PLAY- A Journey's End R.C Sheriff (1928)

A Journey's End R.C Sheriff (1928)

This play is set in the trenches of World War | following the lives of Stanhope who is the captain and boss of the troops and Rayleigh who is a young boy who is delusional about fighting in the War. Rayleigh knows Stanhope due to his relationship with Rayleigh's sister a few years before. When Osborne, Stanhope's close friend dies in a raid if Stanhope wasn't damaged enough this destroyed him. When Rayleigh, who is naive and excited to be sent out onto the front line is killed Stanhope can't take it anymore.

Themes

• Courage and cowardice, Hibbert pretends to be ill in order to go home, Stanhope drinks alcohol for courage
• Heroism- Rayleigh see's Stanhope as a hero however the reality is very different as War has changed him, he is in a downward spiral of depression and shell shock. 
• Trench life- the constant waiting and silence the soliders have to pass time under horrendous conditions and stress, the waiting was the prolonged horror of War
• Social class- the different classes have very different roles, Stanhope and the other educated upper class officers were contrasting with Trotter and Mason, Sheriff showed that War brought everyone onto an equal playing field.

Context

Sheriff also partook in the War so he would have understood the struggles they have gone through. One of the key things was shell shock, many solider's were bruised mentally after their experience of War due to the harshness of man kind and the death of their friends. The play was set in 1918 and these events lead up to the real life events of Operation Michael which failed and after the battle of the somme secured Germanys win due to the lack of communication between soldiers and generals. The play was written ten years after this so this gave time for Sheriff to write and remember his thoughts in hindsight. 

PLAY- A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen (1879)

A Doll's House by Henrik Ibsen (1879)

This is play mainly focuses on women's rights and female independence. The main character, Nora get's herself into a lot of debt which she hides from her husband Torvald. She is lent the money illgally from her father for Nora and Torvald's trip to Italy and she has been slowly working the debt off. Krongstad is a low level employee who works for Torvald and later reveals he was the anonymous donor to Nora. Krongstad asks Nora to help him maintain his position at work and when Nora refuses he threatens to tell Torvald about her debt. After much stress, Nora eventually decides to tell Torvald herself through a letter, he is outraged however Nora decides to leave him which is incredibly unusual in the time that the play is set.

Struggle for identity

• Diminishing of women, Torvald refers to Nora as his "little squirell" and "little lark", he treats her like a child and is very possessive in the marriage.
• Gender roles, women have to stay at home and look after the children while men work. Women are meant to be reserved and hold back, Nora challenges this as she plays a very flirtatious and disobedient character.
• Power-men have the power in relationships, men control the money and the women.
• The play is literally called 'A Doll's House' women are meant to remain quiet and unheard whilst men control them

Context

The play is set in the 1800's therefore this was a long time before feminist movements in the 1970's. However there is always strong and powerful females throughout the years it was just very difficult to step out due to the restrains from society. It was very powerful when Nora walked out at the end of the play as she was confident to leave him and even her children, which is unusual as women were meant to stay at home and look after the children. Nora liked to be the one to spend the money, and by paying her debt off she is becoming independent. Ibsen is pointing out the flowering of female equality and that it can happen. 

POETRY Alice Walker-Be Nobody's darling (1970)

Alice Walker-Be Nobody's darling (1970)

Be nobody's darling; 

Be an outcast. 

Take the contradictions

Of your life

And wrap around

You like a shawl, 

To parry stones

To keep you warm. 

Watch the succumb

To madness

With ample cheer; 

Let them look askance you

And you askance no reply. 

Be an outcast; 

Be pleased to walk alone

(Uncool)

Or line the crowded

River beds

With other impetuous

Fools. 

Make a merry gathering

On the bank

Where thousands perished

For brave hurt worlds

They said.

But be nobody's darling; 

Be an outcast. 

Qualified to live

Among your dead.

This poem is encouraging the reader to be free and independent, to not care what anyone thinks and to be themselves. The use of free verse as it includes no is relevant as it is encouraging the audience to be free and playful. The use of "Take the contradictions of your life and wrap around you like a shawl" she is telling you to embrace your faults and let them make you stronger. The use of "be nobody's darling" is to encourage the audience to be themselves and independent, she doesn't want women to be put down by by men, men often call women their darling she is encouraging people to stand up and be independent. Walker suggests we become the outcasts we were born to be, we mustn't allow people to change us.

Context

This poem was written and published in the 1970s which was a time of a large feminist movement. This poem is relevant as it encourages women to be themselves, women are often labeled darling and Walker suggest that we be our own person and shouldn't be defined by any others. She was born in 1944 which was a time of female repression and women being forced into the role of a house wife. it wasn't until the 1970s where this began to change and Walker is in full support of the movement. 

