Comparative: Theme Sample Answer

2011: Theme Q.1 “A reader’s view of a theme or issue can be either changed or reinforced through interaction with texts.” Compare the extent to which your understanding of a theme or issue was changed or reinforced through your interaction with at least two texts on your comparative course.

State the theme or issue Sample Essay: Intro Name my three texts I agree that a reader’s point of view can be affected through interaction with texts. The texts that I have studied are ‘The Plough and the Stars’ (PS) by Sean O’Casey, ‘The King’s Speech’ (TKS) by Tom Hooper and 1984 by George Orwell. All three of these texts deal with the issue of politics. Before studying these texts I was aware of the immense power a political regime can exert on its people and this was definitely reinforced through my study of the comparative. However, I’m not sure if I really grasped the complexity of different political regimes or what can be learned from them. My understanding of politics was broadened by the different representations of political power and its effect on the character’s lives in my chosen texts. State the theme or issue Deal with the Q: was my opinion changed or reinforced? I state my previous opinion and explain how it was reinforced.

Sample Essay: Point One From my knowledge of current events and history I was certainly aware that a political regime can have a huge effect on people’s lives and this was reinforced through my study of PS. The play is set in 1916 Ireland which is under British rule. While the Irish Nationalists fight for freedom against the British, normal people suffer the consequences of a politically unstable homeland. The characters live in poverty, struggling for food, shelter and any level of privacy. Characters such as the seriously ill Mollser and Rosie Redmond, forced to prostitute herself to survive, drove home to me how seriously a person’s life can be affected by the political regime they are subject to. Like PS, TKS also showed me how politics can influence a person’s life and decisions. Although TKS deals with those inside the political system rather than the masses, it too revealed a lack of control in the face of politics. Unlike PS, TKS is set in 1930’s Britain and we do not see the same level of poverty. However, like PS, it is a time of political uncertainty as World War II looms and a monarch has abdicated the throne. Bertie’s life, like the lives of Jack, Nora and so many others, is forever changed by the political situation he finds himself in. Bertie is forced to take on the huge responsibility of the crown and the pressure to inspire his people despite his speech impediment. However, while the effect politics has on people’s lives in PS is largely negative, in TKS we see Bertie rise beautifully to the occasion. It reminded me that politics can encourage people to be courageous. This is something I also felt when reading 1984. Unlike PS and TKS, 1984 does not deal with a real historical past but rather a dystopian future. In the world of the text there is a total lack of control or freedom for the characters, which is somewhat similar to PS. Like Bertie, Winston shows a tremendous level of bravery in his desire to fight against the brutal Party. Forced to live in poverty and fear, as in PS, Winston and Julia make small but courageous rebellions against the controlling political regime. However, unlike Bertie’s triumph, we do not see Winston overcome his obstacles. The Party, in the form of O’Brien, crushes his rebellion and ultimately destroys his spirit, leaving him another helpless victim of an unfeeling political regime. Whether for good or evil, these texts reinforced my belief that a political system can heavily influence peoples’ lives.

