DEATH OF A SALESMAN

DEATH OF A SALESMAN SUMMARY

Willy Loman, the old salesperson, returns early from a business trip. After nearly crashing multiple times, Willy now realizes he should not be driving at all. Realizing that her husband is no longer able to do his job as a traveling salesman, as he so did for many previous years, Willy’s wife, Linda, recommends that her husband approach his boss, Howard, to give him a local office job in their New York headquarters. Confident that he will get the job because he thinks himself as a valuable sales clerk Willy plans to ask his boss. We also begin to learn more about the background of the family and learn about Willy and Linda’s two grown sons, Biff and Happy. Biff has just recently returning home from working as a farmhand in the West. Willy feels that Biff could have been a rich and successful man, but chooses to waste his talents instead of getting his life on track and is only trying to spite him by destroying his future.

That very night, Willy begins to have flashbacks and begins to talk to imagined images as though they were real people. Moreover, yeah something is wrong all right. He starts yelling so loudly that both his sons Happy and Biff wake up. The brothers are genuinely worried, having never seen their father like this. Leading Biff, to think that he should stay close to home and fix his relationship with his dad, in making this choice he decides to talk to a former employer, Bill Oliver, about financing a new business.

Once again, In the middle of the night, Willy is talking to himself loud enough to wake everyone else up. At this point Linda admits to her boys that she and Willy are lacking money and to make matters worse will is now trying to commit suicide. Due to all her stress she seems to take out her stress on the boys by accusing Biff of being the cause of his furthers unhappiness. Now Willy gets in on the family discussion and the situation goes downhill. He and Biff begin to argue, but Happy interjects that Biff plans to see Oliver the following morning. Willy is overjoyed. Everyone goes to sleep believing that tomorrow will fulfill his or her dreams: Willy expects to get a local job, and Biff expects to get a business loan. The next day, of course, everything goes wrong. Willy feels happy and confident as he meets with his boss, Howard. Rather than give him a transfer to the New York office, Willy ends up fired. Destroyed by the news, he begins to hallucinate and, yes, once again speak with imaginary people as he heads out to meet his sons at a restaurant.

Waiting for their dad at the restaurant, Biff explains to Happy that Oliver would not see him and did not have the slightest idea who he was. Distressed, spiteful, and something of a kleptomaniac, Biff stole Oliver’s fountain pen. By now, Biff has realized that he was crazy to think he would ever get a loan, and that he and his family have been lying to themselves for their entire lives. When Willy comes into the restaurant demanding good news, Biff struggles to explain what happened without letting his father down. Willy, who cannot handle the disappointment, tries to pretend it is not true. He starts drifting into the dreamy past again, reliving the moment when Biff discovered his (Willy’s) affair with a woman in Boston. While their dad is busy, and detached from reality, Biff and Happy ditch him for two girls.

Biff and Happy return home from their dates to find their mother waiting for them, fuming mad that they left their father at the restaurant. A massive argument erupts. No one wants to listen to biff, but he manages to get the point across that he cannot live up to his dad’s unrealistic expectations and is just a failure. He is the only one who sees that they have been living a lie, and he tells them so.

The night’s fight ends with Willy realizing that Biff, although a "failure," really do love him. Unfortunately, Willy cannot get past the "failure" bit. He thinks the greatest contribution that he himself can make toward his son’s success is to commit suicide. That way, Biff could use the life insurance money to start a business. Within a few minutes, there is a loud crash. Willy has killed himself. In the final scene, Linda, sobbing, still under the delusion that her husband was a much-liked salesperson, wonders why no one came to his funeral. Biff continues to see through his family’s lies and wants to be a better man who is honest with himself. Unfortunately, Happy wants to be just like his dad.

A DOLLS HOUSE

A DOLLS HOUSE

SUMMARY

A Doll's House, created around 1800’s by Henrik Ibsen a Norwegian playwright. His plays were considered controversial an too critical of the marriage traditions during the 19^th century,  following the formula of well-made play up until the final act, when it sought of breaks convention by ending with a discussion, and not at all unraveling. This writing was considered one of the first true feminist play; an important work of the naturalist movement, in which real events and situations are depicted on stage in a departure from previous forms such as romanticism. The play A Doll's House opens as Nora Helmer gets back from Christmas shopping. Her husband Torvald comes out of his study to banter with her. They discuss how their finances will improve now that Torvald has a new job as a bank manager. Torvald expresses his horror of debt. With her husband, Torvald, Nora behaves very childishly, and he enjoys treating her like a child to be instructed and indulged.

