English HL Plays

Death Symbols

Diamonds To Willy, diamonds represent tangible wealth and, hence, both validation of one's labor (and life) and the ability to pass material goods on to one's offspring, two things that Willy desperately craves. At the end of the play, Ben encourages Willy to enter the "jungle" finally and retrieve this elusive diamond—that is, to kill himself for insurance money in order to make his life meaningful. Seeds:

Equus Quotes

Dysart: The Normal is the good smile in a child's eyes—all right. It is also the dead stare in a million adults. The Normal is the indispensable, murderous God of Health, and I am his Priest. Sacrifices to the Normal can take as long as sixty months" Dysart: "And now for me it never stops: that voice of Equus out of the cave—'Why me? ...Why me? ...Account for me!" Alan: "Or the white horse in Revelations" (referring to his first memory of a horse" Jesus on the white Horse in Revelation chapter 19 Frank: "And then with his other hand he picked up a coat hanger. A wooden coat hanger, and—and—" Dysart: Began to beat himself? Dysart: "That boy has known a passion more ferocious than I have felt in any second of my life. And let me tell you something: I envy it" (to Hesther).

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Author

Edward Albee

Cat Theme

Mendacity (untruthfulness) primary objects of repression are Brick's homosexual desires and Daddy's imminent death. Sub-themes: manliness, homosexuality, lies conflict between truth and illusion.

Cat Motif

Motifs, on the other hand, are images, ideas, sounds, or words that help to explain the central idea of a literary work - the theme. Ex: Motif in form of word (mendacity) for the themes

Cat Time Period

Summer, mid-1950s Society: Following World War II, American soldiers returned home. The economy saw a huge boost as American industry grew, and the baby boom was taking the country by storm. The American South also turned toward the trend of industrialization and became more like the North. Pollitt household seems dreamlike, impossibly suspended in a pre-Civil War era, detached from the real poverty that struck other Southern farmers and landowners.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Author (Cat)

Tennessee Williams

Expressionism

Was a reaction to realism and began in the 1900s. It sought to portray the inner psychological life of a character, concentrating on a subjective view of the world rather than an objective one. Plot, structure and characterisation were less important than poetic dialogue. Lighting was used to create atmosphere.

Who's Afraid....reaction by audience

While the language of the play might be acceptable today, in 1962 the opening language was startling, if not shocking, to the audience.

Tin roof Quotes

"Martha: Truth or illusion, George; you don't know the difference. George: No, but we must carry on as though we did. Martha: "Amen." George and Martha: Sad, sad, sad. Whom I will not forgive for having come to rest; for having seen me and having said: "Yes, this will do". George and Martha: Sad, sad, sad. Whom I will not forgive for having come to rest; for having seen me and having said: "Yes, this will do".

Equus Theme

"Normal" Dysart dedicates his life to making children fit society's view of normal Normal may not always be the ideal and madness is constructed by society. Modern society is actually its own kind of religion—the religion of the "Normal." Dysart comes to view himself as a "Priest" of this modern religion. Dysart compares Alan Strang's strange life to his own sexless, passionless and boring life, he is no longer sure if it is better to live within the bounds of modern society or to disregard its restrictions. (Internal struggle/conflict).

Tin roof meaning (title)

"tin roof" is her marriage to Brick. She proclaims to Brick, "I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof." And Brick replies, "then jump off." Their marriage is hot, because it is full of anger, hatred, and argument incited by Brick, and it is full of Maggie's lust and, to put it mildly, sexual frustration. Tin roof is flimsy like the marriage. They don't love each other and Maggie has basically manipulated Brick to marry her

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Title

*The title is significant here because it attracts readers and prompts sales of the play. Before we even start reading we know this play is going to be hot and it's going to make us uneasy. some cats like the hot tin roof because they can bask in the sun. This implies that the people in the play, who feel like these cats, may enjoy being in the situations they are in. Maggie is often referred to as Maggie the Cat. Cats are also widely known to have nine lives, meaning they're tough cookies. "Why are you so catty?" and Maggie replied, "cause I'm a cat!" This shows both women know who they are up against which essentially is a Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. The title is significant in this context because it tells us what Maggie and Mae are feeling like and how they both want Big Daddy's money so much.

