Ti-Jean and his Brothers doesn't immediately grab the reader as being anti-feminist however there are several sexist references I found to be a little insensitive to the feminist cause. The quote by Ti-Jeans' mother, "A woman's life is so. Watching and losing", in the beginning of Scene One was a little irresponsible of the playwright Derek Walcott. This small quote almost set the theme of the entire play in a different direction. Since 'mother's' part was so small, I think the reader overlooked this. (I did at first!) Only after reviewing the story did I uncover how this play could be compared to "Trifles". In Trifles, the women waited around for the men to do their "official" investigation. In "Ti-Jean and his Brothers", the mother waited around while two-thirds of her children were killed. These women from both plays were sitting around and waiting instead of taking action! In both plays, the outcome would have been drastically different if these powerful women would have spoken out. Actually Ti-Jean asked his mother for advice which was one of the actions that saved his life. Imagine if she gave advice to all her sons...it would have been a very different play. However, I don't fault these women for not speaking up. This male driven culture, especially when these plays were set would not have tolerated an 'opinionated' woman. Just look how long it took for blacks to start speaking out against their oppressors; it can be a very intimidating thing to speak up, or speak out against "The Man"!!!
I am speaking of my experience at my Uncle house on Sundays. I explain what we do and what we think.
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
The Qing Ding Pearl: Just the Facts
The Qing Ding Pearl
The Qing Ding Pearl is a play about injustice and revenge. The Protagonist is Hsiao En, a poor fisherman who must pay unfair taxes to a greedy Chinese official. His adversary is Ting Yuan Wai, the antagonist, who sends his minions (his servant and his boxers) after Hsiao En to enforce and collect the unjust tax. The play is set in a fishing community in rural China sometime in the Northern Sung period from 960-1127 A.D; the capitol is the modern day city of Kaifeng. The theme of this play is quite simple: when people are pushed to their limits, they are capable of anything, even murder. The central conflict consists of fair versus unfair and oppression versus retaliation. The 'little guy' Hsiao En, taking on a corrupt corporation-like entity and overcoming this adversity from the help of his family (daughter Kuei-Ying).
The Good Woman of Setzuan
Mark Jeremiah
May 16, 2011
Eng 15
The Good Woman of Setzuan
This play is set in the Chinese province of Szechwan and follows a woman, Shen Te, a prostitute who was kind enough to open her house and shelter three gods. (Wong the water seller could find no one else hospitable enough to house them) As a reward Shen Te was granted a small fortune and opened her own tobacco shop, given as a gift but also a test to see if Shen Te was truly good or if her hospitality was a mere fluke. Even though Shen Te was a former prostitute, a "profession" seen as morally reprehensible, she was a compassionate person. (which in itself is ironic since the only person 'good' enough to shelter the gods, A prostitute, is seen culturally and morally as a 'bad' person) She was so nice and good that people kept taking advantage of her and her kindness by loitering in and around her shop, causing crime and drama so much so that the police start watching her store as a place of interest. That's when Shen Teh introduced her "cousin"- her male alter ego Shui Ta as a means to take back control of her life. I was a little bit offended that Bertolt Brecht, the playwright, decided to use this sexist undertone in this story. By using the strong, strict, alter ego Shui Ta, sends the clear message that Brecht felt that a female character wasn't strong willed enough...unless acting like a man, to control her life.
