Representation of Social Struggle in Drama Presentation

Introduction

This presentation is aimed at examining the following issues:

1. The social struggles which emerge in such plays as a Murder in the Cathedral by T.S. Eliot and A Raisin in the Sun by Lorrain Hansberry.
2. The role of various literary elements which help the authors reveal the characters social struggles?
3. The way in which the writers reveal their own social struggles through these works.

Thesis

In his play T.S. Eliot primarily focuses on a individual who is not afraid of opposing the authorities even at the time when the majority believes that the best thing to do is to submit to the will of this regime. Nonetheless, his opposition to power rejects any form of violence or cruelty. The social struggles depicted by Thomas Becket consists in the criticism and defiance of the state but not in active opposition. In her turn, Lorraine Hansberry depicts a conflict within the family which is a unit of society. The key difference is that Mama a person, who plays the role of authority, strives achieve the well-being for every member of the family. Moreover the struggles of this family is directed primarily against the existing social order which condones racism and inequality of rights.

Literary work and social struggle

• Murder in the Cathedral.
• In his play, T.S. Eliot describes a situation in which the protagonist Thomas Becket has to choose between several options:
  • To flee the country and abandon the struggle with immoral authority;
  • To submit to its will and gain considerable riches as well as power;
  • To attain glory through martyrdom;
  • To ask powerful allies from protection.
• Thomas Becket wishes to stay and prove his innocence.

A Raisin in the Sun

A Raisin in the Sun revolves around the life of an African American Family. The underlying cause of the conflict is $10000 that every member of the family in his/her own way. Lorraine Hansberry explores the following forms of social struggles:

1. Conflicting interests of various family members and their ambitions.
2. Mama’s willingness to preserve the family and buy a house;
3. The confrontation between Mama who can be as the matriarch or the authority, and other members of the family.
4. The aspiration of the entire family to raise their social status.

The Literary Elements to be Discussed

This presentation will focus on the following elements:

1. The plot of the two plays. It is necessary to show how the two authors develop the narrative and how the plot helps them exemplify the social struggle of the characters;
2. Characterization. It is necessary to show the two writers portray the protagonists. We need to explain why they prefer in-direct characterization and how this literary elements is related to the idea of struggle.
3. Symbolism. Symbolism is particularly important for T.S. Eliot’s play, but this literary element is also employed by the Lorraine Hansberry.

Literary elements in the play and their role in revealing social struggles

The use of plot in the plays:

T.S. Eliot uses plot to indicate that that the main character or characters are jeopardized by outside forces. The author relies on chorus signers who tell us at that even in such sacred place as Canterbury Cathedral a person can be in peril, yet the readers do not know it is. This sentence is supposed to capture the reader’s attention:

“There is no danger for us, and there is no safety in the cathedral” (Eliot, 1964 p. 11 ).

The author introduces the so-called tempters who try to show Thomas Becket how he should act under the circumstances when his moral integrity is at stake . For example, one of them asks him to “take friend’s advice” and “leave well alone”. In other words, he suggests that that Becket should flee. Another tempter prompts him to “set down the great” or to submit to the will of the king (Eliot, 1964, p. 28 ).

Various elements of the plot are aimed at showing moral dilemmas that the main character has to resolve .

Plot in Play Murder in the Cathedral

The plot of this play strives to reveal social struggles in the following ways:

1. It shows how authority can encroach on the moral integrity of individual;
2. This literary element assists the author in describing various ethical dilemmas which a person has to resolve when he/she is confronted by the authorities that strive to dominate the lives of people.
3. Through the plot T.S. Eliot shows how the society reacts to the government which attempts to control the life of people.

The role of plot in Lorraine Hansberry’s play

The plot helps Lorraine Hansberry Convey to exemplify various forms of social struggle:

1. The attempts of an African American family to raise their status in society and improve their financial well-being. From the very beginning the readers can see that they are not particularly well-to-do. The author says, “Everything has been polished, washed, sat, on, used, scrubbed too often” (Hansberry, 2004 p. 25).
2. The ambitions of separate individuals to achieve success;
3. The attempts of the mother to exercise authority over other members of the family in order to protect them from misfortunes.

The use of plot in both plays: similarities and distinctions

Each of these plays strives to show how a person can withstand the authority and why. In the first case, it is the willingness to maintain one’s moral integrity, whereas in the second case, the main reason for social struggle is personal ambitions and willingness to raise one’s status.

Moreover, T.S. Eliot identifies the force against which the social struggle is waged. In the first case, we can speak about the King who tries to submit the main character to his will. In turn, In A Raisin in the Sun one can speak mostly about social order.

Characterization in both Plays

Murder in the Cathedral and the use characterization.

Eliot prefers implicit or indirect characterization in order to portray the personal traits of Thomas Becket. There are virtually no direct comments of the author regarding the behavior of this character. The readers can imagine this person judging from:

1. His conversation with the so-called tempters and especially his rejection of their offers;
2. His defiance of the knights;
3. His behavior in the face of danger.