PROSE Away by Amy Bloom

Away by Amy Bloom (2007)

Lillian's family is murdered in a Russian pogrom, apart from her daughter who is missing. Lillian flees to America and is determined to make her way, she quickly bags the job of a seamstress and begins lessons on how to speak English with a new friend, Yakov. She is taken under the wing by a famous actor, Meyer, and Lillian falls for his father who is also married and becomes Reuben's mistress without the knowledge of Meyer.

A distant relative travels to America to find Lillian and tell her that she knows where her child Sophie is, she is not dead which was presumed but she was taken to Siberia. Lillian goes on a hunt across America with little to no money in order to find her daughter. Lillian is forced to give up her body,belongings, privacy, and security and finally giving up herself to the natural elements but her love for Sophie does not stop her.

I think that the biggest struggle for Lillian is living and adjusting to America for the first time, she doesn't speak the language and is of a low class and she struggles to get by alone. The search for her daughter is also tragic as she has no money and has to deal with many struggles along the way. Lillian never found her daughter in the end but she found happiness.

Quotes
"Eviction," Frieda said. "You can't pay, you can't stay." She said in Yiddish, "Es iz shver tzu makhen a leben." It's hard to make a living."

"A young woman in America would have breakfast now. She would have tea. A young woman hoping to see her boyfriend."

Context

This was a time where immigration was acceptable and rich people were prospering, but there is always the people who are poor and Lillian suffers when others are prospering. She is launched into a world with jazz and theatre. Bloom was also a Jewish Russian immigrant so the feeling of discomfort and isolation is put into the character of Lillian.  Lillian feels uncomfortable about the way she speaks in front of others as she feels she doesn't fit in, she also feels lost without her family or daughter, her whole past has been left behind on order to start a new life which hurts her deeply. 

PLAY-A chip in the sugar by Alan Bennett (1988)

A chip in the sugar- Alan Bennett (1988)

A chip in the sugar is about a gentle middle aged man called Graham. He lives with his mother as he struggles with mental health issues and is incredibly reliant on her. When his mother rekindles an old flame with an old lover, Graham hates this as he is afraid of change his mother would like to love again but is held back by him. 

In the monologue we find that Graham is repressed as he is homosexual and is unaccepted by his mothers new boyfriend, Mr Turnball who said "I don't believe in mental illness." He has very old and traditional values therefore Graham finds it very hard ti adjust to him. Graham and Mr Turnball also create conflict due to the difference in their political views, we learn that Graham is very left wing. This links to the context as this was a time when Margret Thatcher was in power who is very conservative, which gives Bennett an opportunity to express his views on the very conservative government. Mr Turnball is an example of the very right wing government and discriminatory views are constantly mentioned throughout. 

Sexual quotes

"'I know what magazines you read' i said 'chess' she said, 'they never are chess. Chess with no clothes on. Chess in their birthday suit. Chess men!" This is referring to homosexual pornography which contrasts with boring chess, his mother doesn't accept him being homosexual and her views are changed by Mr Turnball who is very against homosexuals. Grahams mother is teasing and provoking him to make a move.

Discrimination and isolation

"'...you've got it all wrong' I said 'How?' 'I can't remember but you have. Blaming it on the government. Frank says its the blacks" Here is an example of Frank (Mr Turnball) being very racist and Grahams mother thinking nothing of it, she is completely bewildered by him and believes 

anything he says. This is a very racist view that Frank has pushed on Grahams mother, Graham feels alone in his argument and views.

"'I understand mam' she said 'how can you understand? you, you're not normal"

POETRY I know why the caged bird sings Maya Angelou

I know why the caged bird sings- Maya Angelou (1969)

A free bird leaps on the back

Of the wind and floats downstream 

Till the current ends and dips his wing 

In the orange suns rays

And dares to claim the sky.

But a BIRD that stalks down his narrow cage

Can seldom see through his bars of rage

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied

So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with a fearful trill

Of things unknown but longed for still

And his tune is heard on the distant hill for

The caged bird sings of freedom.

The free bird thinks of another breeze

And the trade winds soft through

The sighing trees

And the fat worms waiting on a dawn-bright

Lawn and he names the sky his own.

But a caged BIRD stands on the grave of dreams

His shadow shouts on a nightmare scream

His wings are clipped and his feet are tied

So he opens his throat to sing.

The caged bird sings with

A fearful trill of things unknown

But longed for still and his

Tune is heard on the distant hill

For the caged bird sings of freedom.

Context

This poem was written during the civil rights movement and the struggle in overcoming the racial barrier. Angelou has lived through a time of inequality and racism and she speaks from the perspective of the caged bird who represents black people at this time. The civil rights movement was between 1955 and 1968, and black names were becoming well known in the 60's such as Martin Luther King, Rosa Parks and Aretha Franklin who were making a difference for black people. 