Death and the Kings Horsemen
Mark Jeremiah
May 16, 2011
Eng 15
Death and the Kings Horseman
This play was so complex, and had so many issues I barely know where to begin. The play "Death and the Kings Horseman" was written in 1975 by Wole Soyinka as a tragic, true story. The story is about the horseman of a king- Elesin, who must commit ritual suicide because the king has died. The Yoruba people have this custom so that the soul of the king can be transported (by the soul of the horseman) to the afterlife. If the horseman either refuses or is in any way prevented from killing himself, bad luck and tragedy will befall the Yoruba people; and the horseman and his family will fall into severe disgrace. This is tragic enough by itself, but a bad situation became worse when the British authorities under Simon Pilkings decides that this custom is barbaric and will be deemed as illegal, and banned. That's when Elesin's son Olunde, a promising medical student studying abroad in Europe receives a telegram and decides to commit the ritual suicide in place of his father, to preserve the family's honor. So it seems like the folklore actually came true and was a self-fulfilling prophesy, since the town was in discord (from the horseman not killing himself); Olunde committed suicide and Elesin, devastated, also kills himself but the Yoruba people did not accept his sacrifice. A waste and a tragedy.
Ti-Jean and his Brothers
Mark Jeremiah
May 16, 2011
Eng 15
Ti-Jean and his Brothers Blog
"Ti-Jean and his Brothers" is a Caribbean folktale by Derek Walcott written in 1958. The protagonist Ti-Jean, short for Tiny Jean, is the youngest of three brothers, each of which challenges Papa Bois/the planter/the devil, the antagonist of this play. The play takes place on the island of Trinidad near a forest. The theme of "Ti-Jean and his Brothers" is an ancient one, good triumphing over evil, but also common sense triumphing over 'brute/dumb' strength and even fancy 'book' intellect (which is seen as a white pastime). Ti-Jean embodies the native inhabitants; the play reinforces those values important to their island community. The central conflict deals with three brothers coming of age and trying to make their way in the world using a gift each one possesses. What makes these brothers unique is that their adversary is the devil himself and failure is NOT an option! Failure is sudden death; no second chances. Gros-Jean-or big Jean, has the gift of physical strength. Mi-Jean- or middle Jean, has the gift of intelligence from 'book smarts'. Ti-Jean- or tiny Jean isn't especially equipped with any specific talent, however he has the good sense (common sense) to ask his mother AND the forest animals for advice; something his older brothers didn't think, or didn't care to do. (His brothers actually blatantly snubbed the forest creatures) Ti-Jean's humbleness and down-to-earth personality won his family riches and saved his own life.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Un Hogar Solido
Mark Jeremiah
May 12, 2011
Eng 15
"Un Hogar Solido" Blog
Un Hogar Solido by Elena Garro translates literally as "A Solid Home". This short, single act play was, for me, more difficult to relate to than her other works. The play has eight characters and is set inside a tomb with no windows or doors. The characters are deceased and are related to each other and are eagerly awaiting the deaths of the remaining living family members, for some sort of post mortem family reunion. I understand that this play is supposed to be symbolic of reflecting on life however I found it to be morbid, and even a bit distasteful. From the five year old 'Katie' playing with 'Don Clement's bones, to 'Lydia' explaining how she always wanted a solid home (her tomb), it seems to me that Garro is either making the topic of death insignificant, or she's trying to make her audience feel as though death holds more promise than life. If this is the case then Garro doesn't do a good job of making us want to experience this! Being "the center of the sun" and "the snow on rooftops" or being "the Mezcala" river doesn't sound as exciting or peaceful as spending time with and appreciating my wife or being there for my mother....here and NOW! Not in some far-fetched and unpromised after existence. But perhaps the saddest concept of this play is that, upon death, no one experiences heaven or the Creator. Because "being the fold of an angels tunic" or "wood in flames" cannot possibly compare with spending a blissful eternity with loved ones and our Creator....not with the objects that God created.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Top Girls Blog
Mark Jeremiah
5/8/2011
Eng 15
Top Girls Blog
I'll be perfectly honest and start by saying "Top Girls" is not a play I particularly enjoyed or would recommend to anyone else. The characters and the plot were all over the place and disorganized, and the climax of the story was altogether lackluster. This play was tedious to read, and I would have been upset if I paid admission and confused with the different character 'jumps'. The play begins with six women meeting for dinner at a restaurant and discussing their life experiences, however the women were historical or literary figures from different time periods and different walks of life (except for the main character Marlene.) The stories told by the woman having dinner were actually interesting, and the best part of the play. However the playwright Churchill abandons them in scene II, leaving the reader wondering if Act I Scene I was a dream or some strange hallucination and why they were there at all, and what relevance did those women have to the play overall?
