Benha University

Faculty of Arts
Department of English Language and Literature.

Power and Race: A Critical Study in David Mamet’s Selected Plays

A Thesis
Submitted in Fulfilment of the Requirements for the Master's Degree in Literature

By

Abdullah Abbas Abdel-Kader Salem

Supervised by

Prof. Sherine M. El Shoura Dr. Weal M. Abdel-Hakam

Associate Professor of English Literature Lecturer in English Literature

Faculty of Arts Faculty of Arts
Benha University Benha University

2019
 Abstract

This thesis discusses the critical theories of Power and Race in two selected plays by

David Mamet: Race and Oleanna. The researcher attempts to delve deeply into the

critical sides of these plays thematically and technically. Mamet is one of the most

famous playwrights who tackle important social issues relevant to the American

individual and society. In Race Mamet highlights the dark side of racism which is still

prevalent in the American society. This racism takes different forms: ethnic racism

between black and white, gender racism between men and women and also social status

racism between rich and poor people. In Oleanna, Mamet exposes thorny issues such as

political correctness, harassment, language power change but the one to be highlighted

here most is misuse of power.

This thesis also tackles some of the Mamet’s techniques make his plays unique in both

form and style. These techniques make his plays very attractive to the readers and the

audiences. Mamet by tackling these kinds of issues and the techniques he becomes as an

icon of modern drama in America and the world, He always under the microscope of the

critics. Therefore, drama is not only written a word in plays but for many dramatists is the

weapon they use to change and improve societies as Mamet advocates in his most

writings.
 Acknowledgements

I would like to express my appreciation, veneration and estimation to all my dear

professors who have extended their hands and supported me in accomplishing my thesis.
 Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION……………….………………………………………………………1

1. CHAPTER ONE…...…………………………………...……………………………8

1.1. Theory of Race………..... …..…………………………….................................10

1.2 Theory of power ……………..……………………….………………………… 13

2. CHAPTER TWO: Racism and American society in Race……………………….15

2.1 Introduction, Background and Main characters of Race…………...………..…..18

2.2 How Characters Mirror Racism in Race……….………………………….……..19

2.3 Obama and Racism………………………………….………………………...…31

2.4 Gender Racism…………...………………………………………………………33

2.5 Repercussion of Race…………………………………..……………………….. 38

2.6 Techniques in Race…………………………………..………………………..... 40

3. CHAPTER THREE: The Misuse of Power in Oleanna……………………...…. 53

3.1 Language power shifts as a result of power misuse………………...……………59

3.2 Gender relation and misuse of power……………………………………………64

3.3 Political correctness in Oleanna…………………………………………………67

3.4 Techniques in Oleanna…………………………….……………...……………..70

Conclusion ………………………………………………………………………...……79

References ………………………………………………………………….…………..8
 INTRODUCTION

Modern drama plays an important role in our today life, it focuses on topic of the

moment; the daily life of the common people becomes it main concern. It mixes both

tragedy and comedy in one work to help in give a clear picture of the bad cases the

individuals faces in the societies.

Modern drama is used to investigate different issues: social, mundane, psychological,

physical and even materialistic events. Nowadays, people find solace in drama to shed

lights on the negative sides of their societies and present constructive solutions to them.

The researcher discusses this significant role drama played in the life of people,

particularly American drama, through the discussing some of Mamet’s plays: Race and

Olenaan

Modern American drama plays an important role in English literature. It becomes

famous at the hands of many writers like Millar, Tennessee Williams, Eugene O’Neill

and David Mamet. These dramatists devoted their works to address different themes that

concerned the American society. The current thesis shades its lights in one of the most

contemporary genius American dramatist is Mamet.

Mamet always dedicates his writing to address all important issues of the American

society and American individual. He believes that

A stage play is basically a form of uber-schizophrenia. You spilt yourself into two

minds – one being the protagonist and the other being the antagonist. The

playwright also splits himself into two minds: the mind of the writer and the mind

of the audience (David Mamet, quotes).

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 This pinpoints the importance of drama. Mamet’s plays left a great impact on the

American audiences, because these plays expose very delicate issues that have a great

effect on the audience’s minds “Mamet's 2009 drama Race, we meet several caustic

characters, all of whom will leave the audience with something to think about as well as

something to argue about” (Wade: n.p.)

Mamet is a multitalented writer and director has been recognized for his work as

playwright, screenwriter, essayist, director and novelist… Recently Mamet has been

recognized as creator, producer, and writer of the acclaimed television series The Unite.

In these and his many other works, Mamet is noted for his distinctive style, often

described as sparse, almost minimalist prose (Henderson, et al. P. 845).

Mamet began writing plays while attending Goddard College, Plainfield, Vermont

(B.A. 1969). Returning to Chicago, where many of his plays were first staged, he worked

at various factory jobs, at a real-estate agency, and as a taxi driver; all these experiences

provided background for his plays. In 1973 he cofounded a theatre company in Chicago.

He also taught drama at several American colleges and universities. Mamet’s early plays

include Duck Variations 1972, in which two elderly Jewish men sit on a park bench and

trade misinformation on various subjects. American Buffalo 1975; film 1996) concerns

dishonest business practices; A Life in the Theatre 1977) explores the teacher-student

relationship; and Speed-the-Plow 1988 is a black comedy about avaricious Hollywood

scriptwriters, Glengarry Glen Ross 1983 Film 1992. A drama of desperate real-estate

salesmen, won the 1984 Pulitzer Prize for drama. Oleanna 1992; film 1994 probes the

definition of sexual harassment through the interactions between a professor and his

female student. Mamet attempted to address the accusations of chauvinism frequently

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directed at his work with Boston Marriage 1999, a drawing-room comedy about two

lesbians. Dr. Faustus 2004 puts a contemporary spin on the German Faust legend, and

Romance 2005 comically skewers the prejudices of a Jewish man and his Protestant

lawyer. Later plays include November 2008, a farcical portrait of a U.S. president running

for reelection; Race 2009, a legal drama that explores racial attitudes and tensions; and

The Anarchist 2012, which depicts a charged meeting between a women’s prison official

and an inmate seeking parole. In all these works, Mamet used the rhythms and rhetoric of

everyday speech to delineate character, describe intricate relationships, and drive

dramatic development (Susan. P. 173).

The researcher selects David Mamet for the following reasons:

(a) Mamet is always being realistic in his discussion of all critical issues. When

you read his plays, you will find them full of make-believe, they addressing the

daily life of the individual.

(b) Mamet is always honest; he has no hesitation to talk about racism and racists

white American, although he is white American, He has written many plays in

which he detracts American social discrimination and segregation such as

American Buffalo, Speed-the-Plow, Race and Oleanna.

(c) Mamet is a very genius writer; his techniques are direct and simple. One feels

interested in reading or watching his plays and he always avoids complexity.

(d) Mamet earns his fame as the writer of modernity due to the fact that most of

his plays delve deeply in all sensitive and controversial issues which representing

topic of the day to the American people.

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 (e) Mamet coins his own style, where he mixes realism with humanism, so it is

now known by “Mamet’s Style”.

(f) Mamet’s writings focus on the misery of all deprived, oppressed and down-

trodden people of the middle-class.

These reasons and many others make Mamet’s plays attractive and emotive. These

plays have become a solace to the American readers and audiences; because they are a

mouthpiece of their inner feelings. Mamet’s plays have become a source to many

literature researches in America and out of America.

David Mamet is an expert perturber. Within ninety minutes he unnerves his audience,

giving couples something to argue about on the way home. I've listened to supposed soul

mates debate to the verge of relationship meltdown, all because of the sexual harassment

issues presented in Mamet's play, Oleanna. (Wade: n.p.)

The purpose of this thesis is to apply the critical theories of power and race, and

discuss the themes and techniques which Mamet uses in his two plays Race and Oleanna.

The researcher attempts to highlight how Mamet devotes his writings to criticize the

negative issues of the American society and their bad impact. The researcher applies two

critical theories (Race and Power) on both plays, and then discussion of different literary

techniques adopted in both plays. Also explains the importance of these techniques in

creating realism. In Race the researcher discusses the theme of racism (ethnic, gender

racism, and statues racism) in the American society, the impact of money on some

people when they gain power and dominance over others.

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 Oleanna, discussing what is the meaning of misuse of power and its dangerous role

in creating discrimination within American society. Misuse of power is available in all

sides of life (home, job, life relations…) but this play dwells upon misuse of power in

campus; between a male professor and his female student. The researcher exposes the

effect of this misuse of power which has led to language power change, gender relation

and political correctness. Then he follows the role of the techniques and how occupies a

significant place here by Mamet.

In general, the researcher focuses on discusses two critical theories – Race and

Power, and applying these two critical theories in two plays of the American noted

playwright Mamet: Race and Oleanna. The researcher conducts an analytical study of

literary techniques employed by the writer.

As the researcher discuss the character of Mamet and how he is a very effective writer

in the modern American drama, and always exposes a very sensitive issue, dwelling upon

the suffering of American society and individual. These two plays are dramatic message

seeking to make change and improvement. This is the substantial purpose of this thesis.

So Mamet and the researcher have the same goal both wants to represent how drama

always carries human suffering and find the way to make changes and improvements.

Mamet in Race and Oleanna discuss how these issues racism and misuse of power are

very dangerous and threatening the peace and safety of the American society and all

societies. Also, the researcher, by answering the following questions, wants to put his

fingerprint and associates Mamet in makes changing:

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1. What is the meaning of racism and power as critical theories?

2. What are the different kinds of racism?

3. Are racism and misuse of power destroying issues of the American society?

4. What the other critics view of these issues? And are they with or against with

Mamet?

5. Was Mamet selfish in discussing of these issues or join the audiences by the

techniques he used to get solutions?

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 CHAPTER ONE

Theories of Race and Power

Literary criticism or critical study is the study, discussing, evaluation and

interpretation of all literary works. Literary criticism or critical study has traditionally

been regarded as the analysis, interpretation and evaluation of literary work: it does not

mean finding fault with. Criticism as an academic activity expresses the reader’s sense of

what is happening in the text. (John and Martin p. 177)

There are many critical theories and critical schools in literature study such as

Feminism, psychoanalysis, Formalism reader-response, Power and Race. Each one of

these theories has its own features and purposes. Race and power are two of the most

modern critical theories in literature. These two theories are dedicated to tackle all

sociocultural issues like (racism, misuse of power, gander relation, harassment,

corruption and so on).This chapter highlights the critical theories of Race and Power

according to different sources and writers. The study discusses these two theories in

Mamet’s: Race and Oleanna.

