Tanmayee Yenumula: Class Notes (10.12.10-1.10.11)

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead
Lecture on Stoppard Highlights

• Traditional Drama consists of:
• a clean structure (beginning, middle, end)
• a conclusion that brings resolutions
• a sense of clear logic
• "horizon of significance": 
• the values/beliefs of the characters
• moral meaning of the story
• Rosencrantz and Guildenstern is built to be the complete opposite of traditional because it is chaotic, messy and has not clean structure
• Theatre of the Absurd Characteristics:
• no "horizon of significance"
• absurd (wonder where the name comes from?), no clear logic...no clear sense of time or memory
• absence of objects that further understanding of the situation
• trouble discerning identity, even with the main characters
• Existentialism v Absurd
• Existentialists believe that we must act on our freedom to gain dignity
• Absurdists believe that there is no real sense of identity, no reliable memory
• coping with confusion by simply sitting around and waiting
• founded during the WWI times  
• most new schools of thought are created during times of crisis
• Ex: Lost Generation, Marxism (hint: connection)
• "life in a box is better than no life at all"

Death of a Salesman

• What is the purpose of Miller's use of non-realistic techniques? Think in terms of "form follows function".
• The inability to discern between past, and present represents the loss of awareness with reality and Willy's own crazy thinking
• What is Ben's significance to the story?
• Serves as the only real father figure for Willy (always just trying to impress him)
• Symbol of the American Dream (Ben's death signified the "death" of Will's dream)
• Exploitation, ruthless-ness (extracting resources)
• "Man is not a piece of fruit": To climb up, you need to step on others toes...
• This is when you look analyze by way of the Post-Colonialist critical approach (hint: connection)
• How does Linda "mother" Willy? Is this a healthy dynamic? Do her sons have to compete to get her "maternal" love?
• Linda treats Willy like a child (and he acts like one!)
• The milk/cheese/dairy products = breast-feeding
• Linda refuses to speak to her sons if they do anything to trouble or harm Willy
• How can you characterize Willy?
• Very child-like: everyone calls him "kid"
• Refusal to change: He doesn't want to change things himself, but wants others to change
• Does not take charge, very passive
• Only values appearance and being "well-liked"
• So ultimately, who really succeeds?
• Biff ultimately is the only one who doesn't fall into the trap of pursing something he can never achieve
• Ironically, this is because Willy put all of his faith into Biff and he did succeed, just not the way Willy expected him to
• Happy, who never got his father's attention or approval, fell into the same "curse" as Willy, having no father figure to influence him
• connection: can bring about the question: Is it better to have all the faith invested in one person and have them realize their place in the world and not realize your dream, or leave them alone and force them to embrace your own dream?