Life requires us to make difficult choices with what we have. That transition between adolescence and adulthood considers important personal life decisions. Opinions and criticisms from others influence our decisions. Ultimately, listening to our heart is what makes us feel most safe and comfortable. Everyone experiences this inner battle with themselves and in John Cheever’s short story, “The Opportunity”, despite the views of those close to us, it is better to pursue what the heart wants because that is what matters.
Elise possesses the intelligence and maturity every teenage girl is supposed to have. For example, “The outward difference with which they took their chance and lost was the first that Elise had seen of theater’s good humor,
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This led Elise to weigh out her options and deeply contemplate about her future. Choosing the right path is one of the most important, challenging, and personal decisions in a young adult life. Elise does not understand how the acting industry works. It was her first time being on stage and everything was unexpected and a complete surprise to her. In addition, Mr. Leary, the director, and Gloria, her agent, felt insulted and embarrassed about Elise’s decision to drop out of the play. They spit insults at her such as, “I’ve never seen such effrontery…She’s too young. She hasn’t had any experience. She’s too tall…get the brat out of here…you little punk…you brat, you babysitter, you…fool,” (Cheever). Elise does not let the insults consume her. She knows what she wants and it does not help if people are controlling her life. Regarding her walls covered with, “photographs of Rex Barney, the late Mrs. Harvey Crushing, Henry Wallace, Valentina, Montgomery Clift, Stanton Griffs, and Jackie Robinson,” she wants to be inspirational and make a mark on the world like those historical role models. Wanting to stand out and be different, she …show more content…
Wilson questions her daughter’s capability of making decisions as an adult. For example, “She couldn’t force the girl to take the part, but at the same time, to see inexperience refuse a promise of so much money and pleasure gave her a painful wrench,” (Cheever). Mrs. Wilson did not expect such an opportunity to knock on Elise’s door resulting in her stubbornness about her daughter’s decision at first. Used to the “thought of a hard life”, she then felt over-thrilled and hopeful for Elise’s future. Not used to good luck, she was hopeful for Elise to easily take advantage of the opportunity. She is amazed and puzzled at her daughter’s talent and questions why Elise did not accept the part. This makes Mrs. Wilson to ponder where her inexperience talent could take her? Ms. Wilson is faced with the realization and was taken by surprsie that she does not know her daughter as well as she thought. Moreover, “If the poor woman had ever allowed herself to expect anything, the shock might not have been so great, but because she had contented herself with the thought of a hard life, the prospects of Broadway and Hollywood staggered her,” (Cheever). Coming from a poor family and along with the death of Ms. Wilson’s husband, they are not used to experiencing good fortune. Making sometimes a a wise decision could mean one in which a person does not make because in Elise’s case, it would cost her freedom. After seeing the other actresses being dismissed along with an unappealing play
The Black Codes were legal statutes and constitutional amendments enacted by the ex Confederate states following the Civil War that sought to restrict the liberties of newly free slaves, to ensure a supply of inexpensive agricultural labor, and maintain a white dominated hierachy. (paragraph 1) In southern states, prior to the Civil War they enacted Slave Codes to regulate the institution of slavery. And northern non-slave holding states enacted laws to limit the black political power and social mobility. (paragraph 2) Black Codes were adopted after the Civil War and borrowed points from the antebellum slave laws as well as laws in the northern states used to regulate free blacks. (paragraph 3) Eventually, the Black Codes were extinguished when Radical Republican Reconstruction efforts began in 1866-67 along with the passage of the Fourteenth Amendment and civil rights legislation. The lives of the Black Codes did not have longevity but were significant. (paragraph 3)
Eliza’s blatant disregard for the concern of those around her contributed heavily to her demise. Had she listened to her friends and family when they told her to marry Mr...
The plot, Jackie navigates the life of a preteen in New York during the 1960s. This plot begins late in Jackie’s life since her story begins 12 years prior which is when she was born but begins at the most present moment in the play which is the now. Although all of the characters are being depicted through one phenomenal actress, the characters are limited to her parents, Perespone and her family, and the friends she makes along the way. As well as the scenes and locales are fairly limited all of the scenes take place on a geographic scale in New York, and on Erickson Street or Manhattan at her private school. This shown the privileges of a small set reaffirms the focus and tightness of the
Early life and introductions to theater and dance began when Katherine was just a young girl. Katherine’s childhood was neither the easiest nor the best. Grew up as a middle class child, till the loss of her mother whom died and left her brother and herself to their father, later due to financial situations the family had to sell their home (Banes, 1998). With no place to go Katherine’s sibling and her self, went to permanently live with their aunt (O’Connor, 2002). Living with Katherine’s aunt is where she acquired interest in the world of entertainment as she watched her aunt and cousin rehearse for black vaudeville shows. Shortly after that Kather...
The play shows how Eva Smith is a victim of the attitude of society in
She did not enter the world to a life of glamor. From the beginning, her life was a tough one. Her family resided in Harlem during the 1930’s and 40;s. Times were very difficult for the young girl. Her family was on welfare and she, herself was a client of the society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children.