2.1 Theory of Race

Racism is a phenomenon that had appeared in 16th century during the era of

colonization. In order to take over the rule and control the colonized people, colonizing

countries resorted to discrimination between people as per their color, race, religion and

language. This discrimination is the right meaning racism. Racism has become a rampant

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stigma across many world countries. As a result, racism has led to the emergence of

slavery, serfdom, inequality, social injustice and segregation between whiteness and

blackness. Critical Race theory therefore, deals with race and racism. It exposes the

negative aspects of this phenomenon. So there are many different definitions of critical

theory of Race (CRT) letdown by several critics.

Critical race theory (CRT) is an academic discipline which maintains that society is

divided along racial line into white “oppressors” and black “victims” similar to Marxism.

A movement that takes a look at race, racism and power, to understand it and to

transform the relationship, CRT works towards the elimination of oppression in all forms:

race, class, gender, power, and knowledge. Basically critical race theory is away with

deal with race issues, Race categories that society has made up, deploys and retires when

convenient. Racial inequality comes from social, economic and legal differences that

white people have created between “races” which has a hand in all decision made by the

courts and legislation for example in U.S.A law and polices are biased against people of

color and work to their disadvantage. (Derrick. P. 222)

Bell also says that Black people’s struggle for freedom, justice, and dignity is as old as

this nation…. In spite of dramatic civil rights movements and periodic victories in the

legislatures, black Americans by no means are equal to whites. Racial equality is, in fact,

not a realistic goal. By constantly aiming for a status that is unobtainable in a perilously

racist America, black Americans face frustration and despair. Over time, our persistent

quest for integration has hardened into self-defeating rigidity. Black people need reform

8
of our civil rights strategies as badly as those in the law needed a new way to consider

American. (Delgado &Jean. pp. 73-77)

Critical Race theory argues that Whiteness is constructed in this society as the absence

of the “contaminating” influence of blackness. Thus, “one drop of black blood”

constructs one as black, regardless of phenotypic markers. In schooling, the absolute right

to exclude was demonstrated initially by denying blacks access to schooling altogether.

Legally, whites can use and enjoy the privileges of whiteness. As McIntosh has explicitly

demonstrated, whiteness allows for specific social, cultural, and economic privileges.

Fuller further asserts that whiteness is both performativity and pleasurable. In the school

setting, whiteness allows for extensive use of school property. Kozol’s description of the

material differences in two New York City schools can be interpreted as the difference

between those who possess the right to use and enjoy what schools can offer and those

who do not. (Gloria. Et al. p. 60)

Races are defined as populations differing in the incidence of certain genes but

actually exchanging or potentially able to exchange genes across the boundary (usually

geographic) that separates them. (Theodosius. P.13)

Race is best understood by theorizing about ‘difference’ and ‘othering’. In fact, “the

construction of difference” and the “process of assigning value to difference” are central

to the understanding not only of racism, but many other forms of oppressive beliefs.

(Rothenberg, in Harris. P. 281).

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 The researcher believes that a critical race theory (CRT) can be defined as a group of

people “white people” have a fixed idea in their minds. This idea says that they are the

first and the best people on the earth and other creatures created to serve them. Hence, the

critical race theory CRT is a theoretical and interpretive mode that examines the

appearance of race and racism across dominant cultural modes of expression. In adopting

this approach, CRT scholars attempt to understand how victims of systemic racism are

affected by culture perceptions of race and how they are able to represent themselves to

counter prejudice. The race and racism can be in all countries, societies and communities,

in different ways and forms, Ethnic race black against white, status race rich versus poor,

gender women against men

2.2 Theory of Power:

Power the capacity to affect the world. This may derive from personal strength of

character, social position, political or legal authority, or a combination of these. Is drama

is action, it must be about power. This normally takes the form of a competition of wills,

either in personal relation between people of the same or opposite sex, or between parent

and child; in social relation between king and nobility, or between social classes; in

political relations between countries or between imperial power and colony; between

institution and institution, or between institution and individual. Shakespeare’s Antony

and Cleopatra (1606-7), for example presents the relationship between a man and woman

in love, each in position of power, against a background of political ambition, civil war

and conflict between rival powers. Drama may also be about ‘aesthetic’ power, about the

way people attempt to keep power over their own lives by play by creating fictional

games which compensate for lack of power in the ‘real world’.

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Loss of power is a central dramatic theme, perhaps because we are jealous of those with

power and rejoice in fall. (Terry. P.290)

The critical theory of power is the study of topics such as politics, liberty, justice,

property, rights, law, and the enforcement of a legal code by authority: what they are,

why (or even if) they are needed, what, if anything, makes a government legitimate, what

rights and freedoms it should protect and why, what form it should take and why, what

the law is, and what duties citizens owe to a legitimate government. ‘Interpersonal

Conflict’, the theory is not used to characterize power status in situations concerning

physical power and/or the use of violence, but instead power is a property of the social

relationship rather than the quality of the individual. In other words, power is not

something one owns, but instead is something that develops in the specific relationships

that exist with another individual. But clearly power is a product of the communication

relationship (Joyce &William. P. 116).

Many American writers and critics such as Millar, Tennessee William, Eugene

O’Neill and David Mamet pledge in use their pens in face of these issues: racism, misuse

of power, money control, raping, corruption and many others. Because they have

believed that throwing lights on these issues would change the bad perspective of others

toward the American society, and they believe that this is the real message of drama

writing to make improvement.

Mamet devotes some of his works if not all to argue the dark side of the American

society and to criticize it. All his works dwell upon the social issues that the American

society is facing nowadays. He said “We don’t have a great tradition of liking America

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poetic drama … it is a dreamy play, full of the symbology of dream and symobolgy of

myth, which are basically the same thing” (Schvey.p.68). So the next two chapters are

supposed to discuss the applying of the two theories Race and Power in Race and

Oleanna.

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 CHAPTER TWO

Racism and American society in the play Race

Race or racism is one of the most dangerous issues rampant in the American society.

This issue is now a thorn in the flesh of the American people, as it is deep-rooted in the

minds of the white American. Racism splits the American society into different

communities, where the white American has` the upper hands over all others; they

believe themselves to be the best people on the earth, and others were created to serve

them. This outlook leads to an eternal struggle between the white and the black

American. This eternal struggle leads to the emergence of different types of racism

(ethnic, gender, social status and even religious) the black Americans are still suffering

inferiority, inequality, deprivation and humiliation:

Race dominates our personal live. It manifests itself in our speech, dance, neighbored and

friends – “our very ways of talking, walking, eating and dreaming are ineluctably shaped

by notions of race.” Race determines our economic prospect. The race-conscious market

screens and selects us for manual jobs and professional career, red-lines financing for real

estate, green-line our access to insurance, and even raises the price of that car we need to

buy. Race permeates our politics. It alters electoral boundaries, shapes the disbursement

of local, state, and federal funds, fuels the creation and collapse of political alliances, and

twists the conduct of law enforcement. In short, race mediates every aspect of our lives.

(Julie & Michael, 965)

Hence, many American writers felt ashamed that the country of claimed liberty is the

crucible of segregation and discrimination. These writers then carry the banner of

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exposing these scandalous issues and attract the attention of the public to their dire

consequences. David Mamet is one of many who employ his pen and mind to address

such cases in all his plays. Race is one of his plays that address racism of the white

people against the black. The title, characters, themes and techniques are used on purpose

to attract the attention of the public to this issue, to the bad impact of racism on humanity.

Race also shows how money can play a dirty role where the culprit becomes an innocent,

and the victim becomes guilty person.

The title of the play Race is a great indicator in represents the major theme of the

play which is racism. Although America is one of the most developed countries and the

source of peace, justice, equality and culture in the world, but in fact America topped all

countries in racism, inequality and injustice, where the rate of rape, harassment and

racism is too high; people are judged according to their color, race and language. As a

result of that, we find the American society is divided to people in the tope ((white

people)) and people in the bottom (black people) and (women) who are always the

weakest link in the chain of American society. “I think initially they’ll be drawn to the

title, because the word “race” is one of those words like “sex.” You know, imagine a play

titled Sex [laughs]. I think people will see the title, Race, and think, “Well, at least I’m

going to check it out.”(Smith, in Falls, 8)

Mamet by the tittle of the play Race wants to draw the readers’ and the audience’s

attentions to the difficulty and the bad impact of racism which can turn America into

ethnocentric society. The white Americans are masters who have the right and the power

to manipulate others, where the black Americans are servants to the white have no right

14
to express their approval or refusal. Race highlights this issue by showing how a white

man can violate other boundaries and got scot-free, because he has impunity.

2.1 Introduction, background and main character of Race:

Race is a play by David Mamet that premiered on Broadway in December 2009. The

main characters of the play are: Susan (a black African American girl in her twenties)

Charles Strickland (a white wealthy man in his forties), Henry Brown (a black lawyer in

his forties), and Jack Lawson, (a white lawyer in his forties). The play is well-off white

American Charles Strickland is accused of a racially. Motivated sex crime against a black

American girl, Charles to save his name and his reputation harries to his friend Jack

Lawson a white lawyer has a firm legal office with the black lawyer Henry Brown. Jack

is a lawyer and man of no principles his motive in live is to earn money and win. Jack

solicited the help of his young black attorney called Susan who work in his office.

Police reports contain all evidence that indicted Charles of this crime, even the red

sequin dress of the victim. Jack and Brown find a blunder in the police reports; they

never mentioned any missing sequin of the victim’s address. They celeries that any push

or resistant will lead to the loss of part of this sequin. However, after two days, they have

heard that a maid in the hotel has given a witness that she saw sequins under the bed.

This witness turned the case upside down. Charles is now in dilemma. Jack begins to

suspect a negative role played by Susan, He celeries that Susan is siding the victim and

trying to influence the outcome of the final verdict. So that he tell Susan to leave the

office.

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2.2 How characters mirror racism in Race:

Mamet creates his characters in a way that depicts how dangerous racism is, how

racism can be destructive element that spread instability and in security at any society,

and how racists people are enemy to themselves and to humanity in general; they believe

that they are the first and the best race in the world and other creatures are created to be at

their disposal and their service. Mamet through his two characters, Charles and Jack,

display that some white men are arrogant, selfish and inconsiderate. They are ready to do

whatever they like without thinking twice. They look to black women as a sex game; they

can enjoy without hesitation or consideration to their sentiments and feelings.

