Kelly McKeown

Dramatic Literature
Marianne Adams
1 May 2013
Final Essay Assignment
1. Using at least 3 examples from specific plays, discuss the value of theater to society.
What is gained by its presence? What would be lost by its absence?
Theater is highly valued in a society to this day. As it should be! Theater is a huge outlet
for people to express themselves but also a place where points can be made and knowledge can
be shown to a large audience. For example, in A Raisin in the Sun, there are issues of prejudice,
racism, and classism. This put into play form is an extremely easy and powerful way to show the
world just what is going on, even though some people might be sheltered from things like this. I
think in this instance, theater is an outlet for change. In showing these plays and experiences had
by real people, the world can start noticing more and more things that people need to work on.
Another example of the value of theater in society is a play like Everyman in which the main
character is forced to make decisions on how to be good again and to turn his life around. This
play can influence society because people will reflect on their day to day actions and how they in
turn affect other people. See without theater like this, people would not have an outlet to
showcase how society can be viewed which would then cause an absence of thinking in everyday
life. Another example of a play that enhances our society is M. Butterfly. Though very different
in its message, the play is very clear about showing society that things may not always be how
they seem. Although I dont think this is the main message, I think that its one that speaks to
many people if they were watching the play and society as a whole could be shown this in a

funny way, which I think could only happen in theater. I think theater is impeccable to a society
because with it, comes a form of art, a form of entertainment, a way to make a statement, a way
to teach about a certain subject or idea, and a way to clearly show how certain things or people
are viewed in a society which might not otherwise be clearly shown in every day life. I think
people would miss out on expressiveness and the ability to learn without knowing if theater
wasnt a part of our society today.
Good job with this answer. Your focus on theater as an agent for change works for this question.
I agree that this is one of its most important roles. Glad you didnt go right to entertainment- you
could use another pass as the language and flow.
2. Theater as a literary form is unique. It lives on the page but is designed to be experienced
live. How is reading a play a different experience than reading a novel? Is a play
literature? Why?
Reading a play is an extremely different experience and is unlike reading anything else.
A play is the most interesting thing to read if you ask me, but it also can be one of the hardest.
What is difficult about reading a play is that its written to be performed; with big actions and
facial expressions, subtle looks and major twists without words. All of these things are written
out in a play in the stage directions but its just not the same as when you are actually seeing it in
person. This alone makes plays unlike any other literature. Reading a play to me is an
experience in itself. Since its all dialogue, its easy to get confused. There is no constant run of
actions of whats currently happening, you just have to really pay attention and follow along to
whos saying what, which is always the easiest thing to do. Another reason why reading a play is
different than reading a novel is that the directions that are given and describing what the
playwright wants to see on stage, not what is best going to help us as readers understand whats

going on. Its more like vaguely describing the actions that are being taken by the characters in
terms of stage directions, unlike in a novel where every detail is shown and described in detail
during the course of the novel. That being said, I do, in fact, believe that plays are literature.
Although they were not written exactly for an audience to begin with, it is a form of writing and
the beauty of writing is that you can take that anywhere you want to and you can be as creative
as you want. I believe that all spoken word is a form of literature and plays are just that. They
are written out for the purpose of getting some sort of knowledge out to a large group and that is
exactly what literature does in a society.
This answer is a bit confusing and lopsided. While you explore the uniqueness of reading a play
and try to make comparisons, you don establish your definition of literature soon enough or in
enough detail for us to catch all your points w/o some work. You keep returning to the stage
directions- but there is more to say about structure- scenes, acts, etc. -1
3. Choose a play we have read and explore how it speaks to a contemporary audience. Note
this is not a summary of the play, but an analysis of the roles and action and how they
connect to current social, political, and issues.
The play A Raisin in the Sun by Lorraine Hansberry is a play that I personally am very
fond of. This play is set in the 1950s but I believe that it can still speak to a contemporary
audience of today for many reasons. For example, the whole issue behind prejudice. In the play,
Mr. Karl Lindner has asked the Younger family not to move into a house that they have just
purchased because it is in an all white neighborhood and he feels it will cause issues for
everyone involved. This definitely speaks to a contemporary audience on the issue of prejudice
because things like this still happen today. Maybe not to this extent, but todays audience could
definitely relate to the act of someone not including someone in something because of a

difference that they may have. Whether that difference be race, gender, sexual orientation, or
anything else that separates people from each other, todays audience could absolute relate to this
issue between the Younger family and Mr. Lindner. I know in todays society, some individuals
dont want gay or lesbian couples to be able to get married. That can easily relate to the
prejudice situation in this play so I know that todays audience would connect really well to
watching this play. Another instance in the play is the issue of race. While this has to do with
the same situation with Mr. Lindner and the Younger family, the specific issue of race is yet
another one that an audience today could easily relate to their own lives now. Unfortunately, the
issue of race and racism is still upon us. People who look a certain way or have a certain skin
color are pulled over by cops more frequently, searched at airports more frequently, and are
accused of crimes more frequently than those that have lighter colored skin. Anyone that has
ever experienced an issue with racism today would easily be able to connect to this play. Lastly,
a contemporary audience would easily connect to the issues that arise in the play about class. It
still happens today where people arent allowed to do certain things because of what social class
they are put into, just like in the play where the Youngers are classified by a low social class
which makes them unwanted in the area that they chose to buy their new house which is just not
right. All in all, A Raisin in the Sun is a play set 60 years before today, but can easily be relatable
for todays audiences.

Excellent job on this answer. You nailed the three main themes and made some very good
connections .

Grade: 92 A-