Anna In The Tropics Essays

Anna In The Tropics Essays Anna In The Tropics Essay Anna In The Tropics Essay The production of Anna in the Tropics generated many different themes throughout the play, however there was one theme that caught my attention and was supported much throughout the play. The theme identified most was the decision to solve issues with reason or to lower oneself to react in a violent matter, and allow evil to prevail. With many themes being prevalent, violence versus reason was communicated by the lighting of the play. The sighting designer, Mary Keenan, was able to use different lighting effects to help the audience better understand the message that was being delivered on stage. Dont think I ever realized before how essential lighting was in theater, until I put my attention on it. When reason was occurring, the lighting was more whitish-bluefish tint, and when the violence took place, the lighting changed to a more darkening of the stage. From the opening scene, with the lights coming on, till the last scene, when the stage went dark, lighting was important to help clarify the theme. Prior to this performance viewed lighting as a tool for making the stage visible for the audience to see and guy with a headset standing on a balcony maintaining a spotlight on the main character. However, after seeing Anna in the Tropics and becoming a more active audience member, I realized that my previous view was wrong. Lighting does much more than just light the Stage, and keep a spotlight on a character. It controls the mood and for this production the theme of the play. The theme that captured my attention was making decisions with reason or lashing out and using violence to solve robbers. Keenan does a good job from the opening scene in using lighting to help exemplify this theme. In the opening scene when Check and Santiago are attending the sock fights the lighting of the scene is a dark reddish brown; the cockfights are a symbol violence winning. Santiago continues to gamble even though he has no more money and has to borrow money from Check. Santiago is not using reason in just walking away from his losses but instead he rationally borrows money from Check to keep gambling on the violent cockfights. The dim lighting of this scene gives it a dark cold feeling. This is even more supported when the other scene that is occurring simultaneously is filled with bright lighting. When the scene transfers over to the awaiting of Juan Sultans arrival, the dim reddish brown lighting is quickly changed to a bright bluish white light shining on Marvel, Offline, and Contain. The changing in lighting, changes the audiences mood towards the scene. The elector is a symbol Of reason. Throughout the play, the audience sees the lack Of hostility Tijuana Julian presents. He is the voice of reason. That is why when Juan Julian is on stage, or talking, the lighting that accompanies him is usually that of brightness. It is not until his fateful death where we see darkness overshadow the brightness that he has brought to the dark stage. Another important scene is when Check takes advantage of Marvel. Check chose violence to solve his problem. Check was very depressed over his wife leaving him for the previous elector. Check makes advances towards Marvel who denies him. Marvel is fascinated with Juan Julian, and seeks his affection. This angers Check that once again a elector has come and gained he attention of the woman he desires. When his last attempt to make a pass at Marvel fails he results to violence. The lighting of this scene supports his quick transition from reason to violence. While making passes at Marvel and trying to win her approval the lighting of the stage is usually of normal brightness, setting the mood as calm. However, when Check chooses a violent approach in his rape of Marvel, the lighting of the stage quickly changes to a redness followed by a complete black out of the stage. The final scene of the play is also very important to the theme of the play. Check had continuously attempted to remove Juan Julian as the elector and eliminate the elector position all together. Check tries to modernize the factory by bringing in machines which would better the company, and raise amount of cigars manufactured. However, with the machines comes the elimination of the elector, because he cannot be heard over the loud operating machines. During this scene the lighting is clear and normal, with a bright white spotlight being directed on Check. This lighting presents the use of reason to solve the problem at hand. However, after his proposal is denied by the rest of the workers he turns to violence to end his hatred towards not only Juan Julian, but what the position of elector reminds him of; the loss of the love his life. In the last scene when Check appears on stage with gun in hand and shoots Juan Julian the lighting changes drastically. It goes from normal Stage lighting to darkness over the stage. Though a bright light still remains on Juan Julian because he is the voice of reason, and even though violence has prevailed over reason this time, the bright light that remains castes on Juan Julian represents that reason in the end will always prevail over the darkness of violence. Before taking a different viewing approach of the play, did not realize how much lighting helped support the theme of making decisions with reason or allowing violence to overcome you. Lighting sets the mood for the audience throughout much of the play and helps support the theme. The reason this play is important for the audience to watch is because every day we are presented with problems in life, and we make decisions on how to react to his issues we face. We have the choice to act calmly and reasonably or to let violence overcome us and make poor decisions. There is no lighting in real life that is going to help us to identify which choice to make. So by watching this play the audience learns that though reason might not work the first time, resulting to violence only leads to more issues at hand and causes darkness in ones life. The only way to eliminate the darkness is by allowing reason to overcome the evil and brighten the darkness that the problems have created.

Crucible Character Study of Abigail Williams

Crucible Character Study of Abigail Williams Abigail Williams, a vicious antagonist from Arthur Millers The Crucible, will stop at nothing to attain her demented goals. In another writer’s hands, Abby could have been portrayed in a sympathetic light. After all, she is under age and has been sleeping with a supposedly honorable man thirteen years her senior. ​Arthur Miller, however, finds little humanity within her. Abigail Williams' Reputation Throughout the play, Proctor labels her a â€Å"harlot† and a â€Å"whore.† And perhaps Miller isn’t far off. According to the playwright’s research, the real Abigail Williams turned to prostitution several years after the Salem Witch Trials. Her Almost Unrealistic Characteristics She convinces young women to dance in the dark forest (a sinful act by Puritan standards).She practices voodoo in an attempt to win back her lover, John Proctor.She feigns demonic possession, luring the rest of the girls to behave the same way.She plants evidence of witchcraft in Elizabeth Proctor’s home, hoping to send her to the gallows.She manipulates the judges and denies having a relationship with Proctor. Perhaps the most sinister act takes place after a dozen citizens have been hanged. Abigail steals Rev. Parris’ life savings and runs away, never to be heard from again. In short, Miss Williams is a wretched, diabolic person!