Charles raped black girl and exploited her sexually, the black girl reported the matter

to the police Charles finds himself in quandary, so he hurried to his friend Jack. Who is a

white lawyer and has a law office firm with a black lawyer Henry Brown. Jack knows

that Charles is immoral and liar. But he has to stand by his friend as long as the victim is

black girl. Jack with prevarication reveals his racism by saying “white will always screw

blacks, because we know you hate us” (Race, 28). Jack, who supposed to use his

profession to defend the helpless and hapless people, rushed to help his friend whom he

knows that he was guilty. Jack goes too far by refusing even the police reports. He knows

that the black girl was wearing a red squint dress, and that any tackle to this squint will

pop up, but he hides this fact and this prove.

Through these two characters, Mamet manifests that some white men are ready to

trample on morals, virtues, and principles for money and gains. They are ready to stand

16
with other white men no matter whether these men are immoral and debauch. Charles

and Jack are epitome of racism and racists people.

Mamet tries to strike a balance by showing that some black people are conniving with

white people against their country fellows. Henry Brown, a black lawyer in the firm of

the law office with Jack. He colludes with Jack and Charles against Susan. He always

instigates Jack to sack Susan from his office, because she is against racism and her master

thesis is about racism, so she will be pain in their necks. Brown represents the negative

side of the black people who care only about themselves “you want to tell me about black

folks?” (4). In this sentence Brown like to say that the black people are not acceptable for

him even he is one of them but in fact he is ready to do whatever asked just to curry the

favor of the white men. Brown also represents racism of people color, against one

another. Mamet wants to show that the main meaning of racism is between black and

white but also by black people against their compatriot. It is now clear that the two white

men and the black lawyer are standing against Susan and the rape victim. Both Jack and

Brown are doing all in their best to defend the white wealthy man Charles and prove his

innocence, albeit, they know that he is guilty of raping the black girl.

On the other side of the play, we find Susan, the black African girl who working as an

assistant lawyer at Jack’s office. Susan finds herself blackmailed by these white men to

be their support, or will face dire consequence; the least is losing her job. However,

Susan deep down herself, feels it her duty to help the victim proves the guilty of Charles.

She therefor strikes a sensitive chord by playing on the idea of the victim’s dress sequins.

Susan draws the police attention to the fact that any slightest incident of pushing or

17
tackling could pop out quickly. The investigation of the bed room in a hotel reveals that

there were indicates Charles and exposes Jack.

Susan in the play represents the archetype of the black African American woman who

suffers all types of racism. She suffers ethnic racism that she is black and she suffers

gender racism because she is women. She also suffers psychological pressure_ she is

working to Jack, the white lawyer who force her to be with him against her compatriot,

albeit she knows the whole truth. She also experiences the difficulties of coping with the

clannish men; men, who are ready to help their country fellows as a kind of racism, like

the role of Jack in the play. Susan is at the mercy of these racists white men. Mamet

portrays Susan in a conflict with the racists’ men and with inner self. She either losses her

job or keep silent. But Susan knows that Charles` did rape the poor black girl. She also

knows that Charles is guilty and liar. She knows that jack is only concerned with gaining

money; He doesn’t care about the black girl’s dignity and humanity. This inner conflict

drives Susan to rush for the help of the black girl, sacrifices her job, her name and her

association with this white man just to seek justice.

SUSAN: Whites would think to find him innocent is racism. Blacks would think

that to do so is treason.

JACK: Do you think he raped her?

SUSAN: Do you?

JACK: I want to know what you think.

SUSAN: Why Because I’m black?

18
 JACK: Sure. And, “women,” alright, know things no man knows. You look at a

man, across a room, you know. What his intentions are. (27)

Mamet in Race attempts to expose racism and racists. He reveals that racists’ people

are always telling lies in order to save their images “we American delight in self-

deception. We seem in fact to insist upon it, in our foreign policy, in our tax code, in our

traffic laws, in education, in politics, time and again confusion and advertisement with

promise” (Mamet, 149). Mamet through his white American character manifests how these

men are ready to lie and twist the truth in order to save their skins. Jack who represents

the legislative authority treads on all principles, values, money. Charles committed his

crime, raped the black girl and now seeks to fabricate the whole story in order to save

himself. His follies didn’t spare even the police; he tries to befool the police and the jury.

Mamet also discloses in Race that racism drives wedge between the people of the

same country. It divides people into ethno centric (ethnicism), communism and classism.

These divisions will tarnish the image of the country. The people find themselves

insecure and instable. Take the American society we will find eternal conflict between

the white and the black. Mamet shows this conflict in the ill-treatment of Charles and his

lawyer Jack to Susan. Charles abuses of the poor black girl his victim. He is ready to lie

and do whatever they can in order to get scot free. So lies can be as a tool the racists use

to hide their racism and protect their selves.

Mamet through the Race wants to say that the ancient stereotype of racism is still

extant in the country of liberty and democracy. He detracts the white American people

19
for their lack of tolerance with other races. They are still base their treatment of the other

on their color and language,

Black people will never gain full equality in this country. Even those Herculean

efforts we hail as successful will produce no more than temporary "Peaks of

progress," short-lived victories that slide into irrelevance as racial patterns adapt

in ways that maintain white dominance. This is a hard-to-accept act that all

history verifies. (Delgado & Jean, 85–90)

The main theme of the play is the negative impact of ethnic, gender and statues racism

on the American society. Mamet in his play depicts how some white people are cleaver in

befooling others; they can with the power of money and lies circumvent the law and the

moral values. David wants to say that racism is the hallmark of the American society.

For these reasons this chapter is entitled Racism and American society in the play Race.

The play revolves around strong conflict between the white and the black, between

men and women and between they have and have not. Charles, in an attempt to save his

skin, resorts to Jack the white and Brown the black to represent him in court. He

intentionally hired these two lawyers to indicate to the court that he is not racists and not

guilty. Jack was ready to defend Charles though he knew he is a liar; he did so just to

gain some money. Susan the black African American girl, who is working as assistance at

jack office, finds herself in quandary after the two lawyers keep her away of the case.

Brown incited Jack to expel her from the office “he did not want hire her, in part because

of her views on race, as articulated in her college thesis”. Susan is now at conflict with

these two lawyers; she starts to gather evidence to prove Charles guilt. So deduce that

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Charles uses his money to employ the two lawyers to his side he and Jack have the upper

hand in directing the course of the events, whereas Susan finds herself helpless and

hapless like the raped black girl who has no power to defend and protect herself and her

dignity.

Mamet in this theme reveals that racism is rampant in the American society. The

American society is plighted with this disease which divided the society in to different

communities. Mamet in difference of the color bar of the characters wants to show the

difference of the American civil right that the white people are always dominant and

often criminal, and the black people are often the victims. “SUSAN: Whites would think to

find him innocent is racism. Blacks would think that to do so is treason.”(27). Mamet’s wants to

show that some white American people believe that with their money they can subjugate

others and violate all norms and values. Belington sums up the play events by saying:

Charles, a rich white man accused of raping a black woman, is seeking someone to

defend him. In what seems a shrewd move, he visits a law firm where one partner, Jack,

is white and another, Henry, is black. Although wary about taking Charles's case, their

hand is forced when their junior associate Susan, who is African American, makes two

elementary legal errors. But the action shifts from questions of Charles's guilt or

innocence to internal politics and the issue of whether Susan is a victim of discrimination

or the dubious product of affirmative action. (n.p.)

The hierarchy of the play shows the dominance of the two white men over other

characters. Brown, although he is a lawyer but has nothing to do, his job is to carry out

Jack’s orders. He is acting against Susan. Susan is alone trying to administer justice to the

poor black victim. Whereas the white men (Jack and Charles) are to gather and Jack does
21
all in his power to protect Charles. Mamet through this hierarchy wants to explain that

people who are victim of racism are always divided among themselves, and this

encourages racists’ people to discriminate against them.

All the characters of the play have their first and second names, save Susan, the black

girl where only her first name is mentioned; whereas the raped girl is anonymous no

name is given to her. This denying of the identity and the names of Susan and the black

girl is reflection to denying the identity of black people in the American society, and

White people look to them just as an immigrants people from Africa to American the

country of the white skins even the blacks have the same nationality. So the denying of

the identity of the black girl is like a symbol of denying her civil and nationality rights

not only in the American society but also in the play itself. I’m sure that if the rape

happened to a white woman Mamet will be obliged to mention her name and identity

because racism divide America to native people of original identity and non-native of

acquired identity or identity in name only.

NY Times In 7th of September, 2009 makes a meeting with David Mamet about the

play Race and they ask him this question: Why a play about race from arguably one of

America’s most notable playwrights at a time when we are living through a supposedly

post-racial era?

Mamet wants to show the purpose of this play and the aims of why he writes Race, by

answering this question and says: “We Can’t Stop Talking about Race in America,”

“President Obama, like his predecessor, President Bill Clinton, has suggested that this

country engage in a dialogue about race. But what has our 230-year national experience

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been but a dialogue about race? My current play, Race is intended to be an addition to

that dialogue. As a Jew, I will relate that there is nothing a non-Jew can say to a Jew on

the subject of Jewishness that is not patronizing, upsetting or simply wrong. I assume that

the same holds true among African-Americans. In my play a firm made up of three

lawyers, two black and one white, is offered the chance to defend a white man charged

with a crime against a black young woman. It is a play about lies. All drama is about lies.

When the lie is exposed, the play is over.

Race, like sex, is a subject on which it is near impossible to tell the truth. In each,

desire, self-interest and self-image make the truth inconvenient to share not only with

strangers (who may, legitimately or not, be viewed as opponents) but also with members

of one’s own group, and, indeed, with oneself. For just as personal advantage was derived

by whites from the defense of slavery and its continuation as Jim Crow and segregation,

so too personal advantage, political advantage and indeed expression of deeply held

belief may lead nonwhites to defense of positions that, though they may be momentarily

acceptable, will eventually be revealed as untenable. (Jessie, n.p.)

In the play Race Mamet, the white American citizen let out a cry in the face of racism.

He expresses his indignation toward discrimination practiced by his country fellow

against black American: American the claimed country of liberty and religious tolerance

is a hot bed of race and racism. So Mamet in the theme of the play wants to say racism is

still the main and the dangerous problem in America and who think we finished it he is

wrong. And the play ‘Race’ is an analysis of the fact which we live in America.

