Year 12 English Literature students enjoyed a trip to the Rose Theatre, Kingston, where they saw a production of Arthur miller’s ‘A View from the Bridge’. This iconic example of American theatre will be useful in adding some context to their study of the more contemporary and less-known examination text, Sweat. The key themes of work, the pursuit of the American Dream and the lives of the common man are evident in both, and very much at the heart of American contemporary drama. The Year 12s were mesmerised and left reeling by the dramatic impact of a play that explores that the intensity of tragedy is not just reserved for kings, princes and the nobility.
“I found A View From The Bridge very helpful in understanding the characters in the play we are currently studying, Sweat. The main character Eddie is very similar to one of the central characters in Sweat - Tracey. Both characters feel a sense of ownership over their position in
society and begin to spiral when they begin to lose this position. Both Eddie and Tracey use prejudice as a scapegoat for their insecurities, Eddie calling the immigration office as a last resort and Tracey blaming race for her promotion and job loss. However, both characters are presented as characters the audience should sympathise with, as the audience watches their journey and how they did not originally set out to be hateful people, but the positions they were put in made them desperate.”
~ Sophie A
Credit: The Other Richard
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