Interpreting the play Man and nature Man and society Universal theme of an abstract nature Family relationship Special family relationships

Interpreting the play When we analyze a play we are not merely concerned with the functioning of its various necessary components such as action, characters, structure, and pattern of imagery. When we interpret a play for the first time, it helps to keep in mind certain basic human relationships which playwrights are apt to explore.

Man and Nature Most playwrights explore the relationship between man and natural world in one way or another; obviously some plays do not really touch on this relationship at all. Let us remember that some plays will stress the benevolent or mutually beneficial relationship between man and nature.

Man and society While it is given assumption that all playwrights of any significance have something to say about man, the other half of thematic equation changes. Thus many plays address themselves to the nature of the relationship between man and society.

Man and society Sometimes this is done in timeless, universal terms—stating, for example, that man always has, presently does, and always will hate society because it restricts his freedom of personal action. Other times the theme will be more timely; the playwright will direct our attention to the relationship between man and the particular contemporary society in which the playwright and audience presently live.

Universal themes of an abstract nature The relationships between man and society and between man and nature can be discussed in fairly concrete terms; other themes are more abstract and our interpretations of them are also therefore more abstract. It is difficult to discuss death as a theme in anything other than abstract terms. Death is of course not the only universal theme of an abstract nature. We can interpret plays having to do with freedom, morality, love etc.

Family and relationships There are countless plays that are aimed at the delineation of common human relationships, particularly those between particular members of particular families. There are certain universal patterns of family relationships such as the harmfully possessive mother, the jealous brother etc…and our interpretation of a play can be made more accurate often simply by considering whether or not a particular family relationship is typical or highly different

Special family relationships There are some themes which only concern themselves with very special family relationships. Incest, for example, is an atypical dramatic problem. A play dealing with incest and delineating a theme having to do with that incest is immediately a special kind of play.