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According to Belington,

When Mamet moves from the law to race, he trades rigorous specifics for windy

generalities. At one point, Jack tells Susan that whites will always screw blacks, "because

we know you hate us". It's the character; not the author, speaking but the play's action

underscores this overheated assertion. (n.p.)

The second scene—the top of the second act—we encounter Jack’s explanation for

how factions become mobs. Mamet’s dialogue is fill-in-the-blank educational as Jack

instructs Susan on the social nature of human beings:

SUSAN: Are black people different from other people?

JACK: All people are different. Sometimes they conjoin.

SUSAN: They conjoin.

JACK: Yes.

SUSAN: Into.

JACK: A group. A race. A jury .or an audience.

(Pause)

Sometimes they conjoin into a mob. (41)

Jack here makes a forbidden thing, he from his speech that people not only different

in sex, color and social status, but they also can be different in their creation. He wants to

say that white people are the first and the main creations. and the other is the destroying

people specially the black people, he think what is between white and black is like what

happen between angels and devils, so that he calls them mob. Mob is a symbol of

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barbarism life. Jack by this racial depict wants say that black people are the destroyers

and the always damage the orderly system of the life which white people create. Also in

America the black people are the black point which stopping the progressing wheel the

white people make. Therefore, Jack in a very racist wants to say in America people are

different there is who wants to make improvement and this thing is especially for white

people, and there is who wants make destroying and that what black people always do.

From this instruction by Jack to Susan, on the social nature of human beings: he wants

Susan accept his letter which is; it is impossible to be equal between black and white until

there is equal between angels and devils.

2.3 Obama, Trump and Racism:

The play Race was written following the Presidency of Obama’s selection. Barack

Obama becomes the 44th U.S President and the first African American to hold this

position. He is from Chicago, Illinois, the same city David Mamet spent most of his life

in and ironically the most segregated city in the United States. The racism said that from

the beginning of America and even now it crossing through 45 presidents’ just one black

who is Barack Obama. It is too difficult to be the first black president to America the

country of the white people. Although Obama succeeded in this experience but

unfortunately the fixed idea racism still not change even now. White people see that in

the America they are in the top and the other especially the black people in the bottom

and that thing can be clearer through the speech of Donald Tramp when he said “Obama

should show his birth certificate. There’s something on that birth certificate that he

doesn’t like us and not from us” (@real Donald trump, March 2011). This speech was a

great indicator of Trump ethnic racism that he means Obama is not a real American and

25
he is black. The black people from Trump point of view are a immigrants people and the

original or native people of American are just the white people and he emphasis that idea

when he said to Fox News, in August 2016: “I think he’s the worst president maybe in

the history of our country” and also tweet that “Obama is, without question, the WORST

EVER president. I predict he will now do something really bad totally stupid to show

manhood” (@real Donald trump, Jun. 2014). Trump in has racism see that black people

are not only immigrants people but also they are destroy the American history, and as you

know Obama is the only black president of America and that is the clearly racism.

Trump’s speech is not only for Obama but also for all black people in America

“I’m talking about the people that are from all over that are killers and rapists and they

are coming into this country”. (Anna, n.p.) This speech was in his elections of America

president. So the idea is not only between the normal people of America but also in the

mind of the white president of America Donald tramp when he depicted the black people

by “shit of hole’’.

Trump racism not only against black people but against all people around the world

except the white American who looks to them as a holy people. He through his many

public speeches has shown that he is a racist who harbors malice and bad feeling about

people of color from other parts of the world. He has orders his administration to build a

wall along the border of his country with Mexico. He calls Mexican immigrants thieves,

rapist and drug peddlers.

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2.4 Gender Racism:

Gender racism is another kind of racism in this play. It is the nature of relation

between men and women and the masculinity view toward women in America. Women

in America live under the mercy of men’s authority. This dominance of men makes them

look down upon women, albeit they are half of the societies in the world. Susan is

paragon of the oppressed women in general and black women in particular. She suffers

blackmailing by Charles, Jack and the black lawyer Brown. The three men want her to

side with them against the raped black girl:

SUSAN: This isn’t about sex, it’s about race.

JACK: What’s the difference? (45)

The black girl is raped by the white wealthy man Charles against her will. He doesn’t

care about her humanity and dignity. Charles believes that such women can be silent by

money, or has no right to get justice.

Latest statistic reveals that Rape is the main reason behind women “suicide” in

America. The psychologist, Kevin Caruso declares in his latest study that:

Rape has long- term emotional consequences that can lead to suicide women in America.

It is quite common for rape victims to suffer from depression. And untreated depression

is the number one cause for suicide. About 33% of rape victims have suicide thought.

And about 13% of rape victims will attempt suicide.

Hence, women in America always face all kinds of racism from men such as raping,

ill-treatment, lives without any rights and respect. Race exposes this ill-treatment of

27
women by showing how the two female characters (Susan and the raped black girl) are

passing through racism practiced by white men. Both women have suffered at the hands

of racist men. Susan is a victim of freedom of speech. She refuses to remain silent and

hide the truth. She demurs to side with the white men against her country fellow, even if

she will lose her job. The raped girl is seeking justice; she wants to regain her dignity and

respect. She doesn’t want any other woman to fall a prey to such predators that are ready

to violate women’s modesty without any compunction. The play alludes to the fact that

the middle-age derogatory look of men to women is still extant in the 21th century, but

with different shape and manner women and still seen as a sex game for enjoyment.

Mamet in Race mentions the full names for all male characters, but doesn’t mention

the name of the black girl victim. He also mentions only the first name of the black

assistance lawyer, Susan. Some believe that Mamet wants to show the extent of gender

racism in America against black women. Other thinks that David is shed light on the

impulsiveness of the white people how always cross all boundaries in dealing with black

people and women. We think Mamet, intentionally doesn’t mention the black victim

name that He wants to say every woman can be a victim of rape, if Charles got scot-free.

Mamet also wants to articulate that Charles raped not only the black woman, but also

raped all values, morel, humanity and dignity, and he wants to draw the attention of the

readers and audiences of this fact.

Not only Charles and Jack in Race, but all men in America even they know that

woman is a success and effective element in the society, but they didn’t change their view

against woman and how she can change, develop and improve the American society.

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They see that she is the lowest elements, and the best place for her is the house and take

care of children. A great example of our today life is the speech of the Donald Trump the

new president of America; he was use a vulgar speech against women in general and

Hillary Clinton in particular the woman who was against him in last elections of America

when he describe her as a ‘Nasty woman’ at the final presidential debate. Also he critics

Clinton when he says in in twitter “If Hillary Clinton can’t satisfy her husband what

makes her think she can satisfy America?” (@real Donald trump, April 16, 2015). Trump

in this speech wanted to say that women more less than to be a president of America, and

they should stay in their houses and take care of their husbands and children, and the

elections is just for men. This speech represents the full face of the racism against

women. Susan in the play when she struggle alone against men to take her right, the black

girl who raped by Charles and Hillary Clinton were a great examples of the real fact of

the racism against women in America.

Although the play is taking about the men racism against women and the bad dealing

of men to the women in America, but also its emphasis the power of women and her role

in show the truth and take her right even men look to her as a weak and depending

element in the American society in particular and the world in general. Susan in her will

of iron broke the role which say (men always upper than women) when she is alone face

Charles the white wealthy man (the owner of the influence) and his lawyer jack and his

hard accusation and she win in the case. That thing emphasis that women have the great

wills which make her the second half of the American society and all societies and

women even she is black or white are stronger than racism.

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 Race is not just a play written by Mamet, it is a mirror reflects the life in the American

society. It is tackling most of the dangerous issues all American agree that it is a

destroying issues like racism in its all types (ethnic, gender, and social statues). Race

shows how black people and women have no right in the American society or in another

word they have no equal in right with the white and men. Therefore, it faces a different

reactions from the American, some of them agree of what it is talking about and some of

them see it is just a myth by Mamet and it is impossible in a country known as a source of

peace, justice and equality. In all situations, Mamet and Race are successful. He now

knowing as one of the most famous dramatist in America and the world, and Race is one

of the most plays in the 20th century. Mamet in Race employing the characters in a very

great way unit the audiences feel they part of the play and acting with the characters and

its resident director Chuck Smith say “I know that it will engender much discussion,

continuing an ongoing dialogue that is essential to us individually and collectively. It is

without doubt one of the most galvanizing American plays of this century so far and I am

very proud to present it to our audiences”. (Robert, 3)

2.5 Repercussion of Race:

Race has become a controversial play. It preoccupied the minds of the American

people. Some supported it, and feel satisfied that such plague is exposed publically. They

found the play a great message to both the government and the racist’s people. Others

were against it, saying this play is a wash of our dirty linen in public; they were of a view

that racism is not a phenomenon, but a blunder committed by a handful of racist

American. They also put blame on black American who flouts law and order. This

30
reaction makes the play one of the best plays in 21st century. Its political message has had

a great effect on American and the whole world:

Lawson says:

Mamet has added a savage companion piece dealing with another heat-seeking political

topic, declared in the play's title: race. As the posters jokingly note, a dramatist celebrated

for introducing expletives to the American theatre now tackles a truly taboo four-letter

word. Race, as one character says, is "the single most incendiary topic in our history.

Spencer argues that:

Few writers can grip an audience like David Mamet. He tackles urgent themes head on,

and often writes with the brutality of a sawn-off shotgun held at the spectator’s head. In

this play, first seen on Broadway in 2009 and now making its British debut at Hampstead,

he tackles the vexed question of race, and as is usually the case with Mamet, he tramples

all over liberal pieties as he excavates uncomfortable truths.

Charles says:

Race doesn't care much about specific current events or historical grievances. It is

focused, instead, on territorial struggle, the never-ending battle for domination, the

ongoing contest for those on top to stay on top and those on the bottom to stand on the

necks of their oppressors…Mamet seeks to get beyond the platforms and pieties of racial

politics to calmly expose the more Nietzsche an dimensions of what is described in the

play as "the most incendiary topic in our history.