Soon an old friend of Nora's, Christine Linde, arrives. She is a childless widow who is moving back to the city. Her husband left her no money, so she has tried different kinds of work, and now hopes to find some work that is not too strenuous. Nora confides to Christine that she once secretly borrowed money from a disgraced lawyer, Nils Krogstad, to save Torvalds’s life when he was very ill, but she has not told him in order to protect his pride. She told everyone that the money came from her father, who died at about the same time. She has been repaying the debt from her housekeeping budget, and from some work she got copying papers by hand, which she did secretly in her room, and took pride in her ability to earn money "as if she were a man." Torvalds’s new job promises to finally liberate her from this debt. Nora asks Torvald to give Christine a position as a secretary in the bank, and he agrees, as she has experience in bookkeeping. They leave the house together.

Krogstad arrives and tells Nora that he is worried he will be fired. He asks her to help him keep his job and says that he will fight desperately to keep it. Nora is reluctant to commit to helping him, so Krogstad reveals that he knows she committed forgery on the bond she signed for her loan from him. As a woman, she needed an adult male co-signer, so she said she would have her father do so. However, the signature is dated three days after his death, which suggests that it is a forgery. Nora admits that she did forge the signature, to spare her dying father further worry about her (she was pregnant, poor, and had a seriously ill husband). Krogstad explains that the forgery betrayed his trust and is a serious crime. If he told others about it, her reputation would be ruined, as was his after a similar "indiscretion," even though he was never prosecuted. He implies that what he did was in order to provide for his sick wife, who later died.

Christine arrives to help Nora repair a dress for a costume party she and Torvald are going to tomorrow. Then Torvald comes home from the bank and Nora pleads with him to reinstate Krogstad at the bank. She claims she is worried that Krogstad will publish libelous articles about Torvald and ruin his career. Torvald dismisses her fears and explains that although Krogstad is a good worker and seems to have turned his life around, he insists on firing him because Krogstad is not deferential enough to him in front of other bank personnel. Torvald goes into his study to do some work. Next Dr. Rank, a family friend, arrives. Nora talks about asking him for a favor. Then he reveals that he has entered the terminal stage of tuberculosis of the spine (a contemporary euphemism for congenital syphilis), and that he has always been secretly in love with her. Nora tries to deny the first revelation and make light of it, but she is more disturbed by the second. She tries clumsily to tell him that she is not in love with him, but loves him dearly as a friend.

Desperate after being fired by Torvald, Krogstad arrives at the house. Nora gets Dr. Rank to go in to Torvalds’s study, so he does not see Krogstad. When Krogstad comes in, he declares he no longer cares about the remaining balance of Nora's loan, but that he will preserve the associated bond in order to blackmail Torvald into not only keeping him employed, but also giving him a promotion. Nora explains that she has done her best to persuade her husband, but he refuses to change his mind. Krogstad informs Nora that he has written a letter detailing her crime (forging her father's signature of surety on the bond) and puts it in Torvald's mailbox, which is locked. Nora tells Christine of her predicament. Christine says that she and Krogstad were in love before she married, and promises that she will try to convince him to relent.

Torvald comes in and tries to check his mail, but Nora distracts him by begging him to help her with the dance she has been rehearsing for the costume party, as she is so anxious about performing. She dances so badly and acts so worried that Torvald agrees to spend the whole evening coaching her. When the others go in to dinner, Nora stays behind for a few minutes and contemplates suicide to save her husband from the shame of the revelation of her crime, and more importantly to pre-empt any gallant gesture on his part to save her reputation. Christine tells Krogstad that she only married her husband because she had no other means to support her sick mother and young siblings, and that she has returned to offer him her love again. She believes that he would not have stooped to unethical behavior if he had not been devastated by her abandonment and in dire financial straits. Krogstad is moved and offers to take back his letter to Torvald. However, Christine decides that Torvald should know the truth for the sake of his and Nora's marriage.

After literally dragging Nora home from the party, Torvald goes to check his mail, but is interrupted by Dr. Rank, who has followed them. Dr. Rank chats for a while to convey obliquely to Nora that this is a final goodbye, as he has determined that his death is near, but in general terms so that Torvald does not suspect what he is referring to. Dr. Rank leaves, and Torvald retrieves his letters. As he reads them, Nora steels herself to take her life. Torvald confronts her with Krogstad's letter. Enraged, he declares that he is now completely in Krogstad's power—he must yield to Krogstad's demands and keep quiet about the whole affair. He berates Nora, calling her a dishonest and immoral woman and telling her she is unfit to raise their children. He says that from now on their marriage will be only a matter of appearances.

