In this play Hare not only mentions how difficult it is for the establishment to give up their idealistic vision of the continuation of the Empire but he also portrays the partnership between England and America. By describing personal experiences of his characters he reflects the political mood of the time. The disillusion and the lack of direction of his characters who can’t cope with their situation is comparable to the political conditions. “Within the context of English political history these events are not extraneous, coincidental happenings; they have a direct bearing on and relationship to the characters’ actions and thoughts. We do not see the events take place, but we see their impact on English lives“ 8 .
But Hare’s work is not only a historical play but also somehow a tragedy. Critics claim that the dramas hero is destructive and that the play is “essentially tragic” 9 .
Susan belongs to one of Hare’s characters that share “a tragic sense of life …against the odds, they defy the repression and inhumanity around them even if it means self-destruction. 10 ”
Table of Contents
1. Plenty by David Hare
1.1 Now – the title of the play
1.2 Sub-genre: “Plenty” a historical play and time of setting
1.3 Structure of the play
1.4 Summary
1.5 The characters of the play
1.5.1 Susan Traherne
1.5.2 Alice Park
1.5.3 Dorcas Frey
1.5.4 Raymond Brock
1.5.5 Sir Leonard Darwin
1.5.6 Lazar (Codename)
1.5.7 Mick
1.5.8 Sir Andrew Charleson
1.6 Main ideas and themes behind the play
2. Life of David Hare
2.1 Major plays
2.2 Screenplays
2.3 Screenplays for television
2.4 Context of Hare’s plays in post-1945 drama in Britain
Objectives and Core Themes
This work explores David Hare’s play "Plenty," focusing on how the protagonist’s personal psychological decline reflects the socio-political disillusionment in post-war Britain. It analyzes the themes of imperialism, social inequity, and the moral vacuum created by a materialistic, consumer-driven society following the collapse of the British Empire.
- The intersection of personal mental health and national post-war decline.
- Critique of post-colonialist attitudes and the decay of the British Empire.
- Emancipation of women and the search for authentic self-determination.
- Analysis of characters as symbols of social stratification and moral decay.
- The structural impact of non-chronological narratives and flashbacks.
Excerpt from the Book
(1) Susan Traherne:
The audience accompanies Susan from 1943 when she is seventeen to 1962 when she is in her mid thirties. As courier in the Second World War she carries messages. It is a time when she is able to believe that what she is doing has a point. She seems to have something that is worth fighting for. During the war she is full of idealism, she is convinced that the aims she is fighting for are meaningful. But after the war she doesn’t find life satisfying. She seems to be restless and discontent with her jobs and therefore changes them rather frequently. The discrepancy between her convictions and reality causes dissatisfaction with her whole life.
On the one hand Susan is “strongminded” and does not want “to compromise” and on the other hand she is very imbalanced. Talking to Lazar she herself admits that she has a weakness, namely “to lose control”. Her relationship to Raymond Brock is superficial. There is no passion between them and Susan changes the long distance relationship only because she is somehow grateful. But Susan considers her acceptance of his help as an act of weakness because she thinks that dignity lies only in living alone.
Summary of Chapters
Plenty by David Hare: Provides an overview of the play's title, its sub-genre, and the historical setting following World War II.
Life of David Hare: Details the biography of the playwright, including his career in fringe theater and his broader impact on British drama.
Keywords
Plenty, David Hare, British Empire, Post-war society, Susan Traherne, Imperialism, Capitalism, Mental health, Tragedy, Suez Crisis, Emancipation, Post-colonialism, Disillusionment, Consumer society, Diplomacy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this analytical work?
The work examines David Hare's play "Plenty" to demonstrate how the protagonist’s personal mental and emotional decline mirrors the broader decline and moral disorientation of post-war Britain.
Which historical events are central to the analysis?
The study highlights the post-World War II period, the collapse of the British Empire, and specifically the impact of the Suez Crisis as catalysts for the characters' disillusionment.
What is the central research question?
The primary inquiry explores how the author uses individual character trajectories, specifically Susan Traherne's, to comment on the shift from wartime idealism to the hollowness of a consumerist, post-imperial society.
What methodology is applied in this study?
The author employs a literary and socio-political analysis, interpreting the play’s non-chronological structure, character relationships, and thematic symbolism against the backdrop of British history.
What does the main body address?
It provides a detailed breakdown of the play's structure, in-depth character portraits, and an exploration of key themes such as capitalism, social inequity, and the position of women.
Which keywords best characterize this study?
The study is characterized by terms such as "Plenty," "British Empire," "Post-war society," "Disillusionment," "Imperialism," and "Mental health."
How does Susan Traherne's character evolve throughout the play?
Susan evolves from a determined, idealistic wartime courier into a disillusioned, mentally unstable woman unable to reconcile her past ideals with the reality of a materialistic civilian life.
Why is the play's structure described as being similar to a screenplay?
The play lacks traditional acts, instead featuring twelve scenes that use frequent flashbacks and jumps through time, which creates a non-chronological flow characteristic of film narratives.
How does the author interpret the role of the male characters like Raymond Brock?
Raymond is portrayed as a generous but naive diplomat whose efforts to help Susan are undermined by her restlessness, ultimately representing the ineffective and detached establishment.
What does the analysis conclude about the "world of plenty"?
The work concludes that the "world of plenty" serves as a critique of consumer society, suggesting that material abundance without moral direction leads to a spiritual void and corruption of the will to live.
- Citar trabajo
- MMag. Dr. Sabine Picout (Autor), 2004, "Plenty" by David Hare - An Interpretation, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/188973
