Thursday, May 5, 2011

Dulle Griet

Dull Gret:
In Act 1 Scene 1; Dull Gret was one of Marlene’s friends, who all ate at restaurant. They were all having dinner, Celebrating Marlene’s promotion.  Dull Gret ate rudely and stold bottles and plates when no one is looking, putting them in her large apron. Throughout the dinner she spoke very little. She would say little remarks like “Bastard" and "Big cock". Her silence in the play added a sense of suspense up to the point where she recounts the tale of her invasion.Caryl Churchill based this character on the subject of the Painting "Dulle Griet" by Pieter Breughel, in which a woman wearing an apron and armed with tools of male aggression - armor, helmet, and sword - leads a mob of women into Hell, fighting the devils and filling her basket with gold cups.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Top Girls

Top Girls
By:
Caryl Churchil
                I think there are several reasons why the play is called “Top Girls”. First, the play is all about women. There were no men in the play.  The main character Marlene is a career woman who is employed at the 'Top Girls' emp
loyment agency. She has to leave her family and child behind to get to where she wants to be.  She leaves her poor living conditions to go live the life that she wants, successful and rich.  Every woman in the play had their unique story behind them but what they all had in common was that they all had obstacles and struggles to get to “top”. In conclusion I believe the play was named “Top Girls” because the women in the play all had a story, in which they struggled to be successful and accomplish their goals.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Love vs. Money

The Good Woman of Setzuan
            By:

In the play The Good Woman of Setzuan, money was the most important thing to every character but Shen Te. Shen Te was the only person who loved others and felt in love with Yang Sun.  Everyone including Shen Te valued the money and power. It was very clear that the men were powerful and that love was just a “thing” that could be bought with money. 

Monday, April 11, 2011

The Good Women of Setzuan





The Good Women of Setzuan
                        By: Bertolt Brecht
I think the play is very intense; you have to really dig deep to understand what’s really going on. My emotions towards the play varied. At the beginning of the play I felt sorry for  Shen Te because she was so naïve, sweet and nice. I felt like she had such a pure heart. At a point in time I even admired her for being so good. But as the play went on I started getting annoyed, I felt like she was way too good to everybody and they would take advantage of her. Her cousin Shui Ta was her male cousin and the complete opposite of her. At the beginning I though his behavior was too much, he was too rude and strong. I then realize that he wasn’t, he was just trying to look out for his cousin and survive. When I realize that they were the same person I was confused. I didn’t understand why she couldn’t stand up to everybody and show her both sides. Why she had to hide her strong side.

Tuesday, April 5, 2011

A Doll's House.

A Doll’S House

Helmer’s reaction to Nora’s confession was a bit cruel and cold but pretty much expected.  I  wouldn’t say he gave the impression that he  didn’t love her, but with his reaction he certainly showed her that his reputation was more important that their “ love” and “marriage.”  He purpose to act as a happy married couple to the audience but inside their home, they were not together, he even forbid her to see her children. He also showed that he valued more her physical looks  than anything else. He was also very cold hearted and ignorant, “I  repeat, all your fathers recklessness and instability he has handed on to you. No religion morals no sense of duty! Oh, how I have been punished for closing my eyes to his faults! I did it for your sake. And you reward me like this."(pg 319) he didn’t see the bigger picture; his wife sacrificed herself for him, to keep him alive. Although I don’t agree with his behavior I feel like it wasn’t his fault, again we have to keep in mind the time period this took place. He was raised this way so his behavior back then was normal and appropriate.