Language

The "free bird" represents the white man who is free of care, they are described as greedy and unappreciative of black people as they feed on "fat worms". There was also an anger due to the physical segregation and inequality "his bars of rage, his wings clipped" this gives images of slavery and inequality of black people through the eras. This is repeated to add impact and send a strong message that black people being repressed and segregated was just on the surface. 

There is also mention of  black people beginning to be heard "his tune is heard on the distant hill" this represents figures such as Rosa Parks who are starting to make a difference and people are beginning to notice. The use of "grave of dreams" represents the American Dream which is about liberties and freedoms, many black people also had these desires and to be equal in America.

Structure

The  structure is also relevant as it begins with segregation and inequality, however as we move towards the end it speaks more of the future and what is to come for black people. There is mention of hope and although the bird is struggling he is still trying to make a difference and not backing down. The bird is "singing for freedom" and equality which is implied to happen in the future.

PROSE- The Help by Kathryn Sockett (2009)

The Help by Kathryn Sockett (2009)

The help is set in 1960s Mississippi and is narrated by two black maids, Aibileen Clark and Minny Jackson who care for different families. The book looks at how they are mistreated, segregated and isolated by their bosses. Aibileen, who works for Elizabeth, becomes very attached to her child as Elizabeth mistreats and doesn't care for her.  By the end of the book Elizabeth becomes very jealous and fires Aibileen, also due to the push from Hilly the dastardly villain, the only kindness she shows is to her two children, Hilly Holbrook runs the "charity" group. 

Aibileen and Minny are great friends although they are completely different, Aibileen is very gentle and quiet while Minny is outgoing and can't keep her mouth closed. Minny worked for Hilly and her family, Minny has a very sparky personality and says what she thinks which is not what a maid should do. There are problems between Minny and Hilly, Hilly accuses Minny of stealing therefore Minny pulls an awful prank. Minny finds work with Celia Rae Foote, who is a very isolated and eccentric women, who desires to fit in with the other women however they will not tolerate any woman that stands out. Minny is also abused by her husband, Leroy however she can't leave him as she has multiple children and can't financially afford to leave, she lives in fear of him despite her tough front. 

The book is also narrated by Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan who is the daughter of one of the rich parents, she is in her twenties but still lives at home, many think she should be married already. Skeeter wants to be a writer and writes for the 'junior league' which many of the Ladies are proud to be a part of. Skeeter dedicates her life to writing a book about the lives of the maids to submit to New York, she gets help from the whole town of maids including Minny and Aibileen to see what happens behind closed doors. However this is very illegal and dangerous so they have to keep the project under cover, which Skeeter struggles with due to her obsessive mother. The book makes it big in New York and eventually travels to their town and although their names are different, Hilly spots that they are in the book and tells the whole town, Aibileen is fired and has to look elsewhere for work, Skeeter moves to New York to fulfil her writing career. 

Struggle for identity

• Black people are segregated they even have to go to the toilet outside, white people are made to feel superior to him
• Minny lives in fear of her husband and being abused, she can't leave as she has not choice, she is trapped
• Skeeter is always bullied by all the adults saying that she will never get a husband
• class struggle 
• struggle within gender,-all the women are repressed as none of them are allowed to work and have to do what their husbands say
• security,-when writing the book both Aibileen and Minny are living in fear, even in their own homes
• Choice- the women don't have choice, particularly the maids. There is also no contraception around yet so women don't have the choice to protect themselves from getting pregnant
• Education- many of the black people don't or can't afford an education, they are stuck in the roles of being maids

Quotes

"They think big strong Minny, she sure can stand up for herself. But they don't know what a pathetic mess I turn into when Leroy's beating on me."

"A bill that requires every white home to have a separate bathroom for the coloured help. I've even notified the surgeon general of Mississippi to see if he'll endorse the idea."

"Mrs. Charlotte Phelan's guide to Husband-Hunting, Rule Number One: a pretty, petite girl should accentuate with makeup and good posture. A tall plain one, with a trust fund."

Context

The book was set in the 1960s in Mississippi, although this was a time for the Civil Rights Movement, the South of America was always less accepting of black people than the north.There was also still discrimination and a social stigma as they stuck to traditional values in Southern America.This was also before the time of female independence and rights, being the reason most of the white females are stuck at home doing 'domestic' activities and doing 'girly' things.

Kathryn Socket was born and raised in Mississippi and also had maids working for her family. She wrote the book through the eyes of her maid, who worked for generations of her family. She mainly wrote the book because of homesickness of her town and friends from Mississippi. Therefore she has knowledge of what it was like there. She was born in 1969, where segregation was at an end in America however there was still racism and a social stigma as the southern states were known for being much less accepting of black people. She says that "not a lot changed in Mississippi from the 60s to the early 70s". She got the idea of Aibileen as Sockett also had a strong connection with her maid from birth.