Cyntian believes that:

Mamet is not the first time has exploited the myth of the “wrongly accused.” His 1992

play Oleanna, revived on Broadway in 2009 with Bill Pullman and Julia Stiles, mined the

31
 same territory. There, a female student, under the sway of political correctness and

pushed by opportunistic feminists, falsely accuses her male professor of sexual

harassment. Whereas the play be-gins with her in the supplicant role—she visits the

professor’s office because she is failing the course—by the end, the professor’s career,

marriage, and life hang by the thread of her whimsy. Upping the ante in Race, Mamet

overlays the male-female gender dynamic with a black-white racial one, making two

political points with one play. If women falsely “cry rape,” so too do black people falsely

“cry racism. (p.1017)

2.6 Techniques:

Techniques are tools used by dramatists to develop and form his/ her work. These

tools are very important in developing the sequence of the plot. They have a positive

effect on enhancing the performance skills of the characters. Mamet in his play ‘Race’

employs different techniques; these techniques were very effective in imparting his

message to the audience. These techniques also help Mamet to display his view of point

toward racism and race in America.

In this part, the researcher will focus on some techniques, like language, style, themes,

stage directions, and literary devices.

 Style and language:

Style is the way that the author choose world, arranges them in sentences or in lines of

dialogue. The style of the play is dramatic and tragedy style, that it is about the relation

between human in America. Mamet directed Race in a style we can best describe as

“stand and deliver” the actors particularly in the first act, say their lines rapidly to each

other in firm, emphatic tones. The lines don’t seem to spring from emotional source; in

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fact emotion is hardly the word the play evokes at all, even though its situation has a high

emotional charge. This effect consistent with Mamet theory on acting, which he

documented, in his book True and False, that Mamet insists that only two things should

happened in a rehearsal period: the play should be blocked 2- the actors should become

familiar with the actions they are going perform. But in act two the actors change the

style and live the actions to attract the audiences’ attentions to get reality not the author

idea and the audiences will live the all situations. So, the style of Race will be different

from act one to act two that the first act is more of Mamet style, and the second act is

more in style of realistic acting. Even the character of the author is appear in the play and

the characters in there acting characterize the realty but the end of the play is ambiguity.

The style of opining ending or ambiguity ending one of the most hard and success style in

the modern drama as a great example is Pygmalion by Bernard Shaw which become

familiar by the opining ending. This style helps in makes the audiences thinking of the

end of the play and they put their ending to the play which make them sharing the play

and live it. Mamet used this style because the theme of the play (racism) is a socialistic

theme so he want to attracted the audiences attentions to live the play by associated him

in get end of the play.

Mamet believes that language is the dominating element in in theatrical art, taking

pre-eminence over character, plot, dramatic actions, physical action, center conflict,

theme, and spine or through line, performance style, scene design, costume and other

technical elements. Mamet as a playwright by using the language and the words wants to

show three points which are the dramatic language can first be used to create reality

itself, or the world of play. Language also creates individual identity or character. Finally

33
language creates the relationships in which these individual engage, or society as a

whole.

Mamet brings to the American theater a particular sensitivity to the way in which

language is used, apart from its communication function, to give shape and meaning to its

user’ live. His characters tend to come from closed worlds with their own cultures,

myths, codes and jargon – old men, swinging singles, minor criminals, high- pressure

salesmen, and Hollywood hustlers. Their lives are marked by frustration and feelings of

impotence that are likely to explode in bitter displays of rage unless they are controlled or

diverted through something that gives the characters a reassuring sense of dignity:

affectations of wisdom, of honor, or of moral superiority. In most cases, all it takes to

achieve this comforting sense is language that sounds wise, honorable or moral; for

Mamet’s characters from is more convincing than content (Berkowitz, Gerald, P.P. 190-

194).

Language in this play is one of the reasons behind the play successes. Mamet in this

play employs local, slang, and standard language, this mixture gives the play the essence

of realty and make-believe. He uses the normal local American language to address the

white American people. He uses the slang language of the black American (niggle, pitch,

fuck) to show the background of this community. The standard language is used to

indicate the educational status of lawyer characters. In addition Mamet succeeds in

making a mix between tragic and comic language to attract the attention and to motivate

reaction of the audiences, where laughter is mixed with seriousness. This mixture of

language which Mamet uses in the paly makes the play realistic and attractive where the

34
audience has never felt tedious; they live different situations between laugh, tragic, and

educational which show that Mamet want to make the audiences live with him the theme

and the plot of the play through its language difference.

 Main themes:

The play revolves around three main themes; racism, the power of money and

corruption justice. The play sheds lights on how some white American people feel toward

black African American. They see black men as servants to implement their commands,

and black girls as a sex games to their enjoyment. Another important theme is how

money can play a dangerous role in making the perpetrator and innocent and the victim a

guilty. How the people who are entrusted to defend justice and law stand by the culprit

and defend him. These tree themes were a taboo. No one can dare to address. But Mamet

succeeded in naming his play by the name Race and treating these three themes make the

play unforgettable. Mamet rang an alarm in exposing these scars of the American society.

Stage directions are to show and describe the performance of the play by describe the

actors or characters roles, foundations, emotional and physical appearance of the actors or

characters and what is the theater look like and what is represent. In the play, Race, we

can notes that the there is a changing in form of the theater.

Setting is the time, place and form of the character in the play. The location of the

play and the characters were in the law office where there is a table of meeting and many

books. Also we can see a partition like the court platform, the background of the theater

is a window we can see a big tower appear through it. This changing of the form of the

theater help in gives the audiences the realty to live the play and live the differences of

35
the events in a very clear way. In side of the character we can notes from their clothes

(physical form) the different of the character status Charles, Jack and Brown wear the

dress suit. This thing represents their high status where they are one rich man and two are

lawyers. On another side we can note the Susan wear the normal clothes shirt and skirt

which represent her normal status that she is association of the lawyers. This different in

the physical form of the characters help in represent the nature and the role of characters

in the play. The emotions of the characters are changing from act to act. All the

characters in act one were too quite because the case was in the begging and they appear

like they are discomfited and thinking of get a solution. But in act two the emotions of the

characters become different that the all were nervous and some of them represent a new

feeling like the racism of Jack when he say to Susan “whites will always screw blacks,

because we know you hate us”. And many emotions are appear like lies, recognition,

anger and also joking .This changing in the emotions help in reflects the changing of the

actions to show the psychological intentions of the characters, and the idea of the author

receives to the audiences in a clear way by the scene and act.

 Literary devices:

Literary devices Are words or phrases that have a meaning other than the literal

meaning. It can be images, symbolism, metaphor, simile that's designed to further explain

a concept. Or it can be the repetition of alliteration or exaggeration of hyperbole to give

further emphasis or effect. There are many different types of literal devices in the English

language.

Image is a concrete representation of sense impression, a feeling or an idea. Imagery

refers to the pattern of related details in work. In some works one image predominates

36
either by recurring throughout the work or by appearing at the critical point in the plot.

Often writers use multiple images throughout a work to suggest state of feeling and to

convey implications of thought and actions.

JACK: Black people are allowed to commit adultery.

SUSAN: Is that in the Constitution?

JACK: No. It’s in the public’s mind.

SUSAN: Well, that’s harsh

JACK: …you want the truth or a lie? (30)

In this dialogue between Jack and Susan, Mamet wants to depict the situation of the

American society. That although America knows as the country of the peace, equality

and justice but in fact the ethnic race is the fixing idea which dominant in the white

people mind if they hidden it and the black people are marginalized in the American

society. So this dialogue is an image about the racism in America the country of equality

and also it is an image of the black people situation in American.

JACK: I want to know what you think.

SUSAN: Why Because I’m black?

JACK: Sure. And, “women,” …….! (27).

Although the play is talking about the ethnic and gender racism in America, in this

dialogue Mamet makes a great image of the association link between black people and

women in their suffering and he wants to depict how they in the American are always

victims which makes their feeling is often same.

37
 Mamet in most of his dialogues repeated the worlds (black, white and woman) in

different forms and place. This repetition of those words is to bring attention of the idea

or the theme of the play that the mean theme of this play is racism and the mean words of

racism are black, white, woman and men. So, Mamet repeated these words to show that

they are the most important words must be in the text or dialogue of the play its theme

talking about racism.

The tittle of the play, Race, was a great symbolism; that it reflects the whole theme of

the play even we don’t read it, and this thing is rarely happen in writing of the plays. The

tittle is Race and the play is talking about the racism between white and black people in

America.so the tittle played an important symbol in link between the name of the play,

the theme of the play and the message of the writer which help in make the content of the

play is too clear to the readers and audiences and make us sure that Mamet is a genius

write in use of the language and technique.

The classification of the characters is a very smart symbolism. That the characters

classified as three men and one women two of them are white one is a wealthy man and

the another is a lawyer, and two are black one women and one black lawyer this

classification of the characters is symbol of the classification of the American society and

the civil rights which contend of more white people less of black and less of women.

The character of Susan was another great symbolism that she plays the character of

the victim in the play and in American because she is a black African American and also

women. So Mamet succeed in reflect the suffering of black people and women in

America through one character who is Susan character.

38
 Metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that is not

literally true, but helps explain an idea or make comparison.

JACK: Black people are allowed to commit adultery.

SUSAN: Is that in the Constitution? (30)

The black people in Jack’s opinion are not a human, he think they live without dignity

or honor and are different in everything of white people.

SUZAN: you think black people are stupid?

JACK: I think all people are stupid. I don’t think black are exempt. (20)

Jack in this dialogue wants to defend the white people from the accusation of

stupidities by cover them of black people that he in fact wants to say black people are

always stupide but in hidden way. Susan’s answer has a metaphor that black people can

be stupide because of the white race. But, in fact, her right answer is that black people

aren’t stupid.

Irony usually conveys a difference between how things seem to be and the reality. As

a literary technique it is used when a certain outcome is revealed, but is not what readers

were expecting or hoping for. Irony can be difficult to define; it's often subjective and

depends on the audience's expectations. Mamet always use the ironical style in his plays,

but what distinguished him that he mixed the irony with the tragedy to give the audiences

clear and interesting idea.

SUSAN: This isn’t about sex, it’s about race.

JACK: What’s the difference?

39
 Jack in his answer emphasis his racism. The irony is that he doesn’t know what is the

different between race and sex. While it is clearly, that sex means the different in gender

and race is the different in right between black and white, men and women.

JACK: Black people are allowed to commit adultery.

SUSAN: Is that in the Constitution?

Jack in his speech wants to insult the black people and say they are different of the

white American people. Susan reaction was very ironical, she embarrassed jack that his

speech not right and it is not in the constitution of America which say American people

are equal if they are white or black, and what Jack say is just a racism.