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

A Solid Home

A Solid Home
    By: Elena Garro
The short play consists of a family that is buried together.  They talk about the life they lived before they died and the life they living now as dead people.  They explain to Lydia a 32 year old girl who just passed away that she has to wait. She’s confused as to what and why they have to wait.  They then continue to explain to her that she would be able to see everything except her home , they also explain to her that she would become different things and object and until she doesn’t learn to be everything she won’t be able to go to the other world with god.  Lydia says she want a solid home but she doesn’t realize till the end that she does have a solid home, her tomb.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Suicide of Olunde

Death and the King’s Horseman
            By: Wole Soyinka

There are many reasons why Olunde decided to commit suicide. First he wanted to show his people that at the end he didn’t betrayed them.  He wanted to show them that even though he went off to study with the “enemies” he still carried his traditions and beliefs. Second he was kind of obligated to do so, since his dad wasn’t able to commit suicide the ritual was that the son kills himself to hold the kings horse. Lastly Olunde wanted to save his father's house from shaming itself. He wanted to be remembered as an honored man. He wanted to be respected and be a hero to his people.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

definitions

Yoruba: a member of a Negroid people of W Africa, living chiefly in thecoastal regions of SW Nigeria: noted for their former city statesand complex material culture, particularly as evidenced in theirmusic, art, and sculpture. first used in 1841.

British colonial admission:
From the beginning of the creation of the Central Provinces in 1861 it was the goal of the British administration to construct a governmental system providing for the improvement and development of the area. The Government of India Resolution establishing the Central Provinces noted that the previous forms of administration -- of the Saugor and Narbadda Territories under the control of the North-Western Provinces, and a separate Province of Nagpur -- did "not present that unity, completeness and efficiency which are requisite in order that justice may be done to the condition and prospects of Territories so largely capable of improvement." Therefore the Government intended to create a new provincial administration encompassing those two areas Which would provide the new province "with the greatest advantage t the management of the resources and to the development of the capabilities of the whole area." Part II examines the activities of the British provincial government to develop the Central Provinces during the six decades from 1861 to 1921. Though the Government resolution creating the Central Provinces end.

Niegera:
officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising thirty-six states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in the north. Its coast in the south lies on the Gulf of Guinea on the Atlantic Ocean. The three largest and most influential ethnic groups in Nigeria are the Hausa, Igbo and Yoruba. In terms of religion Nigeria is roughly split half and half between Muslims and Christians with a very small minority who practice traditional religion.

Wole Soynka:
Wole Soyinka (born Akinwande Oluwole Soyinka in 1934) is Africa's most distinguished playwright, winning the Nobel Prize for literature in 1986. A Yoruba, he studied first at the University College of Ibadan, then at Leeds University in England, where he came under the influence of the brilliant Shakespeare scholar G. Wilson Knight. The fifties were a period of great experimentation in the theater, both in France and England, and Soyinka was involved with various productions in Great Britain before returning to Nigeria, having been commissioned to write a play to celebrate that nation's independence in 1960 (A Dance of the Forests). It was a lyrical blend of Western experimentalism and African folk tradition, reflecting a highly original approach to drama. He has always emphasized his African roots, dubbing his early theater troupe "Masks," to acknowledge the role Yoruba pageantry has played in his work.

Proverb: to a breid popular epigram or maximum adage
African Proverbs offer wisdom and poetry in just one sentence. Proverbs play an important part in African cultures all across the continent. The beauty of proverbs is the universality of their meaning, everyone can relate to them in some way, on some level. Yet they are also uniquely African and help us gain an insight into African culture. African proverbs can convey wisdom, truth, a discovery of ideas, as well as life lessons.

Monday, March 21, 2011

Dealth and the Kings horseman

Dealth and the Kings horseman
                                By: Wole Soyinka

What I understood from the play was that Elesin Oba was destined to die due to traditions and rituals. Elesin was a well known respected man. He had a lot of pride and courage. He said he wasn’t afraid of death “I am master of my fate. When the hours come watch me dance along the narrow path glazed by the soles of my great precursors. My sole is eager I shall not turn aside.” (pg  ) He was also very demanding. He wanted the beautiful women who distracted him. He knew she was getting married but still demanded to have her,He wanted her.

In the other hand Simon Pilkings was a bit different. Although he was a powerful man with high authority he was ignorant. I say he was ignorant because he thought his religion was the only right one the rest didn’t make sense or mattered. He had no respect for other religions. He was going to lock up Elesin Oba just so that him and his wife could attend the ball.   He was very close mined. He thought just because Africans had their traditions and rituals they were “bastards.”  He was very stubborn and hard headed. He wanted everything his way.

