Comparative Ib Essay (english)

Essay Plan for Paper 2- A View from the Bridge and Translations

With reference to the work of at least two playwrights you have studied, compare the techniques used to introduce and create the initial impact of main characters.

Pick out the key words in the question: COMPARE, TECHNIQUES, INTRODUCE AND CREATE, INITIAL, IMPACT, MAIN CHARACTERS

List of Techniques

Exposition

Dialogue

Monologue/ Soliloquy

Rising Action

Prologue

Dramatic Irony

Comic Relief

Set

Lighting

Protagonist

Antagonist

structure of plays? into acts?

Conflict

Fourth Wall

Stage Directions

Essay Structure

Introduction

1. Exposition- Eddie and Manus- set up with the location (part of the furniture of that location)- difference in role of tragic downfall, how they are initially introduced (dramatic irony, soliloquy, protagonist, stage directions/ set)

2. Dialogue- Catherine and Mairie- question of female agency and the role of women within the play, compare how both portrayed, how they are set up in contrast to the existing male character

3. Delayed entry/ a character to break the calm/ foreshadowing- Rodolpho and Yolland- later character introduced to create a rupture of initial calm (tension between R and E, M and Y- over women and values)

EXPOSITION: contrasting Eddie and Manus

A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE- before we even see him, we have an awareness of his story ( the flat air in my office suddenly washes in with the green scent of the sea, the dust in this air is blown away and the thought comes that in some Caesar s year...sat there as powerless as I, and watched it run its bloody course- contrast in values between Italian roots and NY new beginnings- foreshadowing)- this is a more poetic analogy of Eddie`s fate, the audience has no control over the action (Greek Tragedy- fated rather than up to individual will)

40, husky, longshoreman

described as pitching coins with the men , first line is Well, I ll see ya, fellas` to his colleagues- sociable, well-liked in the workplace, well-integrated into the American culture even though we know that he is an immigrant (uses slang), tension already between his immigrant status and his desire to fit in/ be more American

shown to be assertive: fellow workman asks a question- sense of confidence- Yeah, there s another day yet on that ship. - his work colleagues look to him for knowledge (maturity)

first dialogue is with Catherine and we know from the stage directions that he- Eddie is pleased and therefore shy about it - sets up initial theme of his infatuation with Catherine, where you goin all dressed up?- aware of her physical appearance, struggle in the relationship, sense of hiding something, not a normal familial relationship because he`s not entirely comfortable around her

stage directions- he sits down and Catherine gets him a beer- man of the home/ patriarch- the man`s dominance

TRANSLATIONS- we learn about him from the stage directions: he kneels beside her (sense of him trying to get on her level- his care, has a lot of sympathy, does not dictate at her, listens to her, intimacy and familiarity), sets up his age (context in the play), 20/30, master`s oldest son, described as `with a kind of zeal`- sense that he is caring but also disciplined, working for free- implies that he cares more about education than money, his clothes are shabby (of a lower class) and he is lame (physically disabled)

his initial words are calming, patient and encouraging- a lot of ellipses (sense of him listening and engaged with her learning), dialogue- finishing each other`s lines

he hugs Sarah- not a traditional teacher/student relationship- sense of effort and care and intimacy (how invested he is)

entry of Mairie- introduced by other characters (we understand how fixed he is to his Irish roots and how committed is to the Irish lifestyle)

CONTRAST- Introduces Eddie through the Chorus (Alfrieri) and Manus is just introduced more objectively and clearly to the audience (stage directions)

CONTRAST- Manus is shown to be a lot more sensitive and caring than the more brutish, assertive Eddie (Manus is tied to roots whereas Eddie is more driven to a movement away from his roots), Eddie as more of a protagonist (dominance as a character), Manus`s presence is not as strong in the initial scene

COMPARE- workers, not of a high class

COMPARE- both hone in on location and stage directions to set up these characters (point that they are linked to the place)

COMPARE- both initial characters are used to set up main thematic conflicts within the text: BRIDGE- cultural differences, uncomfortable familial relationship between man and niece (`shy`), TRANSLATIONS- cultural identities and old vs. new worlds (BRIDGE)

2. DIALOGUE FOR CATHERINE AND MAIRIE (ROLE OF THE WOMAN ENTERING THE ALREADY MALE SPACE)

BRIDGE- shown to be in a domestic position (initially seen to be waiting by the window in the kitchen)- she is waiting for Eddie to come home, her focus and agency surrounds his actions

repetition of phrase `You like it?`- his opinion is important to her, sense of needing his validation to leave the house

from stage directions, makes Catherine and Beatrice cry in Act One (his insensitivity), Catherine is used to reveal Eddie`s role or characteristics rather than having an exclusive personality

her lines are very short compared to Eddie`s (does not have a voice in the house or the ability to speak)

dialogue is very short and fast-paced, all of the conversation is about her physical appearance and its effects (we now place the value of her as a character on her looks, just like Eddie is doing)- she is definitely more of a passive than an active character)- Eddie is leading the dialogue