Death of a Salesman Author

Arthur Miller

Cat Symbols

Brick's Crutch symbolize Brick's nostalgia and longing for the past, since he acquired his injury while jumping hurdles on a high school track field. "Jumping the hurdles, Big Daddy, runnin' and jumpin' the hurdles, but those high hurdles have gotten too high for me, now." Ties into the theme of lying since Brick is lying to himself that he's happy He wants to go back to the past, broken dreams Symbolizes Brick's sexuality or lack thereof: castration concomitant with the revelation of his unmanly homosexual desires. The crutch's continuous restoration and removal—in a sort of game of "now he has it, now he doesn't"—appeals to the fetishistic one. Cancer possible to take Big Daddy's dying of cancer as a symbol of the Old South's decline. stain of slavery on the history of the plantation despite the theme of fertility exuded by the large number of children and by rich farmland, the Pollitt Plantation is not such a healthy place.

Cat Characters

Brick: a "brick" of a man—embodies an almost archetypal masculinity Turning from his desire, he has depressively distanced himself from the world with a screen of liquor. He is reduced to the daily, mechanical search for his click that gives him peace. Charactonym: name of a fictional character that suggests a distinctive trait of the character Margaret: hysterical, dissatisfied woman left prostrate before a brick of a man, Brick. Maggie's loneliness lies in Brick's refusal to recognize her desire. exhilaration of the play lies in the force of the audience's identification with its gorgeous heroine, a woman desperate in her sense of lack, masochistically bound to a man who doesn't want her Big Daddy: a large, brash, and vulgar plantation millionaire. Daddy returns from death: a rich man cannot buy his life. After years with a woman he cannot stand, he is bent on acting on his desire in all its violence. Big Mama: Fat, breathless, sincere, earnest, bedecked in flashy gems, and occasionally grotesque, Mama is a woman embarrassingly dedicated to a man who despises her and in denial of his disgust.

Equus Sub Themes

Freedom Alan is fixated on the bits in horses mouths and the reins around their necks: despicable means of confinement and constriction. Alan himself feels confined by the life he lives and the expectations of his parents and of society Alan achieves this f reedom through his midnight field rides on Nugget's back, with both horse and rider completely naked and free of the ties that bind them Religion The concepts of passion and worship are intimately related Shaffer shows us that we all "worship" something in life, whether or not we belong to an "actual" religion. Alan is obsessed with Bible stories and "religious pictures," especially by images of the torture of Christ. In fact, Alan creates Equus and his horse religion, which echoes many aspects of Christianity, after Frank throws out Alan's picture of Christ being beaten by Roman centurions, and then replaces it with a picture of a horse. Christ's martyrdom is mimicked in Alan's worship of Equus. In one scene, Alan whips his back with a wire hanger while praying to Equus. A Christian martyr is a person who is killed because of their testimony for Jesus. The word "martyr" means "witness" or "testimony."

Who's Afraid...character name meaning

George and Martha Washington (founding couple of America)

Equus Symbols

Horses The animal represents: power, freedom, animal desire. Paradox: When Alan calls Equus a "Godslave," he means that the horse is powerful, yet cannot control itself. Its speed and force imply great freedom, and yet the saddle and bit that it wears is painfully constricting. As humans, we have the capacity to be free and individual; yet the conditions into which we are born immediately limit this capacity. The society we are born into, our economic class, our religious restrictions—so many factors actually control the way that we live in our world. The horse becomes a symbol for our paradoxical position: we are simultaneously powerful and free and helplessly limited. The Photograph The picture of a white horse hanging in Alan's bedroom took the exact place of a religious painting depicting Jesus suffering, which is evidence that this photograph represents an icon of religious worship to Alan. The Eyes Also a motif: a distinctive feature or dominant idea in an artistic or literary composition. to represent power and judgement people are strongly influenced by what others think about them. Through this symbol the audience can better understand the characters and the reasons behind their actions. Dysart: "I know that if ever those two assistants so much as glimpse my distress...I will be the next across the stone." The priests represent Dysart's two colleagues who have coercive power over him. Dysart doesn't enjoy what he does but he can't do anything about it because he feels powerless to them Alan: "He'd seen everything" Nugget: "I see you. I see you. Always! Everywhere!"

Function of a theme

It is often a truth that exhibits universality, and stands true for people of all cultures. Theme gives readers better understanding of the main character's conflicts, experiences, discoveries, and emotions as they are derived from them. Through themes, a writer tries to give his readers an insight into how the world works, or how he or she views human life.

Realism?

It sought to accurately portray everyday characters, situations and problems. The language used was as close as possible to natural conversation. Costumes were contemporary and sets were three-dimensional and lifelike. The plays were usually about social problems.

Death Time Period

Late 1940s: just come out of WWII Country in a state of rebuilding itself People wanting to better their situations and achieve American Dream Commercialism/consumerism about to kick off When money wasn't immediately available, Americans confidently borrowed it to finance their new cars, and fill their homes with the latest whitegoods. Because Americans felt so secure in their newfound prosperity, they began using credit to purchase the products and services they desired.