Friday, March 11, 2011

NO SACO NADA DE LA ESCUELA!


No Saco Nada De La Escuela
                            By:  Luis Valdez

I believe Luis Valdez decided to name the play “No Saco Nada De La Escuela” because through the whole play this is the message he’s trying to give to the audience.  “The play argues that the educational system is irrelevant to the needs of the minority community, particularly in regards to the awareness of ones culture”. (Greenwalt, Pomo, Schultz, pg 763). So when he says he doesn’t get anything out of school, he’s talking about the minorities, meaning the American educational system doesn’t educate us about our cultures and backgrounds teaching us only of the American culture, forgetting our needs. There’s a line the professor says “I have here in my hand the book of American Knowledge. There is nothing here about chicken –o. in fact there is nothing in here about nothing” (pg 771) and the book had nothing but a dollar sigh. What I understand from this is that Valdez is trying to say that the schools only teach about the importance of finance and money but it doesn’t teach us the importance of our background, culture, roots; where we came from.

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

The role of strength and intellet in the play


Gross-Jean was the oldest of all. Had an iron arm; over confident indeed was the strongest of all. Although Gross- Jean was the oldest he did not have the brains. He was very confident about his strength but when it comes to a mental challenge he was defeated because for him all that matter was being strong. He thought he could defeat anything with his “iron arm”.
Mid- Jean was the second oldest. He was not considered to be strong. He was more into his books and his philosophy.  I would say Mid- jean was cleaver in his own ways, but very close minded to other things. As he said if he didn’t see it, it wouldn’t believe it. He was smart when it came down to his book and his beliefs but when it came down to the outside world he was very ignorant.  
Ti- Jean was the wisest of all three brothers. He wasn’t as strong as Gross- Jean but was so smart and sneaky that he didn’t necessarily need to be as strong as his older brother to defeat the devil. He wasn’t as smart and intelligent in books and philosophy like his brother Mid-Jean but he was “street smart”. Very open minded and aware of his surroundings.  Had a lot of knowledge. His mother always spoke to him about the world and he always listen, unlike his older brothers who were too busy thinking about becoming stronger (Gross-Jean) and about the books and own philosophies (Mid- Jean).

Monday, March 7, 2011

The Devil VS Ti-Jeans

In the play the devil is the antagonist,  round character very demanding, evil, Greedy and conniving. The devil is also presented as an old man, papa bois and plantere. In the play there are 3 brothers who live with their mom. They are very poor and want more money. The devil gives Ti-Jean job to do. Ti Jean is the youngest and wises of all also the protagonist. The devil challenged the brothers one by one to catch a goat and tie it down to a good tree; they all failed except for Ti-Jean. Ti-Jean then challenged the devil and did the opposite of what he asked.

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Japan


The play is very short and a bit complicated. I like how loyalty plays a big role in the play. What I understood about the play was that the lord Yotitimo was trying to capture his brother Yoshitsune after he escaped from him. I guess he wanted freedom. I mean I would’ve done the same thing, after a while you need to become independent. The whole time Togashi who worked for the master Yotimo was blocking the roads so no prisoners could pass by. Benkei who worked for Yoshitsune came up with this brilliant idea to liberate him and it actually worked. At the end of the play although Togashi figured out the skeem he decided to let them go. For the simple fact that it fascinated him so much. He was so fasitnated by how loyal and determined he was. Loyal to his master and lord and determined to pass the road. This is why I said loyal plays a big role in the play. I would dare to say it’s the moral of the play. Loyalty

Monday, February 28, 2011

The Lucky Pearl


The Quin Ding Pearl

 This play is very different from the plays I’ve read so far. First off the obvious it’s a Chinese play. The story it tells is very unique a Chinese girl is finally a hero in the story. We usually see the father and his son fighting out the “war” in this play we have young girl fight out with her dad. Also we always see how he powerful is always on top undefeatable. In this play the Hsiao En (the fisher) and his daughter Kuei Ying refuse to get picked on any longer and refuse to have their pride be stepped on. 

