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Tragedy in modern drama
Essay on tragedy in drama
Tragedy in modern drama
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Tragedies will always exist as a part of life, no matter how many precautions provided. Some people, such as Reverend Robert May however, try to take these awful situations to reach out to others to encourage certain morals or push ideas. After a fire in a theater with numerous casualties, Robert tried to capitalize on this situation as an opportunity to tell the youth in a message not to go to the theaters. Although he uses decent points at times, it is rather obvious that he abuses the situation to twist or make up what he calls truth. Robert appears to overreach his position as a reverend when he imposes his personal beliefs on impressionable youth.
Tone plays an important part when considering Mr. Mays arguments; intentional or not, he comes across as condescending and prideful. Not only does he act and talk as if he is superior, but he constantly degrades his listeners stating they all waste their time, and by categorizing them with drunkards, gamblers, and the like. Once the reverend has beaten the
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He warns those who will return to watch plays to look for the exits, and to have an escape plan just for when God judges again. This absurd claim makes no sense as a reason to avoid theaters as he would definitely encourage going to church and churches often have less exits or ways of escape in the event of fires. As if he had not made enough up yet, he tell a story about hearing the voice of one of the children who died in the fire! This spirit, Mr. May claims, has a message from God to the youth. This man should really consider his actions with seriousness; he just attempted to play the role of God and tell people how to live, stepping into a role where he contains no true authority. If Reverend Robert May truly worries about judgment from God as he is warning, he should take his own advice and not put words in God’s mouth for his own
In Arthur Miller’s The Crucible, his character, Rebecca Nurse, helps portray the theme of religion by dying a martyr of her faith and being the purest and saintliest character hung for witchery. When Rebecca was asked by Governor Danforth to confess to witchcraft she replied, “Why it is a lie, it is a lie; how may I damn myself? I cannot, I cannot.” (IV) Rebecca’s response to Governor Danforth displays her clear trust in her faith. Her reassurance is apparent in this statement because knows she just sentenced herself to death, but also sent herself to the Kingdom of Heaven. Rebecca’s confidence in her beliefs is noticeable when she says, “Let you fear nothing! Another judgment waits for us all.” (IV) This shows that Rebecca sees life and everything in life as temporary, and life after death as eternal. She knows she is making the right decision by telling the truth, and she is content with the consequences.
one can escape the dreadful impact of such event. Miller demonstrates how fear, intolerance, and frustration can cause people
Traditionalism and conservatism have always threatened the “rights” and easily strengthened the “wrongs” of society. Liberal ideals allow some people to see past the norms of the time into the heart of the matter or to predict a better future. Victimized people may be forced to see things differently even if they are not naturally liberal. The Crucible shows how these people—the liberals, victims and liberal victims—fought to stand by what they knew to be right, even when all of the voices and norms of society were against them. In the Salem in the play people who were accused were urged to confess based on the testimonies of others and the traditions of severe religious consequences and
Hypocrisy is as much a part of Maycomb’s society as church and community spirit. For example, Mrs. Merriweather talks about saving the poor Mruans from Africa, but she thinks black people in her community are a disgrace (p.234). The hypocrisy of this teaching is shown as soon as she mentions the word ‘persecution’. This is due to the fact that she herself is persecuting the black people of Maycomb by not raising an eyebrow at the killing of innocent black men. Furthermore, it is obvious Bob Ewell is abusive to his daughter, Mayella, and that he is the one who violated her, not Tom Robinson (p.178). Since there is such hypocrisy in Maycomb, there are excuses made for whites. The jury probably thinks that if they pronounce Tom innocent the citizens will mock them as they do to Atticus. Harper Lee uses hypocrisy to show how the people of Maycomb are so engulfed in a variety of elements that they unknowingly complete acts of unjustified discrimination.
In Miller’s The Crucible, a prominent character introduced is Reverend Parris. As Salem’s minister, he has significant influence in the town’s court system. As a minister, it is one’s duty to live a life devoted to being a spiritual leader. However, Reverend Parris is far from being a minister and is not a true spiritual leader because of his greed, dishonesty, and reputation.