Sample Essay: Point One From my knowledge of current events and history I was certainly aware that a political regime can have a huge effect on people’s lives and this was reinforced through my study of PS. The play is set in 1916 Ireland which is under British rule. While the Irish Nationalists fight for freedom against the British, normal people suffer the consequences of a politically unstable homeland. The characters live in poverty, struggling for food, shelter and any level of privacy. Characters such as the seriously ill Mollser and Rosie Redmond, forced to prostitute herself to survive, drove home to me how seriously a person’s life can be affected by the political regime they are subject to. Like PS, TKS also showed me how politics can influence a person’s life and decisions. Although TKS deals with those inside the political system rather than the masses, it too revealed a lack of control in the face of politics. Unlike PS, TKS is set in 1930’s Britain and we do not see the same level of poverty. However, like PS, it is a time of political uncertainty as World War II looms and a monarch has abdicated the throne. Bertie’s life, like the lives of Jack, Nora and so many others, is forever changed by the political situation he finds himself in. Bertie is forced to take on the huge responsibility of the crown and the pressure to inspire his people despite his speech impediment. However, while the effect politics has on people’s lives in PS is largely negative, in TKS we see Bertie rise beautifully to the occasion. It reminded me that politics can encourage people to be courageous. This is something I also felt when reading 1984. Unlike PS and TKS, 1984 does not deal with a real historical past but rather a dystopian future. In the world of the text there is a total lack of control or freedom for the characters, which is somewhat similar to PS. Like Bertie, Winston shows a tremendous level of bravery in his desire to fight against the brutal Party. Forced to live in poverty and fear, as in PS, Winston and Julia make small but courageous rebellions against the controlling political regime. However, unlike Bertie’s triumph, we do not see Winston overcome his obstacles. The Party, in the form of O’Brien, crushes his rebellion and ultimately destroys his spirit, leaving him another helpless victim of an unfeeling political regime. Whether for good or evil, these texts reinforced my belief that a political system can heavily influence peoples’ lives.

Sample Essay: Point 2 Studying these three texts truly strengthened by belief that political regimes can not only influence people’s live but also their relationships with those closest to them. In my three texts characters and their relationships with one another are explored in relation to their conflicting attitudes towards politics. In PS, Jack’s character is defined by his political activism. He is determined to fight and willing to die for the cause. This obviously puts a huge strain on his relationship with Nora, who places her family as a higher priority than the fight for freedom. Nora also recognises her husband’s desire to join the Nationalists is one of vanity rather than principle. The opposing political ideals of Jack and Nora tear them apart, resulting in Jack’s death and Nora’s insanity. This destruction of an important relationship due to politics is also evident in TKS. David shirks his political responsibilities and is shown to be weak and irresponsible. Bertie is willing to take on the political obligation but unlike Jack, he does it for selfless reasons rather than his own ego. However, like PS, TKS shows us a relationship which will never fully recover. When Bertie finally gives his famous speech, he is surrounded by his family, his subjects and Lionel while David is shown isolated and alone with Wallis. Though the destruction of their relationship may not have been as harrowing as that of Jack and Nora’s, it did drive home to me how politics can come between a family. Like Jack, Winston in 1984 is also defined by his determination to rebel against the existing political regime. However, unlike Jack and Nora, Winston’s relationship with Julia is strengthened by their similar attitude to politics – their mutual hatred of the Party. For a time at least they are more similar to Bertie and Elizabeth, united by a single cause. However, much like PS, their relationship cannot survive under the intense pressure of Party control. Not only is their relationship torn apart by the end of the novel, but Winston’s time with O’Brien means he eventually feels nothing for Julia. While this lacked the tragedy of Nora’s heartbreak, it still reinforced my belief that there is no area of life that politics cannot effect.

Sample Essay: Point 2 Studying these three texts truly strengthened by belief that political regimes can not only influence people’s live but also their relationships with those closest to them. In my three texts characters and their relationships with one another are explored in relation to their conflicting attitudes towards politics. In PS, Jack’s character is defined by his political activism. He is determined to fight and willing to die for the cause. This obviously puts a huge strain on his relationship with Nora, who places her family as a higher priority than the fight for freedom. Nora also recognises her husband’s desire to join the Nationalists is one of vanity rather than principle. The opposing political ideals of Jack and Nora tear them apart, resulting in Jack’s death and Nora’s insanity. This destruction of an important relationship due to politics is also evident in TKS. David shirks his political responsibilities and is shown to be weak and irresponsible. Bertie is willing to take on the political obligation but unlike Jack, he does it for selfless reasons rather than his own ego. However, like PS, TKS shows us a relationship which will never fully recover. When Bertie finally gives his famous speech, he is surrounded by his family, his subjects and Lionel while David is shown isolated and alone with Wallis. Though the destruction of their relationship may not have been as harrowing as that of Jack and Nora’s, it did drive home to me how politics can come between a family. Like Jack, Winston in 1984 is also defined by his determination to rebel against the existing political regime. However, unlike Jack and Nora, Winston’s relationship with Julia is strengthened by their similar attitude to politics – their mutual hatred of the Party. For a time at least they are more similar to Bertie and Elizabeth, united by a single cause. However, much like PS, their relationship cannot survive under the intense pressure of Party control. Not only is their relationship torn apart by the end of the novel, but Winston’s time with O’Brien means he eventually feels nothing for Julia. While this lacked the tragedy of Nora’s heartbreak, it still reinforced my belief that there is no area of life that politics cannot effect.

