Hi, it´s nice that you have a look at my website. I would appreciate comments to my articles. I promise to reply as soon as possible.
|
Hi, it´s nice that you have a look at my website. I would appreciate comments to my articles. I promise to reply as soon as possible. |
|
|
Table of Contents |
|||
| Some biographical notes | The Victorian Society in Shaw´s Pygmalion | ||
| Symbolism in Russell´s "Educating Rita" | Loss of civilization - can it be stopped ? | ||
| The play and the film version of Educating Rita | The psychological changes in Lord of the Flies | ||
| George W. Bush’s first presidential message | The Boxer by Simon & Garfunkle | ||
| The American Dream: Unfulfilled Promises? | The Multicultural Society of the Future | ||
| Real Management of Crime matters | Are death-row inmates human trash ? | ||
| What does Holden reveal about his feelings? | Why don´t you find peace from society? | ||
| Pinter´s A Slight Ache: Flora´s Cry for Love | Alan Ayckbourn: No time for each other ? | ||
| The Secret of Agatha Christie | "The Main Death": A new type of detective | ||
| My own formula of a good crime story | E. Hemingway, The Old Man and the Sea | ||
|
Hello, my name is Dorothea and I am a member of the English-A-level group at Gymnasium Steglitz. Very briefly I will introduce you to my hobbies and also tell you about my future plans. I am 17 years old and I have just started my two final years at school. I am interested in a lot of different things. Besides going to the cinema I would say music is my favourite hobby. I have been playing the cello for ten years and I am also a member of a quartet who meets once a week and plays classical music by famous composers such as Mozart, Vivaldi and Bach. But I am not only interested in playing music, I also enjoy going to the disco or just meeting friends. Berlin has got a tremendous variety of nightclubs and bars, especially in the districts of the former East Berlin, around Friedrichstraße and Kollwitzplatz. One fact not many people know about me is that I spent the last school year in England. My school, New Hall School, an only-girls boarding school, was in the northeast of London, not too far away from Cambridge. Even though it was not easy at the beginning -because of language difficulties - I got used to the British school system very quickly and I would say England has changed my life enormously. Not only living together with people from over 15 different countries, but also being independent and living without your parents is very challenging. Being a member of that international community I made a lot of friends who enabled me to take part in a Spanish "fiesta", the Nigerian Independence Day, the Chinese New Year and some other events. It was interesting to see how students of so many different traditions and languages are all united by speaking English. That is why I would definitely recommend going abroad. During my stay in England I realized that London is the place I want to study at. I wish that I will have the chance to return to England, not only because of its old, traditional universities, but also to enjoy its cultural life. (Sep 2000)
|
|||
Symbolism in Russell´s "Educating Rita" A white dove - or a cross… who doesn't connect these two objects with the ideas of peace or the church? They are just examples of the importance of symbols! Symbols occur everywhere, but especially in literature. They stand for something very important which sometimes can't be expressed in words. There have been two places in the play "Educating Rita" so far, where we might speak of symbolism. In the beginning of the story, when Frank talks to his girlfriend on the telephone, Rita knocks on the door. Frank - having finished his conversation - shouts "Come in". But Rita can't get into the room very easily, because the door is stuck. We could imagine that this situation stands for the difficulties Rita has got. Neither her husband, nor her mother want her to go to "Open University". But she has got the willpower to study. Nobody in her environment supports her, but she definitely wants to be educated. This could be interpreted as symbolism. All that resistance - the jammed door - but she finally manages to enter the study room - her entry to higher education. A bit later Rita asks Frank to come down and to sit on the grass - like other students do. But he protests by saying "I have an aversion to sunlight". Rita is disappointed, but she suggests to open a window; she struggles really hard, but it doesn't budge. She finally abandons her attempt. This is another situation where we can speak of symbolism. Frank, who has been a professor for ages, can't be changed. Rita, who tries very hard to do that, is not able to succeed. The window stays closed - and Frank is not willing to change at that time.
