Despite the differing plots and ideas of different works of literature, speech is consistently used to support the theme and main message of each piece of work. The theme of a play is presented to the audience or the readers through the characters’ portrayal of symbols, through events and conflicts, and through using direct statements in the speech. Dialogues and monologues in both plays, Antigone, written by Sophocles and A Doll’s House, written by Henrik Ibsen, effectively advance the principle themes of each play. Speech develops the themes of the plays as it presents events, reveals personalities of characters and the themes are explicitly stated through the dialogue/speech in both the plays.
The dialogue and/ or monologue in a play present and inform the readers and or the audience of events, therefore, developing the basis of principle themes. One of the occurring themes in the play of Antigone is the theme of individual vs. state. In the beginning of the play, Sophocles presents the characters of Antigone and her sister debating on whether Antigone should bury her fallen brother, Polyneices, against King Kreon’s edict, which explicitly states the consequences of such acts. Antigone argues with her sister, as she believes in honoring her brother with the proper burial in order to please the gods and the religious laws, even if they are opposing the state laws. She says, “He’s my brother and yours too; and whether you will or not, I’ll stand by him. He [Kreon] cannot keep me from my own” (Sophocles l. 52-53, 55).
The Essay on Explore how the theme of power is presented in ‘An Inspector Calls’
Explore how the theme of power is presented in ‘An Inspector Calls’. How would an audience react to this presentation? In ‘An Inspector Calls’, power is presented in different ways and by different characters. Each character exudes or uses their power differently. These different methods of portrayal may shock the audience, and make them see certain characters in a different light. At the start of ...
She then explains her religious duty by saying, “… cast out these principles which the gods themselves honor. I know I am pleasing those whom I must” (Sophocles l. 96, 114).
By informing the audience and the readers of the consequences set out by the king and Antigone’s plan to break the rules, this dialogue between the two sisters shapes the basis of the theme of individual vs. state. Sophocles gives evidence to breaking of the state rules in order to honor the Gods’ rules. Furthermore, the playwright shows Kreon’s position on the idea of state rules and their superiority over religious laws. The dialogue, therefore, shapes both sides of the theme of individual vs. state, and it supports and enhances the major theme of individual vs. state.
Furthermore, in Ibsen’s play, A Doll’s House, one of the important themes is deception. Ibsen uses dialogue between several characters of a play to inform the readers and audience of events, and therefore, develop this theme. For example, Dr. Rank speaks with Nora, and explains how his disease will soon cause his death. He makes sure that Nora does not tell Helmer of this, as Dr. Rank does not believe that Torvald can handle unpleasant news. In Act II, Dr. Rank says, “Probably within a month I shall lie rotting in the churchyard. Helmer’s refined nature gives him an unconquerable disgust at everything that is ugly; I won’t have him in my sickroom” (Ibsen 37, 38).
From Dr. Rank’s private discussion with Nora, it is made clear that he is deceiving his friend, Helmer. Dr. Rank’s frequent visits to Helmer and Nora support the play’s theme of deception in yet another way. His motivations to visit the Helmer couple are not only to see his good friend Torvald. It is later revealed in the plot of the play (through dialogue) that Dr. Rank is in love with Nora, his best friend’s wife. This shows the deception of Dr. Rank, supporting this theme of the play. In addition, through Nora’s first conversation with Mrs. Linde, Ibsen presents one of the major conflicts: Nora’s secret and Helmer’s unawareness of it. She says, “ Speak low. Suppose Torvald were to hear! It was I who saved Torvald’s life. Papa didn’t give us a shilling. It was I who procured the money” (Ibsen 10, 11).
The Term Paper on Underlying Theme Play Horace Character
Every play written uses dramatic elements. The main dramatic elements are plot, character, theme, and language. Lillian Hellman, who wrote the Little Foxes, incorporates these elements beautifully in her play. The play is set during the spring of 1900 and takes place in the Deep South part of the United States of America. Just as every other play, the Little Foxes has included the dramatic ...
From her dialogue with Mrs. Linde, the audience and the readers can conclude Nora’s deception, therefore, developing this important theme. Through the presentation of events in a dialogue and/or monologue, the main theme of a play is advanced.
The personalities of characters, which are symbols in the underlying themes of a play, are revealed through the use of speech and conversation. In Antigone, King Kreon’s character is revealed, through several conversations, and it is clear that his personality symbolizes the adherence to state laws in one of the themes of the play, individual vs. state laws. In his conversations with other characters, Kreon always mentions the importance of state laws, referring back to theme. For example, when speaking about Antigone, he says, “Laws were made. She broke them. Rebellion to think of it, then to do it and do it again, now more defiance …” (Sophocles l. 584-587).
