playing off their superstitious beliefs. A Brechtian style is explored through the Narrator to make the audience reflect on unravelling themes and to unmask the naturalism of society at the time. The narrator is important within the play as he shows the movement and progression of time, ‘when you’re sweet sixteen.’ ‘At seventeen.’…
The plot is one of the main means used to highlight the theme of social responsibility. The play begins with an engagement party which takes place in the Birling household. This is interrupted by a mysterious Inspector who brings the news that a young woman has committed suicide, and the accusation that every character is somewhat responsible for her demise. Each of the characters is interrogated in turn, and as the story unfolds it is revealed that indeed, every character has, in some way, caused her to take her life. None of these are deliberate attempts, but have affected her all the same; showing that, as Mr Birling says, “Community and all that nonsense” intertwines our lives with people of all standing and fortunes. The Birling family must act with a strong moral conscience, as their actions can result in drastic consequences for their fellow human beings.…
Explore the ways strong feelings about marriage are presented in Much Ado about nothing and Far from the Madding Crowd…
The ways in which the director, Cameron Malcher looks further into these issues is the way Ray and Sylvie lose their child Ruby. The grief that the characters express flows throughout the play and connects each scene where the each scene displays…
Through the portrayal of friendship, Sheila and Bridie show a strong connection through support and commitment. In Act 1, the use of first person is evident with both characters as they recount the story of their younger identities, facing challenges on the way, “And there Sheila was – still clutching her wood… I was so darn relieved I even joined in”, this describes the fear Birdie has of losing Sheila in the sea but she was relieved which showed a real friendship beginning. Monologue is used to allow the audience to listen to the characters and their story, both characters contrast their recounts and flashbacks, this is evident in Act 1, “I was tempted to let her sink. But Christian Charity won the day. So I tapped her again” shows the satisfaction of keeping Sheila alive, this also shows the building of a friendship. Stage directions are used to reinforce what the characters were doing towards the audience, “we hear young Birdie and young Sheila singing a few lines from ‘Jerusalem’, emphasises the value of reminiscing their younger era.…
Compare and contrast the presentation of relationships and marriage in ‘A Doll’s House’, ‘Wide Sargasso Sea’ and ‘The World’s Wife’, saying how far these text show that ‘in literature, marriage is overwhelming and shown to be an unequal relationship.…
When Elizabeth and Sylvie come back from their trip after 3 days, “In the sink was a mountainous pile of dishes.” and the boys are just sitting at the table playing cards instead of cleaning up their mess. Back then she thinks that only women works and men can do whatever they want but now Elizabeth realizes that she was the reason her sons are like that. “All along I bin blamin’ men fer bein’ men. But now I see that oftentimes it’s the women that make them that way”. After she realizes her mistake, she tries to tell her sons to help out in the family, she hopes to at least change them so that when they have a family, they can help out their wives so that in the future generations, women and men have equal standing in the house.…