Conflict is a struggle between forces in the play. It can occur within a character as

well as between characters. The conflict in this play can be dividing in tow situations.

First the conflict between the characters itself the psychological conflict in the characters

of jack and Brown. Jack has a conflict between truth and falsehood that he inside himself

believe that there is a victim who is the black girl who raped by Charles and but he

struggle to represent the opposite as a racism to his color. Also Brown has the same

conflict but in another form that he is black and Susan is black but he is work with jack

so he is in conflict with his color and his job. Also Susan has self-conflict that she know

Charles is guilty but she keep silent to the end as a fear of get her out of her job and this

what thing which happened in the end so the first conflict of the play we can call it ((

self- conflict)). The second conflict is the conflict between the characters each other.

This conflict can be showing through the accusations from black Susan against the whites

Charles and Jack and the opposite from the whites Jack and Charles to the black Susan

40
about who will win in the case, so in this situation the conflict is like the battle about who

is right and who will win.

Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical,

cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing

to which it refers. It is just a passing comment and the writer expects the reader to possess

enough knowledge to spot the allusion and grasp its importance in a text. The general

theme of the play is talking about racism in America between white and black people and

racism between men and women. The plot is talking about a white rich man accuse by

rape a black African girl. But maybe the play is allude to another thing that it published in

2009 which is events of election of Barak Obama as the first black president of the united

states. This allusion maybe not clears for us but it is too clear for the American citizens

who lived this event and who read and see the play.

Mamet, in Race, rings a bell of the peril posed by racism. This sensitive issue (racism)

has become a thorn in the flesh of the American society. The play exposes how some

white American people disdain others because of their color, background and race. They

believe that they are the best creatures on the earth. The play also shows that some white

Americans are ready to deny all moral values just to gain material benefits. Mamet’s

genius stems from his astute to discuss a topic that has been a taboo in the American

society. America the country of claimed democracy and liberty is a land of discrimination

and segregation. David conveys a message to the American in particular and whole world

in general that racism is a cancer that destroys everything.

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 This thesis concentrates on applying a critical theory of Race in this play. This theory

shows that racism can take many shapes- it can be ethnical, gender, and social status. The

researcher has found that this play contains all these shapes of racism. There is ethnic

race between black and white (Jack and Charles against the black Susan), Gender race

between (men and women), and Social statues race (higher and lower class).

Mamet has a strong believe in the power of language and how it plays an important

role in transferring the message of the play in acceptable way.so he always concentrates

in the way of using a mixture of common languages used by American people. The

researcher conducts a study on Mamet’s techniques of the play and their effects on

construction of the play and events.

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 CHAPTER THREE

The Misuse of Power in the play Oleanna

Oleanna is the other masterpiece penned by David Mamet. In this play, Mamet

focuses on many various issues that concerned the American society corruption, sexual

harassment, racism, and misuse of power. These issues make Mamet’s plays suitable to

all times, as they dwell upon all plights of modern societies and miseries of individuals.

In 1992 Mamet wrote this play which is classified as a postmodern realistic work. The

play delves deeply in the relationship between students and their professors, how some

teachers misuse their authority and power against their students. David Sauer argues that

Oleanna is

An exemplar of a new kind of drama, ‘postmodern realism’, designed to

engender controversy over issue for which the playwright has no solution. At first it

appears to be a conventionally realistic play, but proves itself in the end to be

unconventional. Rather, it is a Rorschach play- like an inkblot in which different viewers

see every different thing. Oleanna creates an experience, which deepens with discussion

afterwards. Because of the apparent realistic style, audiences think that what they’ve seen

is real- yet in discussion it emerges that they often have opposing points of views. And

each side is usually convinced it is right and can’t understand the other. (34)

Oleanna tackles another significant critical theory of literature which is (theory of

power). Theory of power is a critical theory revolves around how upper hand people

manipulate their power to oppress, to repress, to depress, and to aggress others to have

influence. These people exercise leadership through coercions and blackmailing of those

under their leadership. Robert Dahl defined power and analyzed its various aspects; “by

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saying power is a type of relationship in respect of capability and control. Take a very

simple example. There are two men—A and B. If A possesses the capability to control B

then it will be assumed that A has the power”. (201). when you lose in a foolish way the

control and authority which power give that is the real meaning of misuse of power our

mean theme which John characterize in Oleanna .

Mamet treats the theme of misuse of power in Oleanna, which revolves around how

misuse of power can be destructive. The play portrays how the misuse of power can sour

the relationship of professor with his student. How the foolishness of a professor turn him

into a pawn in the hands of his girl student. The play is in carries the banner of political

correctness- i.e. people should not flout and berate others. The researcher will dedicate

this chapter to shed lights on the misuse of power on Oleanna, The effect of this misuse

of power on those who abuse power and the consequence of misuse of power and

political correctness.

Oleanna is a short three act play surrounding the shed its lights on the

miscommunication between a male professor and his female student. This

miscommunication develops to become a reason of many issues like misuse of power,

language power, gender relation, harassment and political correctness. Oleanna talks

about a female student (Carol), who is failing taught by her professor (John) and she

comes to his office without any appointment seeking help. She tells him that she has done

what she has been told: she has taken notes, bought and read his book, but she has found

difficulty with the course and has not understood the content of his book nor his lectures.

Carol says to him “I have to pass this course… I did what you told me. I did everything

that, I read your book, you told me to buy your book and read it” (9). John was busy

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talking with his wife about the new home he wants to buy, so he tells carol to sit and she

hears all his speech with his wife. After he finishes his phone, he begins talks with Carol

but in fast and enable way which makes Carol cry, feels she is nothing and stupid. John

wants to repair what he makes to Carol so he put his arms around her and suggest giving

her grad A when she comes to his office in next meeting.

In act two, Carol makes a formal complaint of sexual harassment against John about

what happen in the first meeting and she delivered it to the tenure committee who are

now holding a meeting to discuss whether or not John should be granted tenure. John felt

the danger so he called Carol to come to his office to explain for her the

miscommunication that happened in the last meeting. He wants Carol to draw back her

compliant that he claims the tenure committee will ignore her compliant and that will

effect of her future and he wants help her. But Carol believes that now she has the power

and she can affect John’s future because he will not deny what he did in the first meeting

of putting his arms around her and suggest to gives her A, when she comes to the next

meeting when the tenure committee asks him.

In act three, John realizes that the tenure committee found some validity to Carol's

complaint and has suggested disciplinary action in addition to retracting his tenure offer.

John is not only losing his house due to Carol's complaints, but he also stands to lose his

job. John becomes regretting to Carol and he wants her to deny her complaint so he

becomes too weak and desperate. Carol said if he wants her deny her complaint he should

make what she want to removal of many academic text, specially his book who he wrote

from the university library. John became too angry and he shouted that he didn’t rape her

and at least he didn’t think that, than he raises a chair above his head and threatens to

45
throw it at Carol and calls her a "cunt..." Carol collapses on the floor and repeats to

herself "Yes. That's right ... that's right." (54)

Mamet in Olenaan discusses a contemporary theme rarely has been dissertated before;

the misuse of power by a professor against a female student. Mamet here conveys a

message that misuse of power is consequential to destruction, intimidation and debacle.

Steven argues that:

Oleanna is developed around one of Mamet’s most basic them: human beings never-

ending battle to dominate one another. This need to obtain power, closely linked to our

most basic survival instincts, is the sole force that drives… Mamet character…, all whom

rely, or to rely, on manipulation and intimidation to accomplish self-serving goals. (393)

The professor misuse of power stigmatized him in the eyes of his colleagues and his

students. He is now under the knuckle of Carol his female student. Mamet in this play

discusses the effect of the misuse of the power. In act one john as a teacher has the

natural power and authority (professorial power), that the normal relation between the

students and their teacher is mutual respect. Carol was talking with john in a respectable

way and she came to him seeking help, but the way John talked to her (disinteresting),

the interruption he used by answer the phone, and his illogic explanation to her questions

drive her to tears; she felt that he is stupid . Carlo’s feeling of disappointment divulges

the meaning of misuse of power by her professor John. John instead of pathetic and

sympathetic shows his true color by exploiting her need for help to his own interest.

Therefore, we find incompatible conflict between a powerful professor and a hapless ,

helpless female student . Weber says:

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 Again and again John interrupts Carol, inhibiting her discourse and imposing his own

meanings. This abuse of power contradicts his stated conviction that student should be

taught to think for themselves. John’s interruptions are seemingly supportive and co-

operative, but in fact Carol experiences them as devices for maintaining power. (123)

However, with the turn of the events, john becomes powerless. He is now under the

mercy of his student (Carol). In act two John finds himself guilty of sexual harassment.

He is losing his tenure, his ambition and even his position. Carol is having the upper

hand; she is blackmailing John to withdraw his from the syllabus. This turn of events

gives a clear message that misuse of power can be a weapon of two edges.

What happens when one side has all the power: those in power take advantage. Those

without power lash out in their helpless. Initially, John has all the power: he understands

his book: he understands what he means. Carol not understands his point of view, so he

gives her failing. When she turns the table on him and takes all the power, he in his

powerless lashes out at her physically. Mamet’s play raises the issue of power inequity-

between teacher and student, between men and women, and by extension between other

groups with unequal power-but he does not give us any easy answers. (Jackson and Mary,

412)

Language power shifts as a result of misuse of power:

Language according to Mamet is a sacred thing and it is the source of power which

by it he translate his message in his plays. So Mamet use language to reflect his character

through what he call (Mamet speech); makes indirect connection between him and the

audiences even he is not acting in the theater but the audiences feel him through his

language. Therefor language for Mamet is the meaning of succeed; theme and characters

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will not complete without language, because the play itself is discussing for the language.

Oleanna as a play characterize the power of language and its change or shift that the three

acts faced many changings such as in the role of characters; emotions and the way of

speech as a result of the language change.

In act one John used the power language as he is a professor and the dominant

character that he talks with Carol in disinterested language because this is the normal

language of who have the power or authority like the language use between the

professors and their students. On the other hand Carol used the natural language of the

students for his or her professor which is depend on seriously and respectable because

students always seek of help from their professors and As we all know that when we need

something from anyone we most use the respectable language and he or she use the

disinteresting language. In addition to sometime some students represent their self in a

very negative and weakest way to earing the satisfaction or the sympathy or the

professors.

CAROL: you think I’m nothing.