|
Right at the beginning of the film "Educating Rita" we can see how Frank is looking for a bottle of whiskey which he usually hides behind some books. Having looked around he finally finds the bottle behind a book by O. Wilde; this is the first difference to the book as there the whiskey is hidden behind a book by Charles Dickens. But one of the major differences is the fact that there are many people in the film who are only off-stage characters in the play, where Rita only mentions them when she is talking to Frank. People like Trish, Denny or her mother occur in the film to attract the audience's attention. This is a very important part of the film as it makes it more interesting; because, as we know, the play itself is only written as a dialogue between two people. But could we imagine a film with only two actors? I guess that would be rather boring. In the book Rita only mentions the fact that she has got a flatmate called Trish, who tried to kill herself. But in the film this is changed into a scene full of suspense! The whole excitement of this particular scene is underscored with very tragic music. Music, of course, cannot be part of a piece literature and that is why it has got a very positive influence on the story as a whole. There are other examples of those scenes which only occur as "spoken of" in the book: The pub scene where Rita's mum starts to cry or near the end of the story, where Frank goes to the disco to find Rita, as well as the dinner party at Frank's house when she does not have the courage to enter. Another "fictional" part of the film is the wedding of Rita's sister where her father makes the following comment: "Rita has been married for two years and doesn't have a baby yet. Her sister got married two minutes ago and is already pregnant." Now, after watching the film, we would say that these scenes were necessary. Without them the film would have been rather boring and rather short. One other scene, which I personally think is the most important one, differed very much from the book, too: After the summer holidays, when Rita comes back from London Frank picks her up at the train station and gives her a lift home; sitting in the car Rita gives him the little present (the engraved pen). This is very different from the play where she gives him the present in his office; and within that familiar atmosphere he even kisses her! All in all there are a lot of distinctions between the book and the film. Nevertheless I would say that the film is as successful as the book itself.
|
The Victorian society which is presented in Shaw´s play "Pygmalion" seemed to be very wealthy. Middle and upper-class people lived in big houses or fashionable flats with large windows, often giving access to a spacious balcony. In these houses you would find representative fireplaces, too, and in the middle of the living room there would usually be a big ottoman with large carpets around it. It was not unusual in that society to have one "at-home day" every week when your friends and local celebrities were invited for tea. During those meetings you would have to pay attention to certain rules of behaviour of small talk. People would greet each other by saying "How do you do" and shake hands and be very careful not to say anything which was a violation of the conventions. There were two favourite subjects the Victorian high society would have talked about: weather and health. Once again you had to be very careful. You were not supposed to say anything which revealed your real feelings.Your choice of words had to be very refined, too, and, of course, swearing was shocking. The whole sense of "at-home days" was to show people´s respectability. It was an occasion to present yourself in society; especially women would admire each other's dresses and hairstyles. And, worth mentioning, they would gossip a lot as long as the person they gossipped about was not in the room. All in all the life of the middle and upper class seemed to be very superficial and gives the impression to me as if it was a "show" only. Especially as you were not supposed to utter what you really thought, and that certain topics such as politics had to be avoided. Professor Higgins confirms this impression by saying in act III: "....but what they really think would break up the whole show"! The middle and upper class of the Victorian society represents one small, but powerful group of the whole population during that time in England. Shaw´s play "Pygmalion" gives us a little insight into their way of life.