A house cleaner enters, delivering a letter to Nora. Krogstad has returned the incriminating papers, saying that he regrets his actions. Torvald exults that he is saved as he burns the papers. He takes back his harsh words to his wife and tells her that he forgives her. Nora realizes that her husband is not the strong and gallant man she thought he was, and that far from loving her, Torvald only really loves himself. What has appeared to be his love for Nora is merely gratification at perceiving him to be a wonderful husband. Torvald explains that when a man has forgiven his wife it makes him love her even more since it reminds him that she is very dependent on him, like a child. He dismisses Nora's agonized choice made against her conscience for the sake of his health and her years of secret efforts to free them from the ensuing obligations and danger of loss of reputation, while preserving his peace of mind, as a mere mistake that she made owing to her foolishness, one of her most endearing feminine traits.

Nora tells Torvald that she is leaving him to live alone so she can find out that she is and what she believes and decide what to do with her life. She says she has been treated like a doll to play with, first by her father and then by him. Concerned for the family reputation, Torvald insists that she fulfill her duty as a wife and mother, but Nora says that her first duties are to herself, and she cannot be a good mother or wife without learning to be more than a plaything. She reveals that she had expected that he would want to sacrifice his reputation for hers, and that she had planned to kill herself to prevent him from doing so. She now realizes that Torvald is not at all the kind of person she had believed him to be, and that their marriage has been based on mutual fantasies and misunderstanding. Torvald is unable to comprehend Nora's point of view, since it so contradicts his own ideas about her mind. Furthermore, he is so narcissistic that it would be impossible for him to bear to understand how he appears to her, as selfish, hypocritical and more concerned with public reputation than with actual morality. As Nora lets herself out, leaving behind her wedding ring and keys, Torvald remains utterly baffled by what has happened.

CLASSS WORK FOR Thursday 24 March 2011

Thursday 24th March 2011

English 15

HOUSE KEEPING

GRADE DISTRIBUTIONS

ASSIGNMENTS

AUTHOR REPORTS

+             SIGN IN SHEET

HOME WORK FOR TUESDAY…………..

CONTINUEATION OF DEATH  AND  THE KINGS HORSEMAN

BLOG

WHY DID OLUMBE COMMIT SUICIDE?

FINAL EXAM

WRITING YOUR PLAY REVIEW

YOU GET  100% ON TIME  FOR

I WILL GIVE YOU BACK YOUR PAPER WORK REVISE IT

UP TO 90% FO RREVISION

PLAY REVIEW::::::::

GOOD REVIEW HAVE  2 PARTS OR ADDRESS 2 MAJOR  AREAS

1)      THE PLAY

2)      THE PRODUCTION

GOOD REVIEWS ATTEMPT BALANCE

A PLAY OPENS WITH A GRABBER*******ATTENTION GETTER

Play summary

Know the play – little

New play – much

Talk about principal characters principle / conflict

Talk about timeline , place and setting where everything takes place.

Each act gets a sentence

Venue –effect on audience

Evaluate performances

Technical aspects

-          Sets

-          Costumes

-          Props

-          Lights

-          Sounds

TOP GIRLS BLOG

TOP GIRLS

CHARACTER OF CHICE ‘MARLENE’

The narrative and themes of this play focuses on the many roles put on women in our realistic day-to-day societies and the inequalities they face when trying to make it in a man’s world; “woman’s double burden vs. the “glass ceiling”. The play accomplishes this by focusing the gist of the story on one of its character, Marlene, a woman employed at the 'Top Girls' employment agency. The focus placed on her family and the poor life she left behind to embrace success, but we also find out she left an illegitimate child behind as well for her sister to bear the burden.

Marlene while living her desire of a successful businesswoman she lacks a personal life, (consequences of inequality) all within the (80’) eighties. The play is set in Britain, and tries to condemn the values of Margaret Thatcher supporters especially the effect they had on feminism during the 80’s. Therefore, Marlene’s character comes off as a soulless woman who is judgmental of other women decisions to be married or who want to have kids but really is suppressing her own desire to have a family life. This play presents its dissatisfaction of women cornered into patriarchs and fights to impose feminism that is more socialist while still trying to get the audience to consider if it is possible for women in today’s society to be successful career women who juggle family and home.

One of the most important scenes in this play is centered on a party Marlene threw herself celebrating her existence and promotion at the agency she works at. She invites a bunch of her friends all of whom are historical, fictional or mythical woman who faced grave adversity and suffered bitterly to accomplish their goals.  Starting with a dreamlike opening to the play in which Marlene greets a number of pivotal women of both myth and history, such as Pope Joan a woman that disguised herself as a man. Thou thought to be a myth; the story goes that a female pope rose in power during 853 - 855 AD but during her period of anointment as pope she gave birth while riding a horse in front of the public, forever letting people know her true gender.

Then there is Isabella Bird  a real historical figure who found pleasure as a nineteenth-century English explorer, writer, and a natural historian; she was the first female explorer who conquered what was felt then as a man’s world, especially back then traveling alone by oneself as a female was lonely and at times dangerous.