Equus Author

Peter Shaffer

Death Theme

The American Dream The true wonder in "Death of a Salesman " is that we can relate and that we can feel what the characters are experiencing because we have all been there in one form or another. Willy Loman's version of the Dream, which has been influenced by his brother Ben's success, is that any man who is manly, good looking, charismatic, and well-liked deserves success and will naturally achieve it. By sacrificing himself at the end of the play in order to get his family the money from his life insurance policy, Willy literally kills himself for money. In the process, he demonstrates that the American dream, while a powerful vehicle of aspiration, can also turn a human being into a product or commodity whose sole value is his financial worth.

Equus Point of View

The play is narrated from Martin Dysart's point of view. Dysart relates the events of the play to the audience as though he is relating a story to his wife, or to a friend. Dysart, the sane character, is able to objectively relate and analyze the events of the play to the audience as an accepted member of modern civilization, is able to relate to modern civilization the events of Alan's life: modern society can understand the problems of Alan (as he is different)

Death Theatrical Aspects

The setting of the Loman household contributes to the mood: surrounded by negativity and darkness, due to the surrounding apartment buildings. This resulted in no sunlight being able to pass through the house and stripping the image of natures beauty that was once there before. The Loman house allowed us to see a visual representation of what is happening to Willy (breaking down). Miller mirrors Willy's mental state with the setting and atmosphere to allow the audience to witness Willy's mental instability. Uses several rooms within one scene. The shift between past and present also makes the audience/reader get confused and a little disoriented at times (like being in Willy's mind).

Equus Theatrical Aspects

The stage is only equipped with four benches which are moved around and in and out of the stage to allude changes in place and time Makes the audience have to imagine the shift in scenery (active) basic setting also has an estrangening effect on the audience, they are all the time both looking at the play unfolding but they are also all the time reminded that this is a staged play. not depicted as real horses but rather has a symbolic form, to remind the audience of them. Horses made out wire and with people inside: how Allan sees the horse and rider as one.

Arthur Miller Describing Past and Present

There are no flashbacks in this play but only a mobile concurrency of past and present ... because in his desperation to justify his life Willy Loman has destroyed the boundaries between now and then.'

Quotes for Death

Willy: "There's more people! That's what's ruining this country! The competition is maddening! Smell the stink from that apartment house! Willy: "Nothing's planted. I don't have a thing in the ground" (preoccupation with material evidence of success) Willy: I'm fat. I'm very—foolish to look at, Linda. (assumes his business problems have to do primarily with his appearance) Willy: "The street is lined with cars. There's not a breath of fresh air in the neighborhood. The grass don't grow anymore, you can't raise a carrot in the backyard" (craving for escape from their urban neighborhood)

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf Context

first performed in New York City in 1962. The play stunned and pleased American audiences, seemed to provide a vital insight into American life. The importance of a happy family was emphasized by both politicians and popular culture. Many Americans considered success to be measured by having one's own house, car, kids, and dog. During the sixties, an image of the happy American family was reinforced by the conservative president, Dwight Eisenhower

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Title significance

some cats like the hot tin roof because they can bask in the sun. This implies that the people in the play, who feel like these cats, may enjoy being in the situations they are in. "tin roof" is her marriage to Brick. She proclaims to Brick, "I feel all the time like a cat on a hot tin roof." And Brick replies, "then jump off." Their marriage is hot, because it is full of anger, hatred, and argument incited by Brick, and it is full of Maggie's lust and, to put it mildly, sexual frustration.

House as symbol in Death of a Salesman

t is important to note that much of the play's action takes place in Willy's home. In the past, the Brooklyn neighborhood in which the Lomans live was nicely removed from the bustle of New York City. There was space within the neighborhood for expansion and for a garden. When Willy and Linda purchased it, it represented the ultimate expression of Willy's hopes for the future. Now, however, the house is hemmed in by apartment buildings on all sides, and sunlight barely reaches their yard. Their abode has come to represent the reduction of Willy's hopes, even though, ironically, his mortgage payments are almost complete. Just as the house is besieged by apartment buildings, Willy's ego is besieged by doubts and mounting evidence that he will never experience the fame and fortune promised by the American Dream.

Who's afraid...inspiration

the tumultuous state of American society during the 1960s. Dircks writes of Albee: "Albee saw an American society as sustaining itself on national illusions of prosperity and equality; here too, the situation demanded an honest confrontation of problems and a heightened state of communication."[20] Zinman, too, states, "Albee's political and cultural agenda is woven into the characters' preoccupations, and thus into the dialogue."Thus, there can be no mistaking Albee's allusion to George and Martha Washington, the first couple of the United States.