|
Loss of civilization - can it be stopped ? Jack looks "no longer at himself, but at an awesome stranger" who is willing to kill Not only the issue dealing with the loss of civilization but also the beginning of chapter four seems worth mentioning. There is a description of the rhythm the boys follow on the island each single day. The morning with its bright sites, the dangerous heat at midday and the evening with its cool atmosphere stand as a metaphor for life.The morning is our childhood and our youth; then we slowly move into adulthood and finally approach death in the "evening". As the boys follow these rhythms every day, time passes on. It seems as if they have been on the island for months already. The boys no longer clock the hours of night and day; they don't need it anymore! This is the first sign of losing touch with civilization. And then there is Roger, who is Jack's right hand. He also enjoys killing and torturing others. He throws stones at one of the little boys called Henry, but "there was a space round Henry…into which he dare not throw." Being stopped by the values which civilization have put on him, Roger does not yet break one any "taboos" that exist in civilized society. But later in chapter 11 we meet Roger again, having completely lost any human feelings. He hurls down a piece of rock, which finally kills Piggy. In chapter 4 it is only a little stone but later a whole rock with which he kills. The ship which is spotted on the horizon of the sea is also worth mentioning. The fire does not exist any more which could act as a signal for passing ships. Jack and the hunters do not care about the signal fire anymore. The only thing they really enjoy and care for is hunting! The hunters paint their faces so that they are liberated from shame and self-consciousness. Hidden behind masks Jack looks "no longer at himself, but at an awesome stranger" who is willing to kill. Having painted their faces the boys lose their human dignity. They crawl through the jungle and through dirt like animals. They start to utter primitive sounds like pigs…and again they do not recognize the decline of civilization and the loss of their personal identity.
At the end of chapter 4 the reader feels how the loss of civilization is going to continue slowly but steadily and wonders if there is any way this process can be stopped.
|
The psychological changes in Lord of the Flies "Lord of the Flies", a novel written by W. Golding, takes place on a lonely island in the ocean. Having experienced the crash of their airplane, the boys are surprised not to have any adults around who look after them. One of the oldest boys, Ralph, is elected as the leader of the group. After some days have passed they seem to have adapted quite well to their new environment even though the environment doesn't seem to be very friendly. There is a bird with a witch-like cry, there are dangerous plants... Here the ambivalence of the "beautiful" island appears for the first time. As we go through the story one is able to realize the decline which proceeds slowly but steadily. At the beginning of the story they introduce some rules; only the person who has the conch in his arms is allowed to speak during their assemblies. The group of boys seems to live in a civilized way where rules exist and every single person has to obey them. But there is Jack, Ralph's rival, who does not really agree with the way Ralph organizes the group of boys. Ralph thinks rationally, he sees the importance and necessity of having a fire on the top of the mountain because otheriwse no rescue seems to be possible. But Jack hungers for violence. He is the one who goes hunting, he is the one who lets the fire go out. He does not take responsibility, he does not care for the others the way Ralph or Piggy do. Piggy, the boy with many deficiencies seems to be more intelligent than any other boy on the island. The glasses he wears could be a symbol for his intelligence but they also symbolize life! Only with Piggy's glasses the boys are able to light a fire - and this seems to be their only hope of ever being rescued. But with this fire the inhabitants of the island are also able to destroy - namely to destroy their own environment because the are not able to control it. As the story proceeds their nature of human beings seems to disappear slowly. They used to have assemblies where everyone could utter their problems, and Ralph acted as the leader. He was chosen by the others, and whenever they made new rules he asked the boys and they were allowed to vote for or against them. But as Jack becomes more powerful, because he has some hunters who follow him, he uses his power and tries to make Ralph and the others obey him. He doesn't allow the youngsters to vote, he doesn't care about the democratic rules of their assemblies. He takes over Ralph's position as the leader. No one has voted for him - he decides to make himself the leader of the group which doesn't really exist as "one" any more. Jack and his hunters represent the loss of civilization, they behave like animals. We could name this process a psychological issue. The hunters see the necessity of providing meat. Thy follow their "animalistic" instinct, they try to find a pig which they can kill. But when they finally find it they are not really able to kill it. A little later in the story Jack paints his face with black and red colours. He loses his identity, but now he is able to murder. He enjoys killing pigs, and so do his hunters. Having murdered a pig they start singing, dancing and finally shouting "Kill the pig, cut her throat, bash her in." The hunters become a dangerous group. They seem to make a ritual out of having killed another living being. Their human nature disappears, they become a wild tribe which gives them a certain feeling of community. A group of "animals" one could name them. They crawl deep on the ground, in dirty grass, in order to find the traces of a pig. They are dirty, cruel and they lost their identity. They lost their civilization and their conscience. They are now willing to destroy and to murder. The boys undergo a psychological change. Conditioned by their environment and the nature of human beings they develop or -redevelop- an unbelievable animalistic behaviour which does not only destroy them, but also their former "unity" as a group. Ralph, the goodhearted and sympathetic boy has to understand the changes that have occurred on the island so far. We might question ourselves how things like that could happen. I think that mankind is basically good, but that there is a side in our heart which is able and willing to destroy. This is a feature that every single human being has, no matter how our environment, education or social background have influenced us. This could explain why the boys -basically having had good intentions- undergo various changes. Psychological changes symbolize the weakness of mankind. Each person, each boy on the lonely island has to face these problems because no escape is possible.
