4,000... Whaddayacallit

A motif I noticed in the play 4000 Miles by Amy Herzog was the use of the word "whaddayacallit". Vera used this word in almost every other line when she was trying to remember something. This phrase showed Vera's old age but to me it also tied together the whole story. In the beginning she and Leo are almost like strangers. They haven't seen in each other in a long time when he stops at her place. Leo, in the first couple of scenes, is keen on leaving and not staying there to long. As you move from scene to scene, he is still there and hasn't left yet. The word "whaddayacallit" also never left. She used it when they had their first encounter and she used it in the last scene with Leo before going to her neighbor's funeral. I almost want to say I feel that the use of the word whaddayacallit so many times was to take a pause and create a pause in Leo's life. I can't explain it but it is just my feeling. 

- I

Lies vs. Love

The MDQ for Judith is very tricky. 
As I was reading the play I was thinking the MDQ was " Why is Judith killing Holofernes". To me that's a very acceptable MDQ though we kind of know the answer to it. I think the Major Dramatic Question is "Did Judith accomplish her goals?" I don't think Judith's only goal was to kill Holofernes. I think that this question is a yes or no question, is interesting and is answered before the play ends. 


- I

Mothers Worst Nightmare !

I do not agree with the MDQ for Night Mother!!

To me the MDQ is "Why does Jesse want to kill herself?"

I chose this as the Major Dramatic Question because this is what the play is about. Though this question does not get answered in a straight forward way before the play ends, this is what the plot revolves around. I don't agree with the first MDQ because it is answered throughout the entire script. Jesse continually says she is going to kill herself. That is the most interesting part to me. As readers, with feelings and emotions, we quickly assume she won't do it. Yeah, she keeps saying she will but after this talk with her mom she won't. Night Mother played on emotions and pure belief. Why does Jesse want to kill herself is a more interesting MDQ. Her killing herself completely became less important to me throughout the script because she repeatedly spoke of doing it.

- I

Trifles Trifles

I thought the play Trifles was interesting due to the simple fact that Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters chose not to turn Mrs. Wright in. Being able to relate to someone and put yourself in their shoes can trigger a powerful emotion in everyone. Mrs Hale was able to understand what Mrs.Wright's life was like and in return she felt sorry. I think this play highlights how and why the truth can be covered but it also shows a contrast to my previous post about Overtones. These women stuck together and did not want to see Mrs. Wright, a woman just like them, suffer even though killing is against the law. Thats the power of feeling someone else's pain. It will change the way you look at them.

- I

Overtones..

I think as humans the one thing that thats true for us all is the battle we sometimes have with our inner self. Overtones is a play just about that. Two women, Margaret and Harriet, have a pleasant visit with each other over tea. As the two talk they are lying to each other, trying to make each other jealous. As they have a conversation, their inner selves Maggie and Hetty are saying how they truly feel on the inside. Yes, this play clearly describes how women are fake and try to be something they are not but I believe this play represents humankind. It is relatable to by everyone.

- I