The rest of the play dealt with main character Marlene and how she is an independent woman in the 1970's or possibly 1980. (Not knowing the setting of the play until almost the ending was another annoyance) I came to the conclusion about the date because in Act 2 Scene 2, Marlene tells Joyce, "I think the eighties are going to be stupendous."(p. 502)
Marlene is a business woman in a seemingly male dominated industry, or world. The reader realizes this is a female empowering play dealing with female issues because of the various male dominating remarks, such as: "My father taught me Latin although I was a girl." (by Isabella in Act 1 Scene 1 p.478); "..Also women weren't allowed in the library." (by Joan p.479 Act1 Scene 1) ; "I thought God would speak to me directly. But of course He knew I was a woman."; "..Exactly and I shouldn't have been a woman. Women, children and lunatics can't be Pope." (by Joan p.481 Act 1 Scene 1) And lastly when Griselda's children were being taken away to be killed (or so she thought at the time) and she says, "It was Walter's child to do what he liked with." (p.484) All these statements set the reader up for the female liberation theme of this play. However this female liberation comes with a price; these 'top' girls don't seem to be especially happy with their liberation. All the historical figures from Act 1 Scene 1 enjoyed a high status but all endured crushing tragedies. Marlene even made the comment while listening to Isabella, Nijo, and Joan's stories (simultaneously, since they all loved to speak over one another), "Oh God, why are we all so miserable?" (p.482) I believe Marlene and the women that worked for her were miserable because they became like the men they wanted to be liberated from. In Act 2 Scene 1, Nell is interviewing Shona and tells her what an employer wants from a salesperson; "They think we're [women] are too nice. They think we listen to the buyer's doubts. They think we consider his needs and his feelings." (p.495) Ironically, having feelings and caring about the buyer's needs and wants would actually make a successful salesperson, then as well as now. At the end of the play (Act 2 Scene 2) Joyce tells Marlene exactly what she thinks of her 'top girl' status; "...I'm ashamed of you, think of nothing but yourself.." (p.502) It seems as if the title "Top Girls" is actually a warning; a person whether male or female can be 'on top', but don't forget about the little people you've left behind.
Sunday, May 8, 2011
No Saco Nado de la Escuela
Mark Jeremiah
May
Eng 15
No Saco Nada de la Escuela
What Does the Title Mean?
"No Saco Nada de la Escuela" literally translates to "I don't take nothing from school", or as the playwright Luis Valdez phrases, "I don't get nothing from school". The play is focused on six students following their educational experience from elementary school through college. This play is also very racially charged. The protagonist is Francisco, a Mexican American who in the beginning of the play doesn't speak English. He is put in a class where the teacher is insensitive and fails him for not understanding her language. ("Oh! Another one that can't speak English! Why do they send these kids to me?" p. 766) It's ironic that the teacher doesn't realize they send 'those kids' to her to LEARN! Therefore, Francisco doesn't get anything from school because all his teachers and his environment are hostile to his culture.
No Saco Nada de la Escuela should have offended me much more than it actually did. In fact, I was more offended by the play "Master Harold..and the boys" since "No Saco.." seemed like a form of comedic relief or a funny satire, created to destabilize and alleviate the racial tensions in the post civil rights era.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
The Qing Ding Pearl
Mark Jeremiah
May 2, 2011
Eng 15
The Qing Ding Pearl
3 ways "The Qing Ding Pearl" is different than the other plays we have read
I immediately noticed that "The Qing Ding Pearl" is different than the other plays we've read so far because the characters are not only acting, they are telling you (the audience) what they are doing. For example, In the opening scene Li Chun begins by saying, "I've fought fierce tigers on the southern mountains." Ni Jung replies, "And I've kicked the scaly dragon that swims the northern seas." (p.573-74)
They are speaking to each other, but they are acknowledging the existence of the audience. Another example of this is when Li Chun and Ni Jung meet up with Hsiao En and his daughter. Li and Ni are alone together but Li says, "Now that I'm nearer I can discern a figure on board that looks remarkably like my old comrade, Brother Hsiao. I'll call out and make sure." (p.574) If Li and Ni are together, Li doesn't have to say "Now that I'm nearer..". That statement is meant for the audience. The other plays we've read ignores the audience and the play carries on in real time, the audience being unknown and invisible observers.