Perhaps the most remarkable characterization is his response to one of the tempters when he refuses to “do the right deed for the wrong reason” (Eliot, 1964. p. 44). So, one can deduce that he prefers a passive form of resistance or social struggle.

The use of Characterization by Lorrain Hansberry

The readers of A Raisin In The Sun are also prompted to make their own conclusions about the inner world of the main characters. In some cases, Lorrain Hansberry tells us something about the characters, for particular:

1. Their social expectations and disappointment. For instance, the author tells us that Ruth is disappointed with something, but the readers cannot determine for sure what disturbs her (Hansberry, 2004, p 24).
2. The economic well-being. At the very beginning of the play, Lorraine Hansberry provides a very detailed description of the house.
3. Nonetheless, in the majority of cases, Lorrain Hansberry avoid direct characterization of characters.

The use of characterization in both plays

Both writers give preference to in-direct or implicit characterizations.

Yet, this literary element serves different purposes. Eliot uses it to show that:

1. Thomas Becket values humility and prefers passive form of social struggle;
2. The character is not prepared to do the right things for immoral causes.

In contrast Lorraine Hansberry uses this device in order to explain why her characters are ready to wage social struggle.

1. Dissatisfaction with existing social order;
2. Ambition;
3. Poverty.

The Symbolism of the Two Play

Murder in the Cathedral is full of various signs or symbols which are supposed to have purely allegorical meaning. They can be viewed as allusions to other literary works. Among them we can single out the following.

1. Eliot’s use of chorus which tells us about the forthcoming danger to the archbishop. To some extent, this is an allusion to ancient Greek tragedies, for example Oedipus the King by Sophocles.
2. The tempters who prompt Thomas Becket to act in this or that way. To a large these characters are references to the Gospels by Mark, Luke, or Mathew, especially the moment when Satan tempted Jesus.

The use of Symbols in Eliot’s Play

Eliot’s use of these symbols indicates at the following things:

1. First, the main character does not accept the idea of using violence against violence.
2. Secondly, he does tolerate the idea of cruelty or any other immorality even if it can protect him from imminent threat.
3. This person is virtually doomed to be killed by the state.

Symbols in A Raisin in the Sun

Lorrain Hansberry does not heavily rely on the use of symbols. However, one should not forget that the house which Mama intends to buy can symbolize economic prosperity and stability. It was of the crucial importance for many African-American families of that period since they could hardly afford it. To a great extent, the symbolic meaning of this house implies the following things:

1. Economic prosperity;
2. The unity of the family which is of the crucial importance for Mama;
3. Social status.

Symbolism

• T.S. Eliot relies on the symbols which are derived from biblical or ancient Greek texts.
• Lorraine Hansberry constructs symbols which are based on her personal experience.
• Eliot uses symbols to demonstrate that social struggle is the only way to oppose dictatorial regimes.
• The author of A Raisin in the Sun uses them to illustrate the aspirations of people who have long been at a disadvantage.

The relation of the play to the social struggle of the author

Thomas Eliot

It should be noted that Murder in the Cathedral was first published and produced in 1935. At that time, the states in European countries began to dominate the private life of individuals. It is particularly relevant if we speak about such countries as German, Austria, Italy, and so forth. Murder in the Cathedral represents three issues which very relevant to the author.

1. The rise of totalitarian dictatorships;
2. Their attempts to use church as a means of propaganda;
3. Unwillingness of many people to oppose them.

Lorraine Hansberry and Her Struggle

The play A Raisin in the Sun reflects several aspects of Lorraine Hansberry’s social struggle. It was related to the following aspect:

1. The struggle of African American people for the rights in the community.
2. Their fight against racial prejudices.
3. Lack of understanding from other people.
4. Economic inequality.

The authors’ social struggle

Thus, it is possible to say both authors were not indifferent toward social struggle. The key differences between them lie in the following:

1. T.S. Eliot opposes the regime which gradually begins to take control over every aspect of social life. The passive resistance of Thomas Becket closely resembles the situation of Europe in the early thirties. At that point, many people were aware that fascism could threaten the lives of many people. Yet, very few took some active measures to oppose them.
2. Lorraine Hansberry’s opposes the existing social structure and opinions. So, her struggle is much more difficult.

Conclusion

Such theme as social struggles plays a crucial role in both of these plays. T.S. Eliot’s Murder in the Cathedral explores the rise of the state which strives to subdue an individual. The struggle or resistance described by the author can be characterized as passive.

In her turn, Lorraine Hansberry shows how an African-American family tries to overcome financial and social inequalities.

Reference List

Eliot, T. S. (1951). Dialogue on Dramatic Poetry in Selected Essays. UK: Faber and Faber.

Eliot, T. S. (1964). Murder in the Cathedral. California: Harcourt Brace.

Hansberry, L. (2004). A Raisin in the Sun. New York: Vintage Books.