This thesis is an attempt to trace the issue of subjectivity in American ethnic drama. It also investigates how the members of the minority family are constantly struggling in a way or another in an attempt to sustain a particular identity of their own as if their whole life were a journey in search of identity. The main focus is on Clifford Odets’ "Awake and Sing!", August Wilson’s "The Piano Lesson" and Milcha Sanchez-Scott’s "The Cuban Swimmer". This study is mainly a thematic study adopting the approach of cultural criticism. It falls into an introduction, three chapters and a conclusion.
The influence of capitalism is the very core of the creative works of Odets who is more concerned with the influence of poverty on the middle class individuals and their relationships with each other. In fact, since the beginning of his career as a playwright, Odets has been keen on portraying how far the denial and frustration the individuals of the Jewish middle class face in the American society affected their communal bonds with their fellow people.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Chapter One: Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!: Lone Dreamy Voices Refusing to be Hushed
- Chapter Two: August Wilson's The Piano Lesson; The Odd Man Out
- Chapter Three: Milcha Sanchez-Scott's The Cuban Swimmer: A Journey of Self-assertion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This work analyzes the portrayal of family dynamics and societal pressures within three distinct American plays. The objective is to explore how economic hardship, generational conflict, and cultural identity shape the characters' experiences and relationships.
- The impact of economic hardship (e.g., the Great Depression) on family structures and individual aspirations.
- The clash between generations and their differing perspectives on life, dreams, and societal values.
- The role of cultural identity (specifically Jewish American identity in one case) in shaping individual experiences and family dynamics.
- The influence of capitalism and its effect on the characters' lives and relationships.
- Exploration of themes of alienation, disillusionment, and the search for self-fulfillment within oppressive social contexts.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
Chapter One: Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!: Lone Dreamy Voices Refusing to be Hushed: This chapter delves into Clifford Odets' play, "Awake and Sing!", examining how the Great Depression profoundly impacted a Jewish-American family, the Bergers. The play vividly portrays the disintegration of family bonds under the strain of poverty and unemployment, highlighting the clash between generations with differing hopes and dreams. The older generation, burdened by past hardships and prejudice, loses hope for change, while the younger generation confronts the disillusionment of their aspirations within a capitalist society. Odets' personal experiences and Jewish heritage are interwoven into the play's themes of alienation, the pursuit of money, and the search for self-worth within a system that denies their basic needs and aspirations. The chapter analyzes the individual characters and their struggles, using textual evidence to illustrate the play's depiction of family conflict, economic hardship, and the pervasive influence of American capitalism during the 1930s. The play's title itself, drawn from the Bible, symbolically underscores the overarching theme of the family's yearning for liberation and a better future.
Chapter Two: August Wilson's The Piano Lesson; The Odd Man Out: [This section requires the text of Chapter Two to create the summary. Please provide the text.]
Chapter Three: Milcha Sanchez-Scott's The Cuban Swimmer: A Journey of Self-assertion: [This section requires the text of Chapter Three to create the summary. Please provide the text.]
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
American drama, family dynamics, Great Depression, generational conflict, Jewish American identity, capitalism, social alienation, economic hardship, self-fulfillment, cultural identity, societal pressures.
Frequently asked questions
What is the main focus of the "Comprehensive Language Preview" document?
The document provides an overview of a study analyzing the portrayal of family dynamics and societal pressures in three American plays. It includes a table of contents, objectives, key themes, chapter summaries, and keywords.
What plays are being analyzed in this study?
The plays being analyzed are: Clifford Odets' Awake and Sing!, August Wilson's The Piano Lesson, and Milcha Sanchez-Scott's The Cuban Swimmer.
What are the key themes explored in this analysis?
The key themes include the impact of economic hardship (particularly the Great Depression) on families, generational conflict, the role of cultural identity (specifically Jewish American identity), the influence of capitalism, and the search for self-fulfillment amidst societal pressures.
What is the summary of Chapter One, focusing on Clifford Odets' "Awake and Sing!"?
Chapter One examines how the Great Depression affected a Jewish-American family, the Bergers, in "Awake and Sing!". It highlights the disintegration of family bonds due to poverty, the clash between generations with differing aspirations, and the disillusionment of the younger generation within a capitalist society. The chapter also analyzes the characters' struggles, the influence of capitalism, and the search for liberation and a better future.
What key words are associated with this study?
The keywords include: American drama, family dynamics, Great Depression, generational conflict, Jewish American identity, capitalism, social alienation, economic hardship, self-fulfillment, cultural identity, societal pressures.
What information is missing from the language preview?
The summaries for Chapter Two (August Wilson's "The Piano Lesson") and Chapter Three (Milcha Sanchez-Scott's "The Cuban Swimmer") are missing and require the text of those chapters to be created.
- Quote paper
- Hamada Yousef (Author), 2017, Jewish American Drama. Healing The Wounds of Alio, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1554664
