Scene Analysis

In class, we had to analyse a scene from the play "Doubt" by J.P. Shanley. What you can read below is my thesis about the central point of the scene and the evidence I found in the text.
Anyway, I can only recommend reading this play or, even better, go to the theatre and see it live on stage!

Thesis Statement On A Scene From „Doubt“

And Evidence From The Text

Shanley uses this scene to reveal the clear differences between the three main characters and their relationships by means of a varying use of language as well as the short but clear stage-directions.

First of all, Sister Aloyisius and Father Flynn are clearly distinguished by the use of words that Shanley has chosen for them. While father Flynn’s more modern attitudes are becoming clear as soon as he uses the words “woebegone” and “jolly”, Sister Aloysius’ language is presented in a rather antiquated way. For instance she sais:

“’Frosty the snowman espouses a pagan belief in magic. The snowman comes to life when an enchanted hat is put on his head. If the music were more somber, people would realize the images are disturbing and the song heretical.”

Here, she does not only explicitly state her personal beliefs, but also uses a style of speaking which establishes her as old-fashioned. Words like “espouses”, “somber” and “heretical” are exactly what Father Flynn would never choose for his sentences.

Being completely different from each other, both characteristics of language still build a sharp contrast to what Sister James sais. She is very simple in her choice of words. For instance when she exclaims:

“No! I loved it! [...] But I love all Christmas pageants. I just love the nativity.”

She repeats the word “love” three times, which can be interpreted as not very elaborate. Also the structure of the sentences is very simple using little more than subject, predicate and object. All this is underlined by the fact that she scarcely speaks during the scene. The vast amount of talking remains with the two officials. But at the same time, these sentences reveal a lot about Sister James’ character. As she is very open-minded, good-hearted and fair-minded, she simply sais what she thinks, and this she does from the heart.

An additional layer is being presented through Shanley’s stage-directions. Namely they reveal a lot about the relationships between the characters, especially the one between Sister Aloysius and Father Flynn. If you read them without the context of the situation or even the whole play, they don’t sound striking at all:

“Sister Aloysius looks at Sister James.”

“Sister James and Father Flynn exchange a look.”

But as soon as you read the whole scene, it becomes clear that more than a simple exchange of looks is intended. We find here an explicit information about how the characters like or dislike each other. When Sister Aloysius looks at Sister James, it is obviously because she is appalled about the amount of sugar which Father Flynn likes in his tea. And the other way round, Father Flynn and Sister James are exchanging a look as they both don’t think tha same about “Frosty the Snowman” as Sister Aloysius.

And again, Sister James is characterized very clearly with the instruction “Becomes self-conscious”. What else should this mean than point out that she was not before?

All these devices used by the author, be they linguistic or about stage directions, reveal certain character features or the relationship among them. So Shanley found an elegant way of describing his figures to the audience without actually describing them.

How to find the right topic

The thing with writing is that you always need a topic. This is obvious: When you don't have anything to talk about, there won't be much sense in writing it down. Well, actually there won't even be anything to write it down. I guess you see the point. So what is there to do when you are supposed to practise your writing (which is of course not a bad idea) but you don't have a fixed theme? Usually in these situations, our mind is either blank or comes up with a billion vague ideas. None of these possibilities is really helpful.

So what I will try to come up with in the following, is different ways of finding wonderful topics:

1.) You have a brilliant teacher who tells you to write about the glamorous person 'x', the wonderful place 'y' or the amazing event 'z'.

This is quite easy (unless you don't particularly like 'x', 'y' or 'z'), so let us search for more possibilities requiring your own initiative:

2.) Have a look in the newspaper or watch the news on television. Writing about current affairs has the definite advantage that you do not have to justify yourself for writing about it. Prevailing politics and politicians have a justification for being talked and written about within themselves.

3.) Simply sit down, start thinking and write it down. Actually, you don't even have to actively start thinking because you are constantly doing it. Intelligent people call this method "stream of consciousness" writing. Isn't this wonderful - you simply type into your computer what is on your mind and people might find it fantastic literature.

4.) Considering your daily routine and your average week: Is there anything particularly important for you? I imagine things like different kinds of sports or music - your personal hobbies so to say. Or it could also be people with whom you deal every day or - as simple as that - your job. What I want to point out: You will probably be brilliant in writing about anything that you personally admire!

5.) (And this is to be read as a justification for writing this text...) Should you experience problems in finding a suitable topic - simply turn your problem into a topic. It will be faster than expected that you can come up with an entertaining and informative text containing 434 words.

Do you have any other ideas? Don't hesitate to tell me - I am sure there will be another time for me to have a blank mind and honestly, I cannot do this again and again...

Stream of Consciousness writing...

... on the "Habanera" from George Bizet's opera "Carmen".

I simply love this piece of music! It is opera, yes, but it is not what everybody considers to be a strictly classical composition, apart from the fact, of course, that it was not written in the period which we call classical. We hear classical instruments, a choir and a very professional voice but it has also an atmosphere of dancing. It is not exactly Salsa but it does still make me think of short skirts and flirty women. At the same time I imagine Carmen is wearing a long skirt. This is important because she can use it to play with, which could be seen as symbolic of the way she plays with men. When I sang this aria during my singing lessons and particularly in the final exam at university, it was really fun being this "femme fatale". Being soft and mean at the same time felt just as thrilling as acting as though every single man was in love with me - which is pretty much the case in the plot of the opera. At least Carmen is the typical erotic and self-confident woman. But we must not forget how tragic this figure also is! While singing the "Habanera" she is of course perfectly alright and content, but in the end she will be nothing but dead. So what do we learn from this? Feeling sexy, erotic and kind of omnipotent is brilliant for five minutes, when you sing only this aria, or for two hours, when singing the whole opera. But for my whole personal life? No, thank you!