JOHN: … have and appointment with a realtor, and with my wife and…

CAROL: you think I’m stupid.

JOHN: No. I certainly don’t.

CAROL: you said it.

JOHN: No. I never did, or never would say that to a student

CAROL: But then. But then what I’m doing here…? (12-13-14)

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 In this dialogue we can note that John is devoid of the emotions and intellectual

faculties that his status as an instructor requires. Instead, he is very proud of himself, his

theories, his affairs and his career, which he rates above everything. Also his speech was

too academic as he is a professor use the numerous pauses and terms in his explanation

like “broached”, “precepts”, “concepts”, “chart”, “paradigm” in addition to he often

repeat that he “can’t talk now” These are the language power tools which he used which

makes Carol feel that she is stupid and it is difficult to connect with her professor the man

who can improve she academically, so Carol show her weakness and represent herself in

a negative image as a result of the misuse of power by the professors against their

students

Mamet in this dialogue wants to show that language can be a tool of misuse of power

through the difficulties of acquiring and control language, especially in the specialized

environment of academy.

Kerkhoff examines the issue of status within the academic environment and draws

attention to Carol’s linguistic deficiency, which puts her at a disadvantage position:

Mamet wants to highlights this subordination from the start, for the play opens with John

talon the phone in Carol’s presence, a conversation physically closed to the student.

Likewise, through Carol’s first words_ “what is a term of art” which asks John to explain

a phrase he has just employed, the student not only draws attention to the play’s focus on

specialized discourse as a crux but she reveals her inability to particular fully and

properly in this language- center culture.

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 So, Mamet and Kerkhoff are both agree that the power of language can be change in

campus because of misuse of power by some professors and the character of John in the

play was a great example. The message is professors or teachers must be the helper and

the improver to the students even in the language they use and the way they are talk.

Act two and three are the turning point of all events in the play. John is accused of

sexual harassment against Carol. Both characters’ role and language become different,

Carol now has the power John loses his power and he begins to use justification

language. While In act one John is the dominant and who has the solutions which Carol

seeks to get. Now his role becomes different; he is afraid of losing everything because of

Carol accusation and he is desperate. Carol is using the hard language and the power

words like John words in act one. The power which Carol has got makes her imposing

her conditions; she wants to change everything, even the books which John teaches and

wants tit for tat. John is now powerless; he must do what she wants so as not to lose his

job. The misuse of power now playing its real role to change Carol and John language,

character and role; carol now who uses the hard or power words, enforcing her opinions

on him and interrupting him. John now not the dominant character, has no authority and

power; he is just gives justification. Carol now not seeking for help, but John is seeking

for that.

CAROL: (simultaneously with “escalates”). You see. I don’t think that I need your help. I

don’t think I need anything you have”.

JOHN: I feel

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 CAROL: I don’t care what you feel. Do you see? DO YOU SEE? You can’t do that

anymore. YOU.DO.NOT.HAVE the Power. Did you misuse it? Someone did. Are you

part of that group? Yes. Yes. You are. You’ve done these things. And to say, and to say

“Oh Let me help you with your problem…”

JOHN: Yes. I understand. I understand. You’re hurt. You’re angry.

Yes. I think your angry is betraying you. Down a path which helps no one

CAROL: I don’t care what you think. (49-50, ellipses in orig.)

This dialogue exposes for us how John language and words changed after he lost his

power as a result of misuse it, and also how Carol language and words differ from act one

when she came to John office seeking for help. The misuses of power by John give Carol

the full power and confident to make to him what he made to her.

Gender relation and misuse of power:

Most of societies are patriarchal, where men are the dominant gender and leading

power. Women are seen as subjugated gender; their main role is to run homes, to raise

children and to look after their husbands. The American candidate to the recent

presidential, Donald Trump detracted his opponent, Hillary Clinton by says “If Hillary

Clinton can’t satisfy her husband what makes her think she can satisfy America?” Trump

alludes in his speech to the notion that the criteria of women success begin at their homes

and their relationship with their families. If a woman fails to do so, she is a failure in all

sphere of life. This is of course gender discrimination.

John and Carol in the play discuss the issue of the bad relation between men and

women in general and between who has the power and who hasn’t. At the beginning,

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Carol as a female student is defenseless against John and has almost no power. John has

title, money, and is in charge both in his own household and at a societal level. In this

sense, John's power and authority as male professor is absolute. However, there is also

power in Carol's apparent weakness. Ironically, Carol's power also lies in the fact that she

is a woman. She understands how to manipulate her weak position in order to take

advantage of John. She knows that the tenure board will protect the weak and be in favor

of her due to the feminist movement during that time, so she charges John of sexual

harassment and rape simply because she can. In the end, when John is stripped of his

powers (his job, his house), he resorts to physical power by assaulting Carol. In

conclusion, sometimes power is not absolute, and even weakness can be manipulated to

become power.

John in the play represents a character of a powerful man. He is male and professor

and both makes him naturally has the power and authority. Carol was reflect the women

character of less of power that she is female, student who always seeks for help. The

conversation which happened between the professor John and his student Carol show that

she is not understand his speech and the academic concepts he use and that why she came

to him seeking to help and explanation, John failed in communication with Carol as a

kind of man power and social superiority. Carol as a female feel the weakness against

men power so she accused him in harassment. The characters of John and Carol in the

play demonstrate not only the distinction between student and professor, but more

importantly which the disparity between men and women.

Although John is a man and has the power and the authority as a professor, but this

power can be lost in a very fast way if its own cannot use it in the right way and the one

52
mistake from the smart man is like thousand mistakes. In act two the misuse of power

from John makes him lose it John now is accused of raping of female student and this

thing can destroy him to lose everything. On the other side Carol benefited from the

misuse of power from John to transfer it to her favors she knows the tenure committee

with her against John. So the misuse of power in the law of gender can shit the source of

power to be change from men to women as Carol with John.

In act three John feels that he will lose his power and everything by the hand of his

female student Carol. So he used the second part of men power which at the physical

power. He is beating Carol and beating is one of elements of the men power against

women. But here in this situation beating is symbol of weakness, that when John the

professor beating Carol the student he emphasis that he becomes weak in front of Carol

power and no way or nothing to do is just beating her as rehabilitate. This rehabilitate is

the right meaning of misuse of power from men against women.

Political correctness in (John) and (Carol) characters:

Political correctness can by define as the rule of people in use the right speech and

behavior in dealing with the other. They should be careful to not use language or behave

in a way offend a particular group of people. For example when John says to Carlo “I

like you” he says this phrase in sympathy way wants to help Carlo to change her nervous

mood, and this is one of the role of the professor toward his student. But in a political

way the phrase “I like you” can be interpreted as inappropriate. Also John use many

academic words like “broached, precepts, paradigm” these words for the professors are

normal words they use in their natural life, but for the student it is a new words. So when

53
the professor uses these words to talk whit student sometimes the student feel that it is a

kind of ‘supremacism’ exactly what happened between John and Carol.

Carol By using sexual harassment accusation makes the audiences think that this is

the real fact of women in the American society; they are cheaters use tricky way to get

their rights from men. But in fact she wants to show how men in American society have

arrogant behavior in dealing with women as a whole and girl student in specific. Also

when John put has arms around Carlo shoulders, he wants to show that men are too

sympathy with women. he thinks that is a normal and a good behavior but in fact it is a

kind of crossing a limits , rights and unrespectable thing, and that’s what happen with

Carol. So the relation between the political correctness and misuse of power is that who

has the power by bad use of it even in one word or one behavior can lose this power. John

and Carlo were a great example that he loses his professorial power because of some

follies he used against his student, and she represents women in bad way even they have

the right.

Political correctness in Oleanna can be appearing through the mistakes which both

John and Carol make. These mistakes even in direct or indirect way make a conflict

between John and Carol, so the side effect of any behavior represents the meaning of

political correctness. John in Oleanna becomes threatens by lose his job and everything

he has, because of some bad behaviors he uses against his female student Carol, while he

can use another behaviors to go far of these problems. Also he by these bad behaviors

distorts the name of the professors even they are the source of education and knowledge.

On another hand Carol by her bad behaviors reflect to the society a bad impression of

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women, that they always use cheating and accusation in their life. She also loses the

respectable of the other to her as a cheater girl. John and Carol are both losers in Oleanna

and this the message which Mamet want to receive to us that our bad behaviors can

destroying us, and we should be careful in any speech and behaviors we use.

Mamet in Oleanna represents who he is a very genius dramatist; he makes us join him

all the issues and cases he wants receive to us. He makes us thinking how these issues are

destroying. Also he puts in our minds and all readers and audiences of Oleanna this

question: who is right who is wrong? In fact the rule of both characters is to reflect the

real picture of the American society, how cases like misuse of power in campus, bad

relationship between some professors and their students between man and women and

language change effect the society.

John and Carol characters are just a tools Mamet uses to show through them the facts.

Therefore, One time we can say that John is wrong, another time we say Carol is wrong.

But in fact they are both wrong, and that what Mamet wants to says we all can be wrong

but we also we all can make the right. Oleanna of course characterize the life in campus

but also it reflects the life in the American society as a whole. It tackles issues like sexual

harassment, bad decisions impact, professor’s rules against their students and many

others. I think Oleanna is one of the must success plays in America that it is receives to

all American ages and argues all American problems. Also Mamet by Oleanna represents

for the all the important of the drama and its rule in the societies and he becomes like a

new Shakespeare his plays are suitable for all times, places and societies. Mamet says

The basis of drama is the struggle of the hero towards a specific goal at the end of which

he realizes that what kept him from it was, in the lesser drama, civilization and, in the

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 great drama, the discovery of something that he did not set out to discover but which can

be seen retrospectively as inevitable. The example Aristotle uses, of course, is Oedipus

(n.p.)

Techniques:

Mamet’s style, content and techniques make his plays challenging to stage. Perhaps

his style subject matter, being sparse and at times menacing, dissuade people from

attempting. John Lahr states Mamet “belongs in the pantheon of this century’s greatest

dramatist” (28). Mamet in the attractive way he uses the techniques which complete the

beauty of the theme becomes a very rare man and writer in the view of most dramatists.

Don says that Mamet is “One of the two most important dramatists of his generation”

(46). So Mamet in his plays has a full depending in how techniques play an important

role in complete the beauty of the theme or the plot and help in receive the message in a

very soft way to the audiences. Mamet in Oleanna uses many techniques, these

techniques makes the play one of the most success play in the 19th century.

