Open Prompt #3 Revision

982. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary.

In Anthony Burgess' A Clockwork Orange, violence is a very normal part of the characters' society. The story takes place in a fictionalized future where kids are increasingly more prone to violent acts. Alex, the protagonist, leads a gang in his town that either fights other gangs, beats up the men or rapes the women in his community. To pass the time when they are not committing these crimes, the group hangs out at local bars. In this work of literature, through these violent acts and Alex's society, Burgess tries to surpass the literal meaning of the idea of violence and shows his thoughts on today's society through satire. 

Burgess implements the theme of violence in society's youth in this story because it shows the change in how people were bringing up their children. Burgess may have noticed, in his own community, a leniency toward older values and how strictly people tended to be toward their kids. Perhaps Burgess was trying to warn others of this loosening of morals through a satirical way in A Clockwork Orange. By showing a group of 15 years old wreaking havoc throughout town and committing almost unfathomable crimes, I think Burgess' point is more shocking to its readers (also, consider the time period that this book was written in. Society was not as exposed to violence as it is today).  

Another use of Burgess' scenes of violence is the idea of a lack of self discipline and empowerment. Perhaps Burgess is trying to suggest that he is noticing that people feel that they are only powerful when putting down others. Alex, in the story, describes a rush he gets when committing these crimes, and how he feels untouchable. By scaring his audience by showing them the lengths that people will go to to feel better about themselves, I think Burgess hopes to show his audience that the greatest satisfaction should only come from believing in yourself, not from the expense of others.

Burgess also is trying to stress how short term satisfaction is no substitute for long term satisfaction. Although Alex may feel a high from these acts of violence, hours later, he is down again, resulting in more crimes. Burgess wants people to achieve a long term happiness, and to accomplish something bigger.  

Burgess uses scenes of violence as a method of satire to show his society the results of poor discipline in both our youth and ourselves. 

Response to Course Material #7

In class we've finished Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. It was one of the hardest works of literature we've had to annotate by far. I thought the language itself in Ros and Guil wasn't as difficult to understand as Hamlet, but the meaning behind the work was very analytically challenging, whereas Hamlet had a very plot driven, straightforward approach. Another reason I found Ros and Guil difficult to get through was that both the characters spent half the book in confusion, trying to figure out who was who, why they were doing what they were, and where they even were. Their confusion made me confused. 

Other than Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, we have been working on writing AP essays and answering AP multiple choice. Even though the test is only two months away, I'm still struggling to do both of these things! But two months is plenty of time to improve, and I'm sure the in-class practice will help a lot. By writing our own AP questions and answers, I can recognize the format of the questions and eliminate the wrong answers more easily. Over time, I'm sure this skill will come more easily to me. 

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead

Author: Tom Stoppard

Setting: Nowhere and Denmark

Plot: The play starts with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern on an empty stage flipping a coin. After flipping the coin several times and getting only heads as a result, Guil ponders this strange unlikely probability, while Ros ignores it. This strange coin phenomena leads Guil to wonder about their location and how Ros and Guil got to where they currently are, and why they are there, and what their purpose is. Soon, they are approached by a band of players who call themselves the Tragedians. After suggesting their true trade to Ros and Guil, they ask if Ros and Guil would be interested in partaking in a sexual en devour. Of course, since Ros is a bit slower, he is confused about this offer, until Guil decides to take up a bet with the players. Guil wins, and then the scene suddenly changes. 

Ros and Guil now find themselves in Denmark in the castle. Hamlet and Ophelia enter arguing and then leave. Then Claudius approaches Ros and Guil and ask them to find out what is troubling Hamlet. While asking the two for their help, the king mistakes Ros for Guil. 

Then Ros and Guil start a game of questions, a game commonly played in theater. They attempt to reenact a scenario in which Guil pretends to be Hamlet, and Ros questions him about his state of mind. They finally deduce the reason behind Hamlet's madness, which is his father was murdered by his uncle, who then took his spot on the throne. After this revelation, they ponder how they can help Hamlet in his state of madness or is Hamlet is really mad at all. 

The players arrive at the castle and announce that there will be a play the next day. There is then discussion about the play, and how Hamlet wants everyone in the castle to attend the play. Afterwards, Hamlet and Ophelia have their argument about Ophelia going to a nunnery. 

The stage blacks out. It is the next day, and the King ask for Ros and Guil's help in finding Hamlet, because he just killed Polonius. The scene changes again, and Ros and Guil are bringing Hamlet to England under the King's orders. They find themselves on a boat, confused as before. They are uncertain of why they are on a boat and why they must escort Hamlet away. They quickly remember, and find out that Hamlet is to be killed in England and it is one of the King's devilish plots. Later, while Ros and Guil are sleeping, Hamlet switches the letters to order that Ros and Guil are instead killed. 

Hamlet escapes, leaving Ros and Guil on the boat with the players. The players kill Ros and Guil on the boat. 

The last scene is back at the castle where everyone is dead. Horatio closes the play with the last speech of Hamlet. 

Significant Characters:

Rosencrantz-- Best friends with Guildenstern. He is not the sharpest tool in the shed, and is generally more carefree than Guil. He is a happy-go-lucky fellow that is easily confused, and enjoys flipping coins and calling "heads." Other than Guil, his other friend in the story is Hamlet... supposedly. 

Guildenstern--  Best friends with Rosencrantz. Guil often pretends to know more than he does and tries to sound smarter than he actually is. He is always contemplating his situation and his life and trying to find out his purpose. He is more aware than Ros is, but is a little slow as well. He likes to think he has more control over his life than he does. 

Player --  Leader of the band of traveling players. He seems to be more aware of the plot of Hamlet and understands fate more than Ros and Guil. He is witty and confident, but selfish as well, as evident in the fact that he was willing to give up Alfred for money. 

Narrative Tone/Style:

The narrative style is told from an outside point of view so we can see different characters at different times. By doing this, we as the audience can get a better idea of each characters’ intentions and motives since we know what they are really thinking and don’t have to rely on a narrator. Unlike Hamlet, the tone of this play is more lighthearted, despite the audience knowing the inevitable fate of Ros and Guil. 

 

Theme: The theme of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead is that we are just parts of a bigger story, but we all are important. Although Ros and Guil are just used to move the plot along in Hamlet, we see in Stoppard's play that they do have separate important roles. 

Quotes: "Audiences know what to expect, and that is all they are prepared to believe in." This quote revolves around the idea of fate and that everything is predestined. Viewers of this play know what will inevitably happen to Ros and Guil, even though they really have done nothing wrong. Stoppard's play makes the audience sympathize with Ros and Guil, because they were friendly people who were just confused and doing what they were told to do the whole time. This elaborates on how was ultimately have no control over our lives. 

“Life in a box is better than no life at all, I expect. You'd have a chance at least. You could lie there thinking: Well, at least I'm not dead.” This quote shows how we should all be appreciative of our lives. Although Hamlet's life sucked a lot, this quote is telling him to look at the things he does have, and focus on those, instead of running around trying to make his life go back to the way he envisioned it.