1972. In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.
Rereading literature allows one to see much more in a work. In The American Dream, for example, the beginning echoes the themes of the rest of the play, both foreshadowing and connecting the play back to itself.
Childishness is quickly introduced. The first two characters the audience meets call each other "mommy" and "daddy," something usually reserved for when among children. Mommy talks to Daddy like he is a small child, often stopping to ask for proof that he had been listening. The two treat each other condescendingly, she with her style of speech, and he with his agreement that she "did get satisfaction" after stating that it was impossible. Mommy's immature behavior in the store also makes them seem less like responsible adults; she was upset over something as trivial as beige and wheat.
The beige and wheat are an example of the miscommunication so central to absurdist plays. The difference between them is shown as one of opinion. The characters, throughout the beginning of the play, don't respond to or present ideas clearly. While Daddy can repeat what Mommy last said, he's not focused on the meaning; he rarely adds his own responses to the conversation, and is disinterested.
Satisfaction is often referred to in the play, as well. Mommy proclaims that shopping gives her satisfaction, while Daddy says "you just can't get satisfaction." The opening of The American Dream prepares the rest of the play through introducing themes.
Hm, refer back to your notes and make sure to structure the introduction the way Holmes taught us in class. Once again, what is the meaning that the Albee conveyed through echoing the themes in the opening scene of the play? You gave solid examples in the body paragraphs but so? How does introducing the themes effect the reading experience? Doing more analyzing rather than stating the facts would greatly improve your essay! :)
ReplyDeleteGood analysis, but I think your structure needs work. Don't open your essay with and obvious statement. Make sure you clearly define the major themes that are introduced in the opening scene, then analyze how it functions. You mostly just analyzed the first scene. You need to have topic sentences that with your thesis form an argument. Another thing is that you kept switching tenses, use present tense.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very well thought out response that clearly answers the prompt. However, I think you could look to change some of the structure to help the essay to flow better. You're conclusion is a little confusing because you go from talking about satisfaction being referred to, and then abruptly go to wrap up the essay. I'm not really sure what you'r trying to point out when discussing the satisfaction because this isn't clearly tied into the rest of your essay. Other than that just work on integrating stronger introductory sentences which will allow your work to flow better.
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