Calls her Katie as well as Catherine- intimacy between them, patronising (language for effect- fits in with the slang from before)

language- use of patronising words (baby)- with point above, immediately we have a conflict that is set up between man and woman (niece and uncle)

sets up a conflict between who is the protagonist and who is the antagonist (unsure of Eddie`s role)

TRANSLATIONS- described as strong-minded and strong-bodied (stage directions)

inquisitive and assertive, she comes in and interrupts the drama, there is a tension between Manus and Mairie (we don`t know about their relationship but we know that there is tension there), she ignores his questions, she speaks Latin (shown to be an intellectual/intelligent, well-educated), comfortable and flirtatious in her surroundings, very blunt with Manus (aware of her own worth and value in the school)- familiarity in Manus as she feels able to be honest with him, mad at him and is not afraid of being sarcastic, following her and trying to explain himself

CONTRAST- Catherine is shown to be a lot more passive than Mairie even though a similar age (late teens/early 20s)- Mairie is slightly older than Catherine, M is more mature than C, more educated and independent, Catherine relies on both Eddie and Beatrice for physical validation

CONTRAST- comfortable in surroundings? Mairie is a lot more comfortable (comes in asking a question) than Catherine (waiting for Eddie)

COMPARE- question of downfall? protagonists` downfalls are attached to these female characters (foreshadowing/ominous here from this initial conflict between male and female characters)

COMPARE- important connection to protagonists, both sides are affected by each other

COMPARE- both initial impact of characters is described through dialogue with other characters, not as much as a focus on stage directions as E and M

3. DELAY OF ENTRY BY CHARACTERS (RODOLPHO AND YOLLAND)

Lighting and set- when we first see Marco and Rodolpho, they are outside of the house and it`s at night, saw the flat as quite claustrophobic and the family hub, anticipation or suspense over characters entering the house, part of the drama now, tension and suspense

we hear about R and M from Eddie- they are collectivised as stereotypes by Eddie (listen, they ll think it s a millionaire s house compared to the way they live)- we have preconceptions that they will be backward and basic, old Italian world before we even meet them (similar to how Alfrieri introduces Eddie)

less verbal than Marco who takes the lead in their introduction- he nods for example, more ambiguity surrounding the intentions of his character (mysterious in his initial introduction), does not even have a physical descri ption in stage directions (Rodolpho)- introduced through actions rather than dialogue

laughs a lot through initial lines, initial intimacy with Beatrice (ready to laugh kiss as soon as Eddie enters)- tension here, flirtatiousness

Rodolpho laughs through all initial lines (disparity between coarse surface level of Eddie and amusement of Rodolpho)- Eddie feels uprooted because of this disparity- unsure where he stands and likes to be the sole man of the house, feels uncomfortable and unstable in own home because of R`s presence, COMIC RELIEF, breaks the initial tension of the men entering, not entirely relief- sets up more tension between E and R (comedy is very much surface level)- more chilling undertones between the two men

Marco comes in with a certain form of stiffness- emphasises the tension and described as suspicious (tension between guests and family)

in stage directions, Eddie only shakes Marco s hands- sets up tension from initial introduction that Rodolpho doesn`t have the same welcome into the family- we know that there is going to be a tension between R and E

interaction with Catherine- nice face but no money, knows that he is good-looking, C describes him as so blonde and Eddie changes the topic, intimacy between them and then E disrupts the action, movement away from their relationship and to something more outside of that, breaks up the flirtation (foreshadowing that R will break up the calm of the family)

rising action (technique)- brewing beneath the surface and we know that it will all reach a climax (love triangle between E, C and R)

TRANSLATIONS- he stutters in his speaking, he is described in the stage directions at first- `soldier by accident`, he enters in a shy manner (he does not feel comfortable in this setting)- as an Englishman colonising Ireland (`I can only say that I feel - I feel very foolish to - to - to be working here and not to speak your language)- very empathetic and perceptive of the situation (he is not as entitled as Captain Lancey)- preconception that his intentions are good

does not speak for a few pages (quite a passive character)- his first verbal interaction with Mairie (she asks him `has he anything to say?`)Manus also feels threatened/antagonised by him- asks `What is Yolland`s function?`- exclamatory, hostile language

CONTRAST- Rodolpho is a lot more comfortable in his own skin (laughs a lot and his language is more structure), Y is more scattered and agitated- less comfortable in his environment

CONTRAST- Rodolpho is sarcastic from the outset, does not show the same respect/politeness, Y- shows empathy and respect for his situation as the foreigner/visiter rather than the coloniser

CONTRAST- R wants to be in America and Y does not want to colonise/ be antagonistic

COMPARE- both R and C first interactions are with the women that they are going to become involved with (this interaction or their character is condemned by the male protagonist from the opening)

COMPARE- takes a while for the audience to hear them verbally, idea that their presence is more powerful than their words initially (delayed entry- focus is drawn to them immediately)- heighten the suspense even more as we 1. hear about them from other characters 2. see them 3. hear their own voice (takes a while for us to have an objective perspective of them)- we know that we will have a significant role in affecting the protagonist