|
George W. Bush’s Inauguration Speech His first presidential message to the nation In his inauguration speech George W. Bush describes America as being the state which enables all other countries to develop democracy. He emphasizes this by using a metaphor saying that this idea is like a seed carried out by the wind: Democracy carried out into the wider world by the United States. He patriotically describes America as a “rock in the raging sea”.
And he finally mentions the “American promise”, a promise that is meant to promise a society where each person has got the same chances and the same opportunities to build up and to work for one’s own fulfilment.
|
| The Boxer
by Simon and Garfunkel
|
| The American Dream: A dream of unfulfilled promises?
Many poems, songs and essays have been written on the topic of the American dream. But what is the American Dream? What do people really mean when they discuss it? I think the American Dream is just the expression of one feeling that most people in this world have – no matter whether they live in America or South Africa. Namely the wish for a "better life". In this expression "better life" many aspects are included: People generally wish to be happy, and this happiness always includes financial independence; people want to have enough money so that they can live without fear of tomorrow. But for me total happiness can only be reached when you live in harmony with your family and social environment. The dream is called American Dream because we have especially heard of many American people whose personal dream was fulfilled. But I think the dream does not only apply to the American people, but also to every other human being on this planet. We know many examples of people who emigrated to the USA, but I think this notion of a very, very special dream can be found in every other nation, too. It is a very global issue. As an example one might choose the many Turkish people who came to Germany during the 1960s. They all came as foreign workers… I suppose that many of their personal dreams came true even though there must have been a very difficult beginning, because of language difficulties and big cultural differences. But not only those Turkish people had to start a very new life full of challenges. There were and there still are examples with that principle of "immigration" in order to improve one´s own lifestyle. I recently read an article in the German magazine "Der Spiegel", which was especially about German people moving to southern countries like Spain, Italy or France. It introduced the reader to the idea of living in countries of "sunshine and blue sky". It said that the number of people "emigrating" to those countries steadily increases. But I personally think this does not happen because of the better and warmer climate of those countries; it is because every human being longs for his personal happiness. People often long for other "ways of life" in which they find their personal fulfilment. They often find it in other countries and cultures. Many people want challenges, they want to take on responsibility and change their lifestyles. And they really do change it and, of course, it changes them, too. But starting a new life in a foreign country is not always easy. People often want to move back after a few months when their dreams do not get fulfilled. But you need perseverance on order to be able to meet those very difficult challenges of the wider world. You just have to be willing to be buffeted by fate. You have to be flexible and – maybe – often change jobs until you find the one which really offers you prospects. And the most important thing is: NEVER GIVE UP! The thought that the American Dream is only a dream of "money and big cars" is quite widely spread. But I personally think that this idea is totally wrong: Of course it is nice to have a house and a big car, but this cannot be the very essence of a dream. For me it represents certain values; values, which many people only dream of: political, social and religious freedom. In many countries of the world those values are not guaranteed at all. I think that the idea of such a dream exists, but it is not necessarily called "American Dream". It does not only exist for Americans, but certainly for everybody in the world. And this dream of freedom has been going on for centuries and will endure for many further generations. It seems to be an "ever-living seed", which exists in the heart of each human being. What a beautiful seed! |
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
| The Multicultural Society of the Future
Interculturalism is the one and only solution
|
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