In today’s society, we take our freedoms for granted. Bob Revere took the freedoms for which he and his son fought for granted. Only a select few ever actually understood that they were taking advantage of the freedoms given to them. For instance, the city struggled to understand why Christmas was important to Mayor Bob Revere and his family closer to the end of the film when it had never been a problem in previous years. Revere, with the help of his grandson, Christian and some other youth of the town brought Christmas traditions back to Mount Columbus. Everything from the decorations in the courthouse lawn, the Christmas play at the school, and the mission at the cross proved problematic when media came into town. Not everyone believes that we take our freedoms as Americans for granted. The Constitution of the United States grants us liberties that our local governments are slowly taking away. Freedom of religion is a big problem for the town of Mount Columbus, for many claimed that having Christmas decorations, or even using the word Christmas, was a violation of separation of church and state. This is combated in Last Ounce of Courage by Bob Revere inviting any person practicing other religions to come to the courthouse lawn and do whatever it is their religions asks of
This trait gives the Reverend a more round character type. He is able to effect and influence the people around him just by his way of eloquently speaking. During battle he states “Isn’t it enough to in freedom’s name? No one kills in God’s cause…” (Fast 139) This passionate quote effects the views of the men in battle and they understand what they are really fighting for. His way of speaking can even have men like Moses Cooper, a strong willed man who is influential on his own, looking to him for guidance to calm the men before battle. Not only do we see the Reverend as an influential man in his way of eloquently speaking but also in the way that he is admired by all the colonists. Before the battle, this admiration really shows when they look to him for guidance throughout it all. Adam even states after the Reverend consoles the group of men that “still I admired that Reverend” (Fast 92) The Revered is looked up to and admired for he knows how to make people strong with what he is saying and instill confidence in them. Influential truly embodies the Reverend for the people of Lexington look to him to for guidance in his eloquent manner and admire him for the way he is able carry
The audience experiences Roger Chillingworth in a dramatic yet critical way to justify change and retribution in one character as the consequence of cloaking deep sin and secrets. When first introduced in the story, the narrator refers to Chillingworth as “known as a man of skill” (97) through the point of view of the people in the Puritan town of Salem. He is brought into the story when the town was in a time of need of a physician to help the sickly Reverend Dimmesdale; his arrival is described as an “opportune arrival” because God sent a “providential hand” to save the Reverend. Society views Chillingworth as though as “heaven had wrought an absolute miracle” (97). The narrator feels when Chillingworth arrives in Salem he is good and has no intention of harm of others. Perhaps if the crime of the story had not been committed he would have less sin and fewer devils like features. Although this view of Chillingworth changes quickly, it presents the thought of how Chillingworth is before sin destroys him. Quickly after Chillingworth discovers Dimmesdale’s secret, his features and his character begin to change. The narrator’s attitude changes drastically towards the character from altering his ideas of the kind and intelligent persona to an evil being by using phrases such as “haunted by Satan himself” (101). The narrator portrays the people of the town believing Chillingworth is taking over the ministers soul in the statement “the gloom and terror in the depths of the poor minister’s eyes” (102). Throughout the book, Chillingworth ages exceedingly and rapidly. At the very end of the story, the narrator reveals another change in Chillingworth’s character; he searches for redemption by leaving Pearl a fortune a “very considerable amount of property” (203). By doing this, it shows
...nique again by saying “how awful is it to be left behind” while all of the other Puritans are feasting and singing of joy with god, the sinner is burning in Hell. (104). He inspires his audience to want to change their ways and acquire salvation.
The topic referenced an event based on superstition, with people in Europe fearing of the unknown. During the fourteen century the Black Death accrued. The Black Death happened to kill 20 million people and got people to create superstitions based on why it had occurred. The superstition was stated as, “Everything you believe would threaten what they believe… those people lived there lives immersed in superstition” (64 Ruiz and Ruiz). Most people believed in God, so with their religious beliefs they created a superstition saying that the disaster they were going through was God’s punishment. People would stay in churches to ask for forgiveness so that they wouldn’t catch the illness. They, the authors, point out that our lives are guided by superstition and beliefs. As well as our difficulties with difference between lies and the truth. Using historic context, readers were able to understand the beliefs the authors were trying to convey. Once the reader agrees and understands, they’ll easily apply the information towards their
Every group of people is unique, all who have their own beliefs and values In “The Crucible” by Arthur Miller. The author tells the story of the citizens of Salem who, as Puritans, withheld strong beliefs in the word of God. Miller begins the play by providing the reader with information of the characters background. He states, “For good purposes, even higher purposes, the people of Salem developed a theocracy” (I. 30). Theocracy is a type of government where a God is said to be the supreme ruler. In other words, the people of Salem were very narrow-minded. They did not care for others opinions because if it was stated in the Bible, then why question it? The Bible states the Devil is real? So be it. Due to this mindset, many innocent lives were taken away during 1692. Although some were exaggerated, Puritan beliefs established order and discipline in a community for they thought these morals would improve the lives of people.
Writers often have an uncanny ability to drown out the outside world and isolate themselves in strenuous periods of releasing their emotions in order to create a literary masterpiece. For Arthur Miller, he utilized the outside world and his environment to pen a play that showed how fear is the spark that ignites racism and, in some cases, xenophobia. His 1953 production regarding the Salem Witch Trials carried a deep, underlying message beyond living a pure and holy life. His ultimate goal was to prove the irrationality behind the Red Scare that was occurring at the time. However, his play can also be historically connected to events not directly occurring during his lifetime. Arthur Miller’s The Crucible can be analyzed and criticized using
Driving with my friend to the movies one evening last winter we discovered a group of people bundled up and picketing by The Safari movie theatre in Moorhead.Ý My friend and I didn’t know what movie we wanted to watch, but these protesters made up our mind.Ý We decided to see the movie “Dogma” because that was the very movie these outraged people were boycotting.Ý Sometimes people carry their religion to the point where it has an adverse effect on people.Ý This was the case that evening.
Not only had the town thought well of her, as if she were the one to pity for having to deal with Amos, but then the Reverend himself became just as pitied and loved because of the very real outpouring of grief he displayed. There was no way to mistake any of his actions for something that would cause awful gossip. Instead there was only sadness, regret, and pain from Amos Barton. As such, the only proper, Christian reactions possible from his parishioners was kindness, sympathy, and love.
My experience watching a live theatre performance on stage was a fascinating one, most especially since it was my first time. I attended a staged performance of “The History Boys” in a small theatre called “The Little Theatre of Alexandria” at 8:00 pm on Wednesday June 8, 2016 in Alexandria, Virginia. The overall production of the play was a resounding experience for me particularly the performance of the actors and the design of the scene made the play seem real.