Literary critics have discussed N.F. Simpson’s one-act play A Resounding Tinkle
in a controversial manner. A number of them saw it as a representative of the
British variety of the “Theatre of the Absurd” (Esslin 1964: passim); others
express doubts that there really is a serious philosophical intent and state that
Simpson tries to amuse his audience for more superficial reasons (Fothergill 1973:
passim).
Leaving these questions aside I will focus on the question whether the one-act
version of A Resounding Tinkle can or has to be interpreted as socio-cultural
criticism. By analysis of the motifs, characters, structure and language I will try to
show in how far Simpson makes allusions to suburbia and satirises the middleclass
society. The term suburbia is frequently used by various authors. Most educated readers
will have a more or less clear idea of the phenomenon it stands for. It is however
difficult to find a full, comprehensive and precise definition of the term in
literature. For my analysis it is nevertheless indispensable to define the term
suburbia before analysing and interpreting the play. Due to the lack of literature
about this topic I have to rely on my own experience with and knowledge about
suburbia. Additionally I base my definition on the thorough research work of
David Thorns from whose book Suburbia (1972) I give a number of quotations. It is difficult to give a date for the beginning of suburbanisation, but the
phenomenon is known since after the Second World War. Urbanisation, having
reached a practical point of saturation, lead to suburbanisation, the desire to live in
neighbourhoods with green spaces. (During the Industrial Revolution of the late
18th and 19th centuries people had started to move from the country into the
cities, which therefore grew at an enormous speed. The quality of life began to
decrease in the overcrowded cities. Poverty and lack of space for the individual made living in the cities more strenuous.) [...]
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Definition of the term suburbia
- Analysis and Interpretation of the play
- Analysis and interpretation of the language
- Analysis and interpretation of the structure
- Analysis and interpretation of the main characters Middie and Bro Paradock
- Analysis and interpretation of themes and motifs
- “Having a read”
- \"the (pet) animal”
- \"the comedians at the door”
- \"Uncle Ted's sex change”
- \"the religious service on the radio”
- \"Aunt Chloe's birthday”
- \"Cod's eggs”
- \"Mrs. Stencil”
- Conclusion
- Literature list
Objectives and Key Themes
This essay examines N.F. Simpson's one-act play A Resounding Tinkle to determine whether it can be interpreted as a socio-cultural critique of suburbia. By analyzing the motifs, characters, structure, and language of the play, the essay aims to explore the extent to which Simpson uses the play to satirize middle-class society and make allusions to suburbia.
- The characteristics of suburbia and the middle-class society
- The use of satire and humor in the play
- The representation of characters and their interactions
- The analysis of themes and motifs present in the play
- The exploration of the language and structure of the play
Chapter Summaries
- Introduction: The introduction discusses the controversial interpretation of Simpson's play, focusing on whether it represents the British "Theatre of the Absurd." It sets the stage for analyzing the play's socio-cultural critique of suburbia.
- Definition of the term suburbia: This chapter provides a detailed definition of the term "suburbia," outlining its historical context and common characteristics, particularly focusing on the "myth" of suburban life and its stereotypical portrayal.
- Analysis and Interpretation of the play: This chapter delves into the analysis of the play's language, structure, and main characters. It also explores themes and motifs present in the play, shedding light on their significance in understanding Simpson's satirical critique.
Keywords
The key terms and concepts explored in this essay include suburbia, satire, middle-class society, socio-cultural critique, language, structure, character analysis, themes, motifs, and the British "Theatre of the Absurd."
- Citar trabajo
- Miriam Volkmann (Autor), 2003, N.F. Simpson's Play "A Resounding Tinkle" as a Satire on Suburbia - an Interpretation of Themes, Motifs, Figures, Attitudes, Language etc., Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/20974