Real management of crime is something that really matters in our society We can only protect society from dangerous criminals if there is really hard punishment One solution of real crime management certainly is the very hard punishment of those who committed a crime; because only if the culprits knew what followed their crime they will probably think about it in a much more critical way before doing it. German citizens claim that punishment in our country is often too mild compared to America, for example, where capital punishment still exists.I have to admit that this is often true. I sometimes question myself why, for example, a husband who killed his wife only has to go to prison for two years. Of course, there are mitigating circumstances if he was drunk of if his childhood was really bad… We know these cases well enough! I think we can only protect our society from dangerous criminals if there is really hard punishment. This would warn other criminals not to do the same; hard punishment would work as deterrence. Capital punishment could work as a warning example. But we must not forget that the death penalty is irreversible, so if the "culprit" is found out to be innocent – what is going to happen? He certainly is not going to become alive again. Another approach of improving the management of crime is the struggle against the roots of crime. There is one opinion that says that the environment is the cause for the offender to become a criminal. And for me this also sounds quite reasonable; because if you grow up in a very poor neighbourhood you are more likely to become a criminal that if you grow up in a very friendly and wealthy environment. Of course, this opinion cannot be used as an excuse, but it is worth mentioning. I don’t think there is a ready-made solution for crime management and I also think there is no magic formula for it: I think each crime has to be looked at in a very individual way! Of course, it is the judge’s duty to protect our society from criminals, but we should try to give the culprits one more chance. They are also human beings and part of our society. But it still remains more important to protect the victim and his family – because they have already suffered a lot. And because criminals always have a harmful effect on our society they should do something in order to repay the damage. They could do something to improve the cleanliness of the cities; they could plant flowers and trees so that they are not able to get "bad ideas": This would certainly help them to reintegrate into our society and to "pay something back" of what they have destroyed. |
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
Are death-row inmates human trash ? The most remarkable statements from emails to a U.S. newspaper forum on capital punishment "Since it is our money, don’t we deserve to know what it is being used for?" This question was recently asked by one US-citizen. Yes, why should we not be allowed to watch somebody die? Why not? Ethical reasons have to be mentioned in the first place; I think we do not have the right to watch someone die. Death is something not many people want to talk about – death is something sacred, it is not something like a comedy or any other report on TV.But one could also apply another way of answering this question: If it is not our right to watch somebody die – is it our right to execute somebody? Many questions have to be answered until we are finally able to find an acceptable answer. But is there actually an answer? I personally think that each human being has to find his or her own answer; but we should never forget the ethical responsibility we have! Another statement made in one of the emails about the death penalty sounds as follows: "I think that there are people who are genetic aberrations who pose a very dangerous threat to our society…these people are in fact human trash…therefore, they should be thrown away, just like so much rubbish." Human trash? Is there anything in our society that could be described as human trash? I think the author of this statement does not pay any kind of respect to mankind. Every human being owns human dignity, no matter who he is or what he did to our society! I admit that there are some people who pose a very dangerous threat to our society; but once again I would not say that it is our right to "throw them away like rubbish", it is no one’s right to throw anybody away like rubbish! People like those mentioned above should receive medical treatment, and it would be even better if they went to a special clinic to receive psychological support; because who in our society is able and has the right to decide whether someone else is worthy to live or not? I generally think that there should be more public concern for those being on death row – because they are still human beings and not any kind of "human trash". |
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
