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Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson

1288 Words6 Pages

The conflict between the Teacher and in the performers in Rich Orloff’s “Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson” is a direct result of a power struggle involving the class difference of those have power and those who must submit. Although Orloff presents this play a satire, under the veil it dives into a deeper case of the social class structure and what may result from the oppressive nature of those in power compared with the oppressed. In social settings such as a classroom teachers are held with respect, and authority allowing them to hold the power of his or her students. Historically those in a position of power have not always shown restraint when asserting dominance, or in the use of this “power”. The consequences of this abuse are that …show more content…

Orloff shows the stages of questioning the socioeconomic environment by the Good Samaritan as he or she is under stress due to the overuse of power shown by the Teacher. This abuse of power causes the Good Samaritan to become unruly, and to engage with the Teacher in a matter that contradicts their societal roles. The play illuminates the imbalance in power, that leads to one group in society having more control over others that are perceived as being less. The Good Samaritan conflict on the surface is merely about an actor being overly directed. The deeper meaning of this conflict is not only about the individual’s struggle with submitting to another’s control, but that of societies issues involving class. Uprisings have historical been the result of abuse of power, oppression, and grievances, all of which contribute to the central conflict of “Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson”. The resolution of the overthrown who hold power is one that is superficial in the play as well in society. As only those who hold power are the same that truly have control in the

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However, the biggest power struggle in the play comes from the oppression of a minority group by the police officers. This is an issue that many people believe in happening today so it makes the play seem more relatable to the reader, or at least it did to me. There seems to be division in the play between the officers and the minority community and I think that stems from a feeling of superiority from the officers over the people they are sworn to protect. Ms. Mahnaz may have started looking for the truth to find closure but instead was probably prompted by the feeling of inspiring change within her

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Struggling is a part of existing in this world for some people. No matter where they try to go, what they try to do, the reality of a life filled with struggle is present. Nevertheless, there is significance in the struggle of life and the obstacles that one must get over in order to succeed. Robert O’Hara play, Insurrection: Holding History illuminates the idea of a historic gem of a play that unveils hundred of years of history. Furthermore, the history is presented in a way that it has been denied and choosing not to be seen.

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Throughout the centuries, a commonality of time enduring plays is that they often include themes that are consistently relevant to audiences as time goes on. Henrik Ibsen 's A Doll 's House and Susan Glaspell 's Trifle are two plays that were written in 1879 and 1916, and both are still well read and enjoyed plays because of this reason. One relevant theme for contemporary viewers that can be found throughout both of these works is the character 's conflict against conformity to social norms. This struggle is relevant to present-day readers because of the increased value of the individualistic mentality that has been prevalent in our culture. By analyzing these characters during their struggle against conformity to social norms, we can discover how this theme makes these two works relevant to present-day readers.

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In this act, Miller discovers the power of individual and the effect of rebellion. People who had oppositions often consider useless, since they’re incapable to deliver their message to majority due to the fact that they had no strength compare with community. Therefore, rebellion consider as outcast, and a challenge to

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The one-act play, “Trifles,” by Susan Glaspell, has several themes that are incorporated within it. There are several dominant ideas such as female identity, patriarchal dominance, isolation, and justice are themes that are all reflected in different ways throughout the play; however, gender is the main theme of “Trifles.” There is a considerable difference between the roles of the men and the women in this play. The men are expected to act in a more controlling, dominant way, while the women are expected to act in the typical ‘housekeeper’ fashion. The theme of gender is brought out through the play in many dramatic elements such as character, tone, and dramatic irony.

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