Another difference from the other plays is this play is also a musical. The characters often burst into "hsi-p'i yao-pan" and "hsi-p'i tao-pan" song. The songs help to not only describe the mood, but also to describe the setting and stage directions, and even the state of mind of the characters. For example, while Hsiao En is speaking to Li and Ni, he starts singing to his daughter, "Come out of the hold and meet your two uncles." (p.574) Then he returns to speaking again. Right before scene III Hsiao starts singing to describe the change from day to night. ("Look yonder, the evening shades are falling fast." p.575)
Another difference The Qing Ding Pearl has from the other plays we've read is this play seems very simple and straightforward. Plays like "Master Harold and the Boys" and "Hamlet" had metaphors and deeper complex meaning (kite flying symbolic of freedom over repression, in M.Harold; and the perception vs. reality theme questioning Hamlets sanity) But the Qing Ding Pearl is very candid. The father did not have the money to pay the unfair taxes, he was punished unjustly, he rebelled by killing his persecutors; end of story.
Tuesday, May 3, 2011
Master Harold and the Boys
Mark Jeremiah
May 1, 2011
Eng 15
"Master Harold and the Boys" Blog
Describe Master Harold's relationship to the boys. Is it fair?
On the surface Master Harold and the men that work for his family, Sam and Willie, seem to get along well and enjoy each other's company. When Hally first enters the scene he walks in on Sam doing the quickstep. Hally doesn't remind Sam and Willie about finishing their work; on the contrary, he applauds Sam's dance and shouts "Bravo" (p622) and they continue talking about the ballroom dancing competition that Sam and Willie have entered.
However as the play progresses, Hally's disrespect and racism become appallingly apparent. The first time Hally lost his temper and started to act disrespectfully to his elders was when Willie threw the rag at Sam and it nearly hit Hally. Hally screamed, (at a grown man nonetheless) "For Christ's sake Willie! What the hell do you think you're doing!" (p.623) Hally also thinks he is above or superior to Sam and Willie. When Sam and Hally were discussing their 'men of magnitude' Hally says, "It is deeply gratifying to know I haven't been wasting my time talking to you." (p.626)
These statements prove that Harold was disrespectful and willful, and definitely arrogant but that could have been the ramblings of a spoiled child whose parents didn't raise him properly. But Hally's ugly racist mentality was revealed when Sam was making a kite and Hally said, "The sheer audacity of it took my breath away. I mean seriously, what the hell does a black man know about flying a kite?" (p.628)
Is it Fair?
Almost everyone has to answer to someone. Most people have supervisors or bosses, and even entrepreneurs must answer to the I.R.S and obey the government and laws. So I wasn't shocked to see that Harold was in charge while his mother was away. The unfairness stemmed from what was said to Sam and Willie and how it was conveyed. What's unfair is Hally's parents not being embarrassed by their sons behavior. It's unfair that his parents actually encourage Hally to be disrespectful to his elders and blatantly racist.
I also think it's unfair that the author, Athol Fugard created Sam and Willie to be these emasculated, super docile, "saintly" black men. The underlying current, to me, felt like Fugard was implying that good, obedient, non-angry and non-threatening black men like Sam and Willie don't deserve to be mistreated because even if you spit in their faces they will still try to serve you. So by contrast the masculine and non obedient black man can still be treated like a nigger.
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