Thursday, May 12, 2011

Terrence McNally - Andre's Mother

How does her physical actions - her body language - contribute to the climax and resolution of the play?
"He goes, Andres Mother stands alone holding her white balloon. Her lip trembles. She looks on the verge of breaking down. She is about to let go of the balloon when she pulls it down to her. She looks at it a while before she gently kisses it. She lets go of the balloon. She follows it with her eyes as it rises and rises. The lights are beginning to fade. Andres Mothers eyes are still on the balloon. Blackout." Her body language in that context contributes to the climax and resolution because its showing that she knew she was wrong and now she is finally accepting Andre and Cal.

What significant spectacle is used in the play? What is symbolic of?
The significant spectacle that is used are the balloons. "They represent the soul. When you let go, it means youre letting his soul acend to heaven. That youre willing to let go. Breaking the last earthly ties." This is so symbolic because its saying exactly what they are doing. They are letting go of Andre and setting him free.

Define the theme. What do you believe is the meaning of this play?
The theme of this play is dont wait too late for something. You never know what you had till it was gone. I think the meaning of this play was dont wait too long for something to happen. Andres Mother waited too long to finally accept him and now that he is gone, she does. Now Andre will never know that his mother truly accepted him for who is was and now that he is gone he will never know.

Which character is the protagonist? Which character is the antagonist? How do you know?
The protagonist in this play is Cal and the antagonist was Andre's Mother. This is so because the whole time Cal was trying to explain to the mother that she should have accepted her son and that she would have accepted her son. Meanwhile the Mother was bitter the whole time not accepting her son for who is was til he was gone.

Tuesday, May 10, 2011

CAPTURED BY FEMINISTAS and YOU KNOW HOW TO WHISTLE, DONT YOU? - Rick Najera

1. What genre is each play?
Captured by Feministas - High Comedy
I realized this because there was a Pimp that tried to run things and be all macho but the women were so strong in what they stood for that it was funny to see the pimp still try to be in charge.

You know How to Whistle, Dont You? - Tragic comedy
It was almost as if she was going crazy and it was sad but funny at the same time. At one point she was like oh you can have me but then the next thing said would be like no you cant. She was going back and forth and thats where some humor came from.

2. How does his choice of diction effect your reading of the plays? I was shocked when I found out that the play was actually one person. The whole time when I was reading it I thought it was two people. "Oh my God, you're unmoved. You must be Ameri-can. You have a cold heart. I could warm it". For a second I had to think and be like is did someone else just talk besides the girl.

3. What is the theme for each play? Captured by Feministas is a feminism theme because its showing that women are standing up for what they believe is right. "All men started off as women until their Y chromo-some screwed up. you are mutants, return to your feminine good side. Women are able to communicate. Men are bad". This basically showed how women just need to be respected.
YOU KNOW HOW TO WHISTLE, DONT YOU? I feel like this play is freedom because all she wants to be is free and Cuba makes her feel like shes stuck in a prison, therefore, she wants to belittle herself. "You can have me for free. I can set you free. You can fuck me for free. Cuba libre. Cuba libre". This basically explains how she just wants to be free from Cuba.

4. Define the antagonist and protagonist in each play.
Captured by Feministas. The antagonist is the guy because he is a pimp, this is because you wouldnt agree with the pimp. Pimps are demeaning to women so that would make him the antagonist. The Protagonist is the women because I totally agreed with everything that they said about what they did and stood for. I liked how they killed the man at the end because there was no change.
YOU KNOW HOW TO WHISTLE, DONT YOU? The protagonist is the girl because I felt some type of guilt for her. The things she had said were sad and that made me feel sad for her. The antagonist is the government because she wouldnt be sad if Cuba knew how regulate correctly.

5. What is your opinion of each play?
My opinion of Captured by Feministas was that it was a strong and well done play. I liked everything it stood for and how women can stand up for me hence how they killed the pimp.
My opinion of YOU KNOW HOW TO WHISTLE, DONT YOU? makes me angry because I know that Cuba really is like this. They dictate everything the people in Cuba do and the things they have. I wish that I could go over there and free everyone after reading this.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Hamlet-Act III, Scene 1: Hamlet's famous Soliloquy

1. What do you think Hamlet is saying?

I think that Hamlet is speaking about life and death. Hes basically saying that if people knew what was ahead of them, life after dealth, then a lot of people would be killing themselves.

2. Why is this soliloquy so famous? Can you identify with it?

I feel that this soliloquy is so famous because so many people can relate to it. If we all knew what were in store for us, I can almost be sure that many more people would be trying to kill themselves. I feel this certain way because if people knew they would be happier in their afterlife then a lot of people would be on there way. I personally can identify with the soliloquy but to a certain extent. I believe that even if I knew what were ahead of me and so be it if I were to be happier I still would not kill myself because I love life as it is now. But I do think that if I knew what were ahead of me I wouldnt be as afraid of death!