I agree with David Mamet's statement that Carol and John are "both altogether right and altogether wrong". I can see how he can relate to John from a teachers perspective as well as from the standpoint as a man communicating to a woman. John is in a position of an authoritative figure and crossing that teacher-student boundary proved to be very detrimental to him in the end. Carol, on the other hand, had what would appear to be good intentions to approach her teacher with legitimate questions regarding her coursework in John's class. Although upon her entrance into the debacle with her teacher she begins to pry in to his private affairs and use this information to harm him later. .
In the beginning of their tumultuous conversations Carol appears to come into this discussion defensive. She doesn't feel confident about her ability to learn in John's class. Carol tries to explain to John what she is confused about. Carol says, "I"m just: I sit in class,,,(She holds up her notebook.) I take notes I I"m doing what I"m told. I bought your book, I read your No,no,no. I"m doing what I"m told. It's difficult for me. It's difficult - (Mamet 6) John proceeds to tell her how she feels instead of teaching her what she is having difficulty grasping. She appears to attempt to begin to discuss what she is doing and look for where she can improve, so I believe this is where Carol is altogether right. John seems to want to help her although with out attempting to understand where she is coming from. He appears to provide her a quick fix for her problem with his class as well as cross a major line in their teacher-student relationship. John says, I"ll make you a deal. You stay here. We"ll start the whole course over. I"m going to say it was not you but I who was not paying attention. We"ll start the whole course over. Your grade is an "A". Your final grade is an "A."" (25) John proceeds to speak to her as if he was her friend or more.
Oleanna Oleanna is a movie about a young college girl named Carol confronting her older male professor named John about understanding his class and his book that he wrote. Carol is failing the class, she goes to his office to try and get her grade improved but while they talk they are continually ...
Whether Oleanna is a misogynistic play, can be argued either way. It depends on which point of view one sees it from. The play portrays Carol, a woman, as a manipulative character lacking any positive qualities. She is portrayed as a feminist that is out to get her "sexist" teacher, John. Howeve...
In Glengarry Glen Ross, Speed-the-Plow, and Oleanna, Mamet retains a central theme: if men did not have to deal with women, business could operate unhindered. ... Mamet's theme of women being the monkey wrench in the works of American business appears in Glengarry Glen Ross, though in a more subdued form than in either Speed-the-Plow or Oleanna. ... However, the male protagonist in Oleanna would not be so lucky. ... John then tries to relate to Carol as equals, to "take of the Artificial Stricture, of Teacher, and Student' [ ]- (Oleanna 21). ... Indeed, at Oleanna's premi...
Oleanna, a two-hander play, is set in a college professor's office. The professor, John, is only partly interested in his students. He has tenure and a new house on his mind. The student, Carol is not that bright and can"t understand his course. John tries to help her. But Carol takes the expression...
The main introduction in this essay is to point out the different character's personality, the internal and external issues and what causes the conflicts between them. Bringing out the violence that occur in the characters environment. Both the external and internal conflicts are going to be analyze...
Literature can create a large impact by expressing ideas and truths into society. Because of the fast-paced world we live in today, many people don't have time to sit and read for large amounts of time, so that's where the media fits in. There are always books and plays being made into movies, and...
Cate Blanchett has whirl-winded into Hollywood, stealing the hearts of most of us and leaving us struck with awe. Since her multi award-winning role in Elizabeth, (directed by Shekhar Kapur) in 1998, she has become a household name,and the roles just keep on coming. Blanchett's newest film, The Ship...
What is a play? Is it simply a novel acted out on stage? Is it a movie performed live? Many people would think so but that is because true theater is sometimes lost due to the extravagance of the Broadway musical. A play is much more of its own art and can not be so closely compared to film or other forms of literature. ...