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Apartheid In Action

 Throughout the play there is a lot of racial segregation between African Americans and the white people. You can see how they are separated and treated differently. On page 622 Sam tells Harold his master that he can speak loud that his mom wasn't around and what does this mean? What i get from this is that he can now speak to the boys because his mom isn’t around. On page 631 There’s a conversation with Sam and Harold and Harold tells him that what would people think if they walk inside the business shop and see them goofing around his mom could lose her license for such thing. It wasn’t a normal act for an African American to have fun especially at work where the majority is white people. Lastly on page 635 Sam and Harold are arguing and Harold reminds him that he is only a servant there not to forget that.   Sam argues about his boss being Harold’s mom since she’s the one that pays him. Harold replies by saying “he’s a white man and that’s good enough for you”. with this statement it more than clear that white over powered the back 

Monday, February 21, 2011

Master Harold and the Boys

The relationship between Master Harold and the boys was very unique i must say. Master Harold was a white boy still in school and the boys, Willie and Sam were African Amerians employers working for Harold (or Hally as they called him) parents. Harold didnt really treat them as a white person would treat a African American worker back in those days. Harold and the boys would talk to eachother about mostly everything. The boys would goof around master Harold and thats wasnt  something "normal" back in thoese day. Sam saw Hally with father eyes and Hally saw Sam as a big brother. Sam would always give Harold advices, he wanted to better him as a person. The relationship between Sam and Will was like a brother to brother relationship. Seems as if they knew eachother fror a long time. Also Sam seemed more mature and open minded then Willie and Harold were. Although Sam and Willie respected Harold and kept in mind that at the end of the day Harold was their master their realtionship was not like a normal white persons relationship with his Aferican American workers.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Guilty or innocent?

Hamlet by Shakespeare

I don’t believe Gertrude’s had anything to do with her husband’s death although in the plays it seems as she did. I believe she wasn’t in love with the king but was incapable of doing such thing.  The good side of her comes out when she drinks from the glass of wine that was poisoned. I believe she knew it was poison and took the drink before her son would.  I think she scarified her life for her son. Although I don’t justify her moving on so fast but I don’t think she would be part of the assassination of her husband.

Monday, February 14, 2011

From crazies to insane, to sane.


Hamlet by: Shakespeare
cra·zykreɪ zi/  Spelled [krey-zee] Show IPA adjective, -zi·er, -zi·est, noun, plural -zies.
–adjective
1.
Mentally deranged; demented; insane.
2.
senseless; impractical; totally unsound: a crazy scheme.

Crazy? What exactly is crazy and who made up all these definitions to define crazy? My definition of crazy is being different and unique. So, when asked if Hamlet is crazy, Hell yes. He’s crazy in the sense that he goes after what he believes in not having a care in the world. He has a powerful mind that is determined to go after the person responsible for his father’s death. Many people may define Hamlet as crazy because he talks to himself and may have mood swings. But who doesn’t really? We all communicate with our inner self and we all scream and shout when needed.  Hamlet is a young man standing in a border line between dual roles of being a prince and son. I give Hamlet all the right reasons to be unique and different. To cry and smile, laugh and grin. To climb walls and fall against some as well. Crazy? What exactly is crazy and who made up all these definitions to define crazy, well crazy people did. Like you and me. From crazies to insane, to sane.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

“Trifles: by: Susan Glaspell (1916)

“Trifles: by: Susan Glaspell (1916)

I’ll start off by saying the play is amazing! I can’t believe this was written in 1916. My favorite character in the play has to be Mrs. Wright although she doesn’t act on the play there’s a lot you learn from what others say.  I believe that Mrs. Wright killed her husband only because he dragged her to do so. I sense she wasn’t happy with her marriage and neither was she in love. I think the bird is a symbolism of Mrs. Wright how she was before marriage. She was; young, full of life, joyful, liberal, and fun to be around just like a bird. Afterwards she was trapped and killed by her husband .Not physically but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. I mean it’s obvious this lady wasn’t in her 5 senses and it’s obvious she was lifeless.  Who knows since this play was from 1916 maybe this marriage was arranged, and maybe neither or them weren’t happy with their lives. That would explain Mr. Wrights “dryness”