Another supportive character was Dull Gret thought of as the harrower of hell, immortalized from Flemish folklore and depicted in a painting of Pieter Brueghel the elder; portraying a peasant woman (also known as Mad Meg) who leads an army of women to destroy hell.

Next we have the character of Lady Nijo a Japanese woman who’s farther when she turned age fourteen turned her over to the emperor to became the emperors second highest concubine of Go – Fukakusa. Nijo was eventually turned away by the emperor due to her indiscretion and the children she bore of such indiscretion, so she had to leave the palace therefore she traveled a lot that led to her discovery of Buddhism; she later committed her life to a Buddhist nun, her way of overcoming her many tribulations.

Finally, we have Patient Griselda, another figure taken from famous folklore whose name is well known for great patience and unquestionable obedience. It is said that Griselda married Gualtieri the Marquis of Saluzzo. Gualtieri decided to put his new wife trough a number of tests to see how true her devotion and love was. His first test was to declare that their first child (a girl) must be put to death and same to their second child (a boy) Griselda obeys her husband and turns the children over without question, but the truth was her husband secretly sends them away to be raised somewhere else. Then his last test was to renounce his marriage to his wife Griselda claiming he has gotten permission to divorce and remarry a better woman, he sends Griselda to live by her farther she again obeys. Many years later Gualtieri announces his desire to remarry and calls on Griselda to prepare his wedding as his servant.  He then introduces Griselda to his soon to be twelve year old bride, (she is actually Griselda daughter) Griselda wishes them both well at this point Gualtieri presents Griselda with the two children reveals the truth and restores her as his wife and mother of his kids because she has proven her love and obedience.

            The scene was important to show how Marlene needed support to confirm who she is and to register that her choices in life though difficult were the right choice. However, despite her confirmation it is in the last scene that she almost shows or struggles with her choices and argues with her sister who chose the opposite life. The scene takes place a year earlier in Marlene sister’s kitchen (Joyce), where Angie Marlene’s illegitimate daughter joins them. Angie who is very happy that her aunt (Marlene) is there, looks up to her aunt and thinks that she is amazing; impressed with her independence of being a businessperson. Angie hates Joyce the woman who has to hold four jobs to feed and clothe her without appreciation. Shortly before Angie goes to bed, Marlene pulls a bottle of whiskey out of her bag to drink with Joyce. As they drink, they discuss what is to become of Angie, using brutal honesty, Joyce tells Marlene that Angie is not bright or talented and cannot for see her being successful as her mother. Marlene tries to brush this off, saying that Joyce is just running Angie down, as this sober reality contradicts Marlene's conservative mentality. The scene ends with Angie possibly over hearing the conversation between Joyce and Marlene giving discovery that Marlene is her (Angie’s) mother.

CLASS WORK FOR Tuesday 12th April 2011

12 ANGRY JURORS
BCC Theater Workshop
April 27 + 29 at 7:30 pm
April 28             Noon and 7:30pm

ADMISSION: free
Roscoe Brown PlayHouse

VERFREMDUNGSEFFEKT
distance between audiance and play

EPIC THEATER
realism Brecht doesnt like
Gestus------love is a thing to be bought and sold

Myth--------fairytail  / legend

Gods Rules, Faults, Squabbles ----People

China is  so far away from germany that its like a fairytail

BAD
"men"
"rich"



GOOD
"women"
"poor"

**************$ not justice*************

Reportage - to teh gods


Blog what is th relationship between love and money in the play?

Main them of Play

ON THURSDAY
The economic sociology determinss life today


A theathrical and cinematic device by which the audience is alienated from a play or fild


LACK of ability to relate

CLASS WORK FOR Thursday 14th April 2011

4/28            BCC Play
5/3 - 5/5     TOP GIRLS
5/10 - 5/17 FINAL PROJECTS
5/17            PROD REV DUE

FINAL PROJECT DUE - Presentation Day
Home Work for 5/3
Read Top Girls 473 - 503
Blog why is the play called Top Girls

Money Determines morality
base / super structure
worker / owner
the writers point in this play is to show that money determines morality. He implements his idea of capitalism

deus er machina ----God from machines

IRONY

CLASS WORK FOR Thursday 31st March 2011

SOLID
- matter
- structure is rigid
- resistance to change
- body


HOME
- stability, togetherness
- love, safety, memories
- good finances, dinner time

GO SEE THE FOLLOWING SHOW
******B IRDS ON FIRE******
8pm Fri April, 11th
8pm sat April, 12th
3pm sun April 13th

theater for the new city
L 10 1st Ave, 6 to astor place