Thursday, April 18, 13

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Dominic Foster
6 years ago
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1 IN PLAYS A CHARACTER WHO APPEARS BRIEFLY, OR WHO DOES NOT APPEAR AT ALL, CAN BE A SIGNIFICANT PRESENCE, CONTRIBUTING TO ACTION, DEVELOPING OTHER CHARACTERS OR CONVEYING IDEAS. TO WHAT EXTENT HAVE YOU FOUND THIS TO BE TRUE?

2 INTRODUCTION In plays characters who appear briefly or who do not appear at all can be a significant presence throughout the play. This question is an argumentative question that is referring to the presence of characters in plays, and if these characters play a significant role. From the plays we have studied characters who do not appear at all are significant throughout the play, when it comes to contributing to the action and developing other characters. The plays that would be a good choice for this question would be Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett and Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard. Both of these plays have characters that don t appear and they play a major role in the play.

3 TWO PLAYS AND Waiting for Godot by Samuel Beckett Master Harold and the Boys by Athol Fugard Godot does not appear in the play but he plays a major role in the play Hally s father does not appear in the play he also is significant in the play.

4 SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES Waiting for Godot Master Harold Godot is a symbolic figure in play. He was thought to be god, and the reason we never see Godot because we never see god. Another symbol Godot represents is Death and the Vladimir and Estragon must wait for the inevitable. Both characters in the play do not show up. Godot is a character who the two protagonists don t know but are waiting for. Hally s father plays a significant role because he had been hurt by his father and is also ashamed by him. Hally s father is also symbolic but in a different way when comparing to Godot. Hally s father is an alcoholic who is always taken care off, E.g when Sam carried Hally s father home when he was drunk. Hally is disappointed but also loves his father and Sam makes Hally a kite to represent their friendship

5 Quotes We re waiting for Godot. I m not going to be a peacemaker anymore - Hally But that is not the question. Why are we here, that is the question. And we are blessed in this, that we happen to know the answer. Yes, in this immense confusion one thing alone is clear. We are waiting for Godot to come. "When he speaks again, His tone changes completely. It is not simply pretense. We sense genuine emotional conflict" - Hally Mr. Godot told me to tell you he won t come this evening but surely tomorrow. We also have our good times together - Hally Was I sleeping, while the others suffered? Am I sleeping now? Tomorrow, when I wake, or think I do, what shall I say of today? That with Estragon my friend, at this place, until the fall of night, I waited for Godot? That Pozzo passed, with his carrier, and that he spoke to us? Probably. The one person that should have been teaching you what means was the cause of your shame - Sam Together again, at last. There s nothing to show It s the only version they know Then just remember to start hiding your bag away again, because he'll be at your purse before long for money for booze - Hally They have changed Nobody ever recognizes us Unless there not the same We always find something that gives us the impression that we exist. The sheer audacity of it took my breath away. I mean seriously what, the hell does a black man know about flying a kite? Clear example of social belief s of Hally. Hally s lack of understanding-sam in the end was taking Hally s mind away from the harsh and neglected reality of his relationship with his father. Sam was acted as a surrogate father to Hally. The face you should be spitting in is your father s but you used mine, because you think you re safe inside your fair skin

6 CONCLUSION In conclusion with reference to the question, a character who does not appear or appears briefly plays a significant role. In regards to both of the plays, Waiting for Godot has the character Godot who plays a major role in the whole play but does not appear at all. With Master Harold and the Boys, Hally s father does not appear but plays a role to Hally and is the reason why Hally reacted foully towards Sam. Overall in two plays characters who do not appear play a significant role throughout the play and therefore the statement is true.

Master Harold and the boys

Master Harold and the boys World Theatre and Performance Jessica Skocik 4/25/2012 Skocik 1 Theatre as an art form has the unique ability to excite and entice us. It opens our eyes to the world around us