What does Holden reveal about his feelings? A first impression based on chapters 1-7 of Salinger´s "The Catcher in the Rye" The novel "The Catcher in the Rye" was written by J. D. Salinger and published in 1951. The main character of the book is Holden Caulfield, a sixteen-year-old boy, who tells us the story from a hospital bed. Holden does not behave like any other teenager at the age of 16 would do; for the reader he seems to lead a very secluded life and he also does not reveal many of his feelings. He tells us his stories in a series of flashbacks. The reader is able to take part in situations Holden has experienced so far; but it still seems difficult to find passages where he shows some of his feelings. Holden seems to have the need of protecting others of which he thinks to be "weak". When he is at his teacher’s house he suddenly thinks of where the ducks in Central Park go during winter (chapter 2). For the reader it seems to be quite unusual that a 16 year-old boy questions himself where the ducks go during winter! Exactly the same scene arises again when Holden drives around New York in a taxi in order to find a hotel where he could stay until he goes home for the Christmas holidays. He asks the driver whether he knows where the ducks go when the little lake freezes. Holden seems to have a very strong will to protect weaker and vulnerable people. In order to prove this thesis one also has to look at the relationship between Holden, Jane Gallagher and Ward Stradlater (chapter 6). Stradlater is Holden’s roommate and has a date with Jane, a girl Holden lived next door to. Holden really seems to care for her as a very good friend. When Stradlater goes out with her, he says: "Thinking about the two on a date made me so nervous that I nearly went crazy." At this point he really reveals his feelings for Jane. For him she is a vulnerable girl who has to be protected. In his eyes he has to protect her because Stradlater seems to be a very "sexy bastard" who is not sensitive at all. But Holden does not only seem to care for others in a very special way, he also shows us that he is a very good-hearted teenager. As we can see in chapter 5, he goes into town to watch a film with his friend Mal Brossard. He also asks Ackley, this very strange and disgusting boy to join them. There is absolutely no reason why he should take Ackley with him, but Holden utters: "The reason I asked was because Ackley never did anything on Saturday night." This shows us that even though Ackley is not a nice person he cares for him in a certain way. Holden feels sort of sorry for him and that Ackley has no one to go out with. That is why Holden could also be described as good-hearted. The relationship between Holden and his dead brother Allie is also worth mentioning. Allie died when Holden was 13. It is very interesting to see how Holden talks about his dead brother. I personally think that this is one of the very few passages in the book where he reveals many of his feelings (chapter 5). Here Holden talks very seriously of his brother, he doesn’t make any cynical comments, he even talks very seriously. He does not exaggerate as he normally does when he talks. While he talks about Allie one gets the impression as if his dead brother was one of the very few people Holden cares for. And this seems to be true as he utters: "He was the nicest member in the family." Holden seems to admire his younger brother in many ways; but one also gets the impression that he is not really capable of accepting his brother’s death. Holden still suffers a lot. I personally feel very sorry for Holden; as we go through the book I am really getting the impression of him being a loner. This thesis can be supported by taking another "scene" where Holden reveals and shows his feelings: Having had a big fight with his roommate Stradlater, Holden goes to his next-door neighbour Ackley (chapter 7) hoping for some kind of consolation; but Ackley is quite sleepy and not willing to talk a lot, so Holden utters this question: "What’s the routine on joining a monastery?" By asking this very strange question Holden actually asks himself what it would be like to be a monk. Here the reader is - again - able to see some of his feelings. Holden plays with the idea of a very lonely, secluded life in a monastery. He asks himself what it would be like to live away from civilization; he might even dream of a life like an eremite, because then he would not have those problems with the people he lives with. For many readers Holden seems to be a person with not many feelings, but by trying to analyse his behaviour one is able to get to know him closer. I could imagine that having analysed him many readers feel that he is quite a sympathetic boy. |
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