Sample Essay: Point 3 Though I was definitely aware of the power of politics before studying these texts, they made me better realise the extent to which a political regime can act as a force for good or as a destructive power system. In PS the political system is shown to be destructive. Not only is Jack and Nora’s relationship destroyed but by the end of the play innocent Mollser and brave Bessie are both dead and the remaining characters live in constant danger. Oppressive British rule and the Irish Nationalist reaction to it have brought war, poverty and destruction to the Irish people. This is in total contrast to the political regime in TKS which is portrayed as a force for good. The importance of the monarch to the people is constantly stressed and, just as Jack abandoned Nora, David is painted as having abandoned his people in their time of need. While no political voice can be truly trusted in PS, in TKS the significance of Bertie’s role is highlighted in the pressure placed upon his to communicate effectively with his people. In PS we are forced to question if the war our characters endure is worth the hardship, whereas in TKS war is acknowledged as a necessary evil in the fight for good. Just as the Voice of the Man rallies the men in PS, the monarch plays a key role in inspiring and supporting the British people. TKS strengthened my belief that political leaders can use their power for good. This feeling was not echoed in 1984 where the controlling totalitarian Party are shown to be ruthless and destructive. Though much more extreme, 1984 reminded me of PS, as characters are oppressed and suffer under constant surveillance from the Thought Police. While in TKS the British fight for freedom from tyranny, in 1984 the political system is designed to benefit the chosen few and subjugate the rest. Winston and Julia, like the characters in PS, are forced to live in poverty and in fear of their own thoughts. Though I don’t think the political system was deliberately as destructive in PS as in 1984, both regimes confirmed my view that that politics can shape a nation in a very damaging way.

Sample Essay: Point 3 Though I was definitely aware of the power of politics before studying these texts, they made me better realise the extent to which a political regime can act as a force for good or as a destructive power system. In PS the political system is shown to be destructive. Not only is Jack and Nora’s relationship destroyed but by the end of the play innocent Mollser and brave Bessie are both dead and the remaining characters live in constant danger. Oppressive British rule and the Irish Nationalist reaction to it have brought war, poverty and destruction to the Irish people. This is in total contrast to the political regime in TKS which is portrayed as a force for good. The importance of the monarch to the people is constantly stressed and, just as Jack abandoned Nora, David is painted as having abandoned his people in their time of need. While no political voice can be truly trusted in PS, in TKS the significance of Bertie’s role is highlighted in the pressure placed upon his to communicate effectively with his people. In PS we are forced to question if the war our characters endure is worth the hardship, whereas in TKS war is acknowledged as a necessary evil in the fight for good. Just as the Voice of the Man rallies the men in PS, the monarch plays a key role in inspiring and supporting the British people. TKS strengthened my belief that political leaders can use their power for good. This feeling was not echoed in 1984 where the controlling totalitarian Party are shown to be ruthless and destructive. Though much more extreme, 1984 reminded me of PS, as characters are oppressed and suffer under constant surveillance from the Thought Police. While in TKS the British fight for freedom from tyranny, in 1984 the political system is designed to benefit the chosen few and subjugate the rest. Winston and Julia, like the characters in PS, are forced to live in poverty and in fear of their own thoughts. Though I don’t think the political system was deliberately as destructive in PS as in 1984, both regimes confirmed my view that that politics can shape a nation in a very damaging way.