Jeannette Walls, the author of the memoir, The Glass Castle, was raised by parents whose relentless nonconformity and radical ideals were both positive and negative aspects to their wellbeing. Their names were Rex and Rosemary Walls, and they were the parents of four children. While the kids were still young, the family moved from town to town, camping in the wilderness and sleeping in the car, and sometimes even had a small place to stay. Rose Mary, who was both an artist and an author, identified herself as an “excitement addict”. As a mother who despised the responsibility of caring for her family, Rose Mary preferred making a painting that will last forever over making meals for her hungry children.
The film reflects the class difference from beginning through the end, especially between Annie and Helen. Annie is a single woman in her late 30s without saving or boyfriend. She had a terrible failure in her bakery shop, which leads her to work as a sale clerk in a jewelry store. When Annie arrived Lillian’s engagement party,
Good acting is essential to any good performance. The actors and actresses have to try to make what the audience is seeing and hearing come alive. The four characters in the play “Proof” are able to do this. The meaning and purpose behind the play is easily understood because the actors and actresses do such a fine job in their performances.
Every time the family comes to a confrontation someone retreats to the past and reflects on life as it was back then, not dealing with life as it is for them today. Tom, assuming the macho role of the man of the house, babies and shelters Laura from the outside world. His mother reminds him that he is to feel a responsibility for his sister. He carries this burden throughout the play. His mother knows if it were not for his sisters needs he would have been long gone. Laura must pickup on some of this, she is so sensitive she must sense Toms feeling of being trapped. Tom dreams of going away to learn of the world, Laura is aware of this and she is frightened of what may become of them if he were to leave.
Looking back on the death of Larissa’s son, Zebedee Breeze, Lorraine examines Larissa’s response to the passing of her child. Lorraine says, “I never saw her cry that day or any other. She never mentioned her sons.” (Senior 311). This statement from Lorraine shows how even though Larissa was devastated by the news of her son’s passing, she had to keep going. Women in Larissa’s position did not have the luxury of stopping everything to grieve. While someone in Lorraine’s position could take time to grieve and recover from the loss of a loved one, Larissa was expected to keep working despite the grief she felt. One of the saddest things about Zebedee’s passing, was that Larissa had to leave him and was not able to stay with her family because she had to take care of other families. Not only did Larissa have the strength to move on and keep working after her son’s passing, Larissa and other women like her also had no choice but to leave their families in order to find a way to support them. As a child, Lorraine did not understand the strength Larissa must have had to leave her family to take care of someone else’s
Ms. Anna Cora Mowatt is an inspiring theatrical and historical figure. She fell in love with the theatre at a young age and exhibited a talent for acting. Moreover, Mowatt’s fame flourished due to her play and literature publications, not just from than from her acting abilities. Anna Cora Ogden was born on March 5, 1819 in Bordeaux, France to American parents. She and her family moved to New York City when she was seven years old. Anna married James Mowatt, a lawyer who was several years her senior, when she was 15 years old. Her poor health led her to move to and live in Europe during the years 1837-1840. Nonetheless, her feeble health did not put an end to her mental strength. Mowatt’s determination led her to pursue an acting career. She debuted in self-written plays such as The Lady of Lyons, Armand, the Child of the People as well as in a few Shakespearean productions. Mowatt published articles in magazines such Godey’s Lady’s Book, as well as wrote biographies, novels such as The Fortune Hunter (1844) and Evelyn (1845) and her most successful play Fashion. She prospered from the revenue her plays earned since they were well received in Europe and America.
We can see this as she fakes her death to run away from the arranged marriage between her and Paris, and when she marries Romeo after only knowing him for a day. She only thinks about herself whenever she does anything, showing she is impulsive and selfish. At the beginning of the play, I viewed her as more mature and logical than Romeo, although over the different acts her impulsive and dramatic side comes
Finally, throughout the play, gender inequality and the battle of sexes are explored to the degree that these were the responsible factors for Miss Julie’s naturalistic fate, even though the battle of classes is a recurring theme throughout the play. Leading up to Miss Julie’s downfall, Strindberg successfully manages to avoid the topic of suicide ‘it’s terrible, but there’s no other way. Go’ but instead subtly suggests it through Jeans subliminal messages. Miss Julie was first entitled ‘The First Naturalistic Tragedy’ providing evidence that Miss Julie’s fate was a direct result of the environment around her: a typical anti-feminist zone full of gender inequality. Miss Julie goes well beyond the naturalistic struggle between the sexes that Strindberg wanted to portray.
We make choices every hour, every minute, and every second of our lives; whether big or small our choices are slowly putting us in the direction we choose or end up. Many of us do not realize what contributes to the choices we make and why it affects others the same way if affects us and because of this many authors and writers have written stories and articles about coming to terms with making a choice and how to better ourselves when it comes to decision-making for the future.