Alienation in King Lear and The Jew of Malta

Alienation in King Lear and The Jew of Malta

During one time or another, every individual has experienced

Alienation. Whether it is with family members, in our society, in our

religion, in our educational institution and even in politics: “The

most common form of alienation is the physical and cultural kind

experiencing "foreignness" or "culture shock." This is also the kind

of alienation that is most easily understood; however, when one feels

alienated in one's own home, society, religion, or culture, it is more

difficult to rationalize or understand that feeling of not belonging.”

Alienation has been defined as when someone does not feel that he or

she belongs to certain group or job…. One of the great thinkers whose

theory about the “Alienation effect” which has had a great impact on

the works of literature is Brecht.

Brecht’s theory originated from the Russian and Chinese theaters where

he obtained “some of his basic concepts of staging and theatrical

stylization.” He had a concept of the “Verfremdungseffekt, or V-Effekt

(sometimes translated as 'alienation effect') centered on the idea of

'making strange' and thereby making poetic.” He meant to remove

feelings out of the production and to make the spectators detach

themselves from the “make believe characters and make the actors to

dissociate from their roles. Then the political truth would be easier

to comprehend. Once he said: "Nothing is more important than learning

to think crudely. Crude thinking is the thinking of great men.” His

thoughts has revolutioned the world of theatre where his theme of

alienation has been used by play writers to give more effect to their

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...wn the road of evil and moral alienation instead of redemption.

He does not feel the need to make himself more trustworthy and a

better person and instead of trying to show to the audience that he

can be good and that they treating him as an alien is wrong, he feels

enraged and commits crimes.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

http. To Prove a Villain - The Elizebethan Villain as Revenger.htm

httpMarlowe Society Book Reviews Winter 1994.htm

httpContemporary drama countdown since the 60’s.htm

httpstudentpapersScully.htm

httpIbsen Voyages - with Brian Johnston.htm

httpThe Grotesque.htm

httpBeckett and Brecht.htm

Shakespeare, William. King lear. Ed. David Bevington. New York:

Longman, 1997.

Marlowe, Christopher. The Jew of Malta. New York longman, 1997.

Classic guides the Jew of Malta. Ed. Penguin