He also says, “… I shall not stay silent if I see disaster marching against our citizens, and I shall not befriend the enemy of this land. For the state is safety. I shall honor [only] the friends of the state” (Sophocles l. 224-228, 245).
Therefore, Kreon’s personality, which is formed through his speech, symbolizes the idea of state laws being above others.
Moreover, in Ibsen’s, A Doll’s House, the character of Mrs. Linde, which is formed through dialogue and speech, supports a critical theme of the play, the sacrificial role of women. When Mrs. Linde first speaks with Nora, the audience and/ or the readers are able to conclude the characteristics of Mrs. Linde personality. Mrs. Linde portrays the role of a woman who has sacrificed much for her family. She says, “My mother … was bedridden and helpless, and I had to provide for my two younger brothers …” (Ibsen 8).
She then continues and says, “Well, I had to turn my hand to anything I could find – first a small shop, then a small school and so on. The last three years have seemed like on working day, with no rest” (Ibsen 9).
Therefore, Mrs. Linde’s personality effectively develops the theme of the sacrificial role of women. Dialogue successfully exposes the traits of different characters of a play, and these help advance the themes of the play.
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In looking at the characteristics of the tragic hero, it can be see that Willy Loman is not a tragic hero but a victim of a false idealistic pursuit of the “American Dream”. Willy strives to become and instill in his sons the success of the self made man that American society often advertises but ultimately falls short, and instead, escapes accepting his failure through lies and death. What many ...
The theme of a play can also be explicitly stated in the dialogue and/ or monologue. In the play, A Doll’s House, one of the themes includes the idea of appearances and their unreliability. At the end of the play, the pivotal conversation between Nora and Helmer directly states this theme. When Helmer learns of Nora’s secret, he is humiliated and upset of Nora’s actions. Instead of asking Nora to leave his house, the reaction Nora was expecting, he explains how they must act is if nothing has happened. Helmer, who cares about his reputation, makes sure that his humiliation is not made public. In Act III, he says, “The matter must be hushed up at any cost. And as for you and me, it must appear as if everything between us were just as before—but naturally only in the eyes of the world” (Ibsen 63).
Helmer’s words directly state the theme of appearances and their unreliability. Another theme in this play is the inheritance of parental immorality. It is explicitly stated in the dialogue by several characters in different parts of the play. For example, in Act I, Helmer says (to Nora), “Almost everyone who has gone to the bad early in life has had a deceitful mother. It seems most commonly to be the mother’s influence, though naturally a bad father’s would have the same result” (Ibsen 27).
He later refers to this idea again in Act III when he discovers of Nora’s doings, and he says, “But I shall not allow you to bring up the children; I dare no trust them to you” (Ibsen 63).
Finally, Dr. Rank plainly states this theme in Act II, when speaking to Nora; he says, “To have to pay this penalty [death] for another man’s sin! Is there any justice in that? And in every single family, in one way or another, some such inexorable retribution is being exacted. My poor innocent spine has to suffer for my father’s youthful amusements” (Ibsen 38).
Therefore, this theme is repeatedly stated throughout the play, presenting the author’s idea to the audience and/ or readers.
The dialogue, in the play of Antigone, plainly presents one reoccurring theme, the force of destiny. At the end of the play, Kreon’s dialogue with Koryphaios directly states the idea that fate controls the lives of the characters. Kreon says, “My boy, young, and death come soon” (Sophocles l. 1461-1462).
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Theme is the principal phrase or idea behind a story. It plays an important role in the notable accomplishment of Shirley Jacksons The Lottery, The Open Boat written by Stephen Crane, and Battle Royal by Ralph Ellison. Each of these stories portray an important and powerful theme which is a valuable contribution to the success of each work. The Lottery is a story about human sacrifice and ...
Kreon uses the words “death come soon” as if Haemon wasn’t in control of his suicide, rather, it was predetermined that he would die. Koryphaios then says, describing Kreon’s fate, “No man escapes the grief that awaits him” (Sophocles l. 1524).
In addition, earlier in the play, Antigone explains how it is her fate to sacrifice her life for her brother, as she says to her sister, “You are living; but my soul has died long ago, to be useful among the dead” (Sophocles l. 690-691).
Therefore, as seen in both plays, the dialogue can be used as a mean to directly state the themes of a play.
The themes of the plays of Antigone by the Greek writer, Sophocles, and A Doll’s House, by Henrik Ibsen, are presented through the authors’ use of dialogue and/ or monologues. These themes are advanced through the use of conversation and speech, which reveal personas of characters, introduce events and information, and directly articulate the major ideas of the play. The use of dialogue and conversation properly is the key to enrich a literary work and to make it successful. Without conversation, a literary work lacks meaning and an interesting plot.
