Raisin in the Sun - Opinion

I truthfully enjoyed reading this play. I liked that I could understand its context and the emotions of each character without feeling distracted by Shakespearean wordings. I especially liked the transformation ending of this play, in which Walter finally understands what his mother has been saying. (p. 148) This is an extreme contrast to Glass Menagerie, where Tom never truly sees his faults. This transformation seems to be a theme throughout this play. Beneatha changes to a degree in this play, as does Walter several times. I also feel that the characters of Ruth and Mama are closely tied together, because they share so many traits and seem to be the glue of the family. Overall, I liked this play because it left me wanting to know what else would happen to the family. Thus, I truly knew that I had been drawn in, as any play intends to do.

A Raisin in the Sun - #7

The action of this play only covers approximately 4 days with a difference of hours and weeks interspersed between them. None of this action is presented in the form of a report, but is all dramatized. It is explained that Walter gave away his money and that it was stolen, but aside from this, everything else is acted. (p.127) The action that is not included is seemingly unimportant, since it goes unexplained. That which is acted out are the most important events over the time period of about 2 weeks. There doesn't seem to be any meaning behind that which is dramatized or reported. I feel that the way that everything is acted out fits the play perfectly, because it allows audience to see the interactions in the family and emphasize its importance. In this way, what is shown is important to the play.

A Raisin in the Sun - #4

In a Raisin in the Sun, suspense is created numerous times by the withholding of information. For example, when the man from the neighborhood's welcoming committee is at the door, Beneatha does not immediately tell the family who is at the door.(p. 113)  The money is alluded to several times before it arrives, building the suspense for its arrival. Conversations between Beneatha and Asagai are often times stilted and awkward, building suspense for their seemingly hidden romance (p. 61, 131) These amongst many other moments create a suspenseful feel to the play. The contrast in the knowledge that the characters and the audience has creates an air of waiting that appears suspenseful at times. In expecting for some situations to happen, Asagai + Beneatha, the loss of the $, etc.... the audience is forced to wait for the moment at which the situation will occur, drawing them further into the play. 

The Glass Menagerie: My Take

I really enjoy the fact that Tennessee Williams put so much detail into the stage descriptions and characterization, As a techie, and stage manager, every little foot note or italicized word is so important. None of the scripts that I have ever worked with have had as much detail as this one does. The first page and a half alone is just description, such as " At the rise of th4e curtain the audience is faced with the dark, grim rear wall of the Wingfield tenement.  this building is flanked on either side by dark, narrow alleyways..." (p. 1235). Not only does a script like this allow for character development, but it creates an image, almost like a set design written in words. I really like this play because of its attention to detail and description. And now I kind of wish we could perform this play here at Roncalli just so I could help with the sets and the stage layout. This would be a dream come true, because every resource one might need seems to already be listed in the script. :D

The Glass Menagerie: #2

I feel like this play is mainly a comedy because of exaggeration. However, I can also see how this may also be melodramatic. There is a mixture in this play of multiple types of drama. I don't feel like the experiences of this drama are only understood through the classification of this play because it is such a combination. An example of melodrama in this play is the fighting and bickering between Amanda and Tom, such as on page 1245-6. This fighting is exaggerated, but creates melodrama that draws the audience in and helps to better express the characters' anger and strife. Finally, the music which is often played, or the lights on different faces or the portrait are to a degree comedic in their timing. Overall, the play has a more serious feel to it than comedic, as though the melodrama slightly overrules the comedy.

The Glass Menagerie: #4

In this play, dramatic suspense is created in several ways. One, way in which this occurs is through the fact that Tom is both a narrator and a character. p. 1236 " I am the narrator of the play, and also a character in it." This allows Tom to provide us with key information which the other characters do not know. For example, he begins the play by describing the plot to the reader, or audience of it. This creates a dramatic effect, because symbols are given and are easier to search for. The suspense is furthered through the different music and lighting cues given throughout the play which make ironic or symbolic suggestions. One such example of this is on p. 1238 where "Tom motions for music and a spot light on AMANDA." These directions create some of their own dramatic suspense, because the audience knows that this is a memory, but the characters do not.