People and their experiences in their life are based throughout the challenges and difficulties they face. They may either experience friendship, war, love or even death. These ideas are shown visually within John Misto’s “The Shoe Horn Sonata” and Bob Dylan’s “Masters of War”. Both texts depict the experiences evident through people, places and communities worldwide.
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.
The idea of heroism is shown through both characters as they unravel sacrificing either an important object or themselves to the Japanese in order to save one another. The symbolism of the Shoe Horn displays the heroic deed Bridie made for Sheila, “You’re alive today because of me. And don’t you ever forget it”, expresses the commitment Bridie made for Sheila, her tone shows her prompt annoyance at Sheila as she hid the secret for fifty years. The juxtaposition of