Raisin In The Sun And Cloud 9: Play Analysis

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This essay will focus on two plays; Raisin in the Sun and Cloud 9, and how the two different dramatic structures create meaning for the context provided in the pays. Raisin in the Sun is a well-made play, a reflection of society and dealing with real life social issues. Whereas Cloud 9 has a postmodern structure, which goes against modernism and a well-made play, deconstructing and breaking away from metanarratives and master narratives. The essay will compare and contrast the two different plays, and also discuss the meaning each play attempts to portray in their contexts.
The first play in focus is the play Raisin in the Sun. the play follows a well-made play structure, with a linear storyline. The play uses the Freytag pyramid structure. The Freytag structure has; an exposition, which is the background knowledge of fully understanding the story being told. A rising action, which is the beginning of creating conflict and tension that leads up to the climax. The climax, is the moment when all the information and knowledge of the play comes to light, when …show more content…

Postmodernism is described as ‘Postmodern views of history and national identity typically cancel a commitment to “master narratives” or “metanarratives” like progress and goal-directed history, and disrupt myths of national and ethnic identities as “natural” foundations of “unity”.’ (Irvine, 2013). Postmodern theatre broke away from the master narrative, in fragmentation, characters were in conflicting identities, episodic, intertextualised and allowed the audience to create their own meaning, open to subjectivity. The break away from the master narrative is seen in the episodic structure of the play, it does not follow a simple linear structure. The play challenges the realism system of a well-made play, and goes against societal forms. The play, seen in the structure, deals with societal issues and topics that appeal to how society