Why don´t you find peace from society ? Tom Stoppard wonders why society always wants you to do something The play "A Separate Peace" was written by Tom Stoppard and televised in 1966. The protagonist of this play is a man called Mr John Brown, who is in his late forties. The reader gets the impression as if Stoppard’s play combines a serious topic with comedy. And indeed, we, the audience, have to laugh quite a lot. If we want to understand Mr Brown’s feelings, thoughts and reactions we have to look at his whole personality. And for that we have to investigate his speeches, because the reader is only able to learn from what he says as there is no narrator in the whole play. The reason why Mr Brown came to Beechwood Nursing Home is quite difficult to understand. People like us would only go to a (private) hospital if we were really ill; but Mr Brown mentions other reasons why he would like to stay there: He said that he came for the quiet and that he liked the daily clockwork routine (scene six). Mr Brown also seems to enjoy meals that are served on trays. Another reason why he wants to stay in hospital even though he is not physically ill is that he wants time to pass by; and Mr. Brown also wishes that his present situation will last for a long time as he seems to feel quite comfortable in the present circumstances. And to a certain extend he is right. Time passes by even quicker if you are at a nice place where the atmosphere is good and the people around you, too; and this is certainly the case at the private Nursing Home here in our play. By mentioning all the reasons why he wants to stay there, we can conclude that Mr Brown seems to be a nice, "old" man; but actually only Maggie, one of the sisters, seems to really understand him. She is very friendly and honestly interested in him, she is the only person who gets close to Mr Brown. She deeply likes him. This probably is the reason why he tells her so many of his personal experiences, like those times when he served in the army. The doctor and the matron seem to be very suspicious; they want to find out why he has a suitcase full of money with him. They do not look at him as a patient, they suspect that he is a bank robber because, in their opinion, a "normal" person would not carry around a suitcase full of bank notes and stay in hospital when there is nothing wrong. In order to understand even more of his actions, another episode seems to be worth mentioning (scene six): The matron, the spiritual leader of the hospital, visits Mr. Brown in order to check whether everything is all right with him; and because he has not done anything yet she suggests that he should have a walk in the nice hospital garden where everything is in flower at the moment; but as Mr. Brown knows exactly what he wants, he only says: "I didn’t come here for that. I must have walked thousands of miles …". This statement shows that he is really tired of life and that there is only one reason for his strange behaviour: He just wants to withdraw, he just wants to stay in bed and he also wants to settle down. Mr Brown has served in the war and, as one can imagine, he is probably tired of moving around, having no "real" home. But this sentence also expresses that he has lost interest in life and his connection to society, that he is a loner and wants to isolate himself from society on purpose. To the reader this sort of isolation seems to be like an escape from reality. Why does Mr Brown not want to live in a normal house, marry a nice woman and have some children? I think it is because he disrespects society as a whole. He does not want to integrate himself into the society we live in; and I imagine he probably could not even adapt himself to our way of living together with other people. In order to emphasize this aspect one could mention the fact that Mr. Brown paints his room. By drawing flowers on the walls he creates his own environment in which he seems to be content and happy, even though, in our view, he is isolated from others. The author Tom Stoppard uses the English language in a very humorous way so that some of the scenes in the play appear to be of a very comic character. Scene six must be mentioned again: When the matron enters his room and asks Mr. Brown what he had been doing he answers in a very short and impolite way: "Nothing". And when she asks again what he wants to do, he again says: "Nothing." In this passage the reader definitely has to grin. Mr Brown is being so insistent that one really has to laugh! Imagine the head of the hospital asked what you would like to do and you answered nothing else but "nothing"!!! He actually behaves in a really rude way. By trying to summarize the different aspects of Mr Brown’s behaviour and character one is able to get an overall picture of him. Mr Brown is a very strange person, who wants to separate himself from society, but who definitely has a good sense of humour; and this is why he is so sympathetic to me! |
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
|
||||||||||
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
|
||||
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
"The Main Death": A new type of detective
|
||||||
| Back to the top of the page | What is your view ? |