Language (Tone, Interruption, Shouting):

Mamet in most of his plays devotes has concentration in the importance of the

language. He sees that language is the perfect and pure way receives the message to the

audiences. David through the language feels he can reflect his real character and also the

audience suffering. In Oleanna, languages plays an important role in make the play more

attractive and motivate, because the characters are two; professor (John) and student

(Carol) the language is formal communication that there is respectable from the student

toward her professor and there is seriously from the professor toward his student. But in

Oleanna, language running through many levels and shift depend in the events of the

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play and the situation of the character. In act one John represents the character of power

that he is a man and professor. John gives heavy, long worded speeches which show his

professor authority over Carol. While Carlo represent the weakest character that she is

student and woman so her language is respectable and subjection. But in act two and

three the language changed because of the events and the situation of the character

changed. John who is the professor now is accused of sexual harassment from his student

Carol who came to his office seeking for help. Carol now has the power so her language

shit to become a very hard language biased on threats and menace. Therefor John

language shit to become desperate and justification.

Mamet in most of his plays uses the poetic language; language far of realistic which

has a special music. The main reason Mamet insists his stage language is not realistic

because of the musical qualities he bring to speech. Mamet says “its poetic language. It’s

not an attempt to capture language as much as it is an attempt to create language…the

language in my plays is not realistic but poetic. The words sometimes have a music

quality to them. Its language that is tailor-made for stage” (David, K, 410). While Mamet

may have been influenced by how real people talk in his development as a playwright,

and real people may use some of the same words as his characters, Mamet insists his

stage language is an interpretation of how people talk and not a recreation. “It is an

illusion… so in this sense my plays don’t mirror what’s going on in the streets, it’s

something different” (Roudane, 180).

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Tone shite

Tone is an intonation, pitch, modulation, etc. of the voice that expresses a particular

meaning or feeling of the speaker. Manner of speaking or writing that shows a certain

attitude on the part of the speaker or writer, consisting in choice of words and phrase. The

change or shit in language which happened between John and Carol led to change and

shit in their tone of speech. In act one Carol represent the normal tone of the most

students who always seeking help from their professors so the use a very soft and

peaceable tone. John use the authority tone as he is a professor and student must respect

him, so his to has most stringency and strap. But because of the events and situation

change the tone of the both John and Carlo are changed. Carol’s tone show how she is

utterly out of line and John’s tone has a veiled hint of arrogance to it. Later, Carol comes

on way too resolute, while John appears meek, confused and acquiescent.

Interruption and Shouting

The relation between John and Carlo from the being based on miscommunication,

they both cannot understand each other; Carol came to John because she couldn’t

understand him, John cannot transfer his idea to Carol and his dominance in the

conversation, especially in act one as Carol asks what he means. “what is” something-

other-than-useful?” So when John answer his phone think that it is a normal thing, but

Carol thinks that it a kind of “interruption” this interruption was a kind of disrespectable

from John to Carol’s right of speech, because of that she thinks she is stupid and the

phone is more important than she. Shouting from Carol and John is a result of the

interruption. When Carol shouting “I don’t understand” shouting here is a kind language

technique means refusing. Carol by her shouting refuses John’s interruption and

58
miscommunication, so that she accused him by sexual harassment. In another situation

John also shouting this was in the end of act three when he attack Carol and shouting

(bitch and cunt) as a reason of Carol’s refusing to deny her compliment against him. So

interruption and shouting are both a specific kind of language techniques, use in a very

specific situation. This kind of language techniques is the most giving reality to the

audiences in the acting that sometimes audiences feel that what happen in the stage is not

acting but is real.

Literary Elements:

Literary elements have an existence in literary piece and are extensively employed by

the writers to develop literary piece such as:

Setting and Point of view:

Setting is the time and place in which the play takes place. It also can include weather,

social statuses and historical period. So the setting in the play Oleanna in case of social

status is between professor and his student. The place is office of a university professor.

Point of view is the mode of narration that an author employs to let the readers “hear”

and “see” what takes place in the play. Oleanna is first person that the characters (John

and Carol) are talking about their self and express their feeling.

Major Conflict and Climax:

Conflict is the main opposition, obstacle or compilation that characters need to

navigate in order for the play to reach a conclusion. The major conflict in Oleanna is

when John the man crosses the line in dealing or treating with Carlo and other women,

59
when they seeking help from their man professor without any benefit so she seek to put

stop to his actions.

Climax is turning point of a narrative work is its point of highest tension, or it is the

time when the action starts during which the solution is given. When Carol sees that there

is no benefit in talking whit John, she turns in official compliment to the tenure

committee to block John’s promotion. Also when John feels that Carol will not waives

about here compline and she and her group want his book banned from the university, he

attack and beats she.

Protagonist and Antagonist:

The main character in the play called the hero/ heron or protagonist. The term

‘hero/heron’ does not mean someone who is brave or noble: hero/heron may be good or

evil, low or high. Often opposing the hero is the villain or antagonist. In Oleanna Carlo is

the protagonist that the plot of the play revolves around her, and John is the antagonist

that he completes the events which Carols always begin.

Allusion and Personification:

Allusion is a brief and indirect reference to a person, place, thing or idea of historical,

cultural, literary or political significance. It does not describe in detail the person or thing

to which it refers. The play is an allusion about the patriarchal society (the relation

between the young people and how are older than them) of American and how it can shift

culture in a deeply serious way.

60
Personification is a figure of speech where human qualities are given to object or ideas.

Carol in her character personifies all women suffering of the bad threating from men. On

the other hand, John personifies the problems which sometimes the university’s

professors face from some students or the miscommunication of some professors from

their student. John and Carols are both personify the atmosphere of the campus in the

American society.

Literary techniques:

Literary techniques are structure usually a word or phrase in literary texts that writers

employ to achieve not merely artistic ends but also readers a greater understanding and

appreciation of their literary works. Like:

Metaphor and Similes

Metaphor is a figure of speech in which a term or phrase used to represent something

else; emblem symbol. In Oleanna, the name or the tittle of the play is a great metaphor

that the name of the play is taken from Norwegian folk song. This song talk about the

difficulties a man faced in live in a dense forest where people can’t live there. Mamet

uses this name to represent the difficulties which Carol faced from John. Carol character

is a great metaphor about the life of all women in the American society. Of course she in

the play a female student, but in fact she is a metaphor of women life in all part of

American society in houses, jobs, campus and so on.

The books which John writes and Carlo wants to banded this book from the university

library. Were a metaphor of John’s behavior which he wants to invades students’ minds

by. So that he refuses carols order to remove this book from the library of the university.

61
Symbolism

Symbolism is using an object or word to represent an abstract idea. Everything has a

symbolism (person, place, object and emotions). The telephone which John uses is a

symbol of interruption; when John phone ringed and he answer his wife, he interrupted

Carol’s speech. So the telephone is a symbol of the interruption which the plot of the play

revolves around.

The last sense of the play when John beats Carlo is a symbol of dispiriting. When John

used his hands to beat carol this is a great symbolism that he is lose his control and

patience. This beating from John toward Carol is a symbol that John now without the

mentality power, so he uses the body power.

Irony

Irony is using words in a way that the intended meaning is different from the actual

meaning of the words. Ironically in act one Carol came to John’s seeking for help, but in

act two John came to Carol seeking for help to not lose his job because of her compline.

It is like (magic turned on the magician). Ironically, in the American society the place

which people learn the education in (campus), John and Carol turned it to the place of

conflict between men and women. So the campus in the play transferred to be a

battlefield for John and Carol.

62
 CONCLUSION

Race and Oleanna discuss two important issues that concerned the American society-

racism and misuse of power, and they are extant in both plays. In Race, racism appears

clearly in the relationship between white people and black people, gender racism between

men and women, social statues racism, between the rich white men and the poor black

people. In Oleanna, racism appears in the relationship between the professor and his

female student. Misuse of power manifested clearly in Oleanna where the professor

misuse his power and exploit his poor female student. In Race the misuse of power is

exhibited in the way the two lawyers forced Susan to witness against the victim girl and

to support them. They also tried to obstruct justice and twist the investigation reports.

Both plays end with women’s triumph over men. In Race, Susan succeeded in

revealing the truth. In Oleanna, Carol is running the course of the event, where the

professor is at her mercy now.

Accusations were the basic of the events of both plays; that in Race the black girl and

Susan accusing Charles. In Oleanna, John also is accuse by Carlo. So in both accusation

women are victims (the black girl who raped by Charles and Susan in Race and Carol in

Oleanna) and man are accused. But the different of the accusation, in Race was a real

accusation that Charles is really accused and guilty, but in Oleanna the accusation was

theatrical that Carol makes this accusation to revenge from John.

63
 We have seen that both plays Race and Oleanna tackle two sensitive issues. Race

addresses racism and how some white men are ready to sacrifice all their principles,

norms and even their morals for material gains. Oleanna takes us to the college campus to

show us how some professors misuse their power to blackmail their students. The play

also shows how misuse of power can be destructive. Both issues are common in the

world. So we can say that both plays address world issues; both plays cross the borders of

America, they are universal. Both racism and misuse of power have plagued the whole

world. This of course earns Mamet the universality and the fame to be dramatist to all

generation.

Mamet has succeeded in carrying himself a niche in the world of modern drama.

This comes through his diligence to address in all his works all sensitive and

controversial issues. Mamet braves out all challenges and exposes some negative aspects

of the American society. He draws the attention of whole world to racism that has been

playing the American society till nowadays. David reviews all the dire consequences of

his folly. He authors a play tittle Race. In this play, Mamet shoes how racism gnawing

deeply in the American foundation. How white people sided with one another against

black people. How legal personal become a pawn in the hands of criminal, just to gain

some of his money. Mamet pinpoints that racism not only delay justice but is also deny it.

He also displays the adverse effects of racism on all people; where the American society

is divided among itself. In general the play rings a bell that racism is a blemish in the

history of America, the country that has been carrying the banner of liberty and

democracy.

64
 Mamet also draws the attention to another sensitive issue, the relationship between

university professors and their students. In Oleanna, Mamet highlights how some

professors misuse their power and use it to blackmail their students in an outrageous

manner. This misuse of power is a weapon of two edges; sometimes it has adversary

effects and causes destruction. Oleanna plays a very important role in the American

society. Some critics said that it not talks about the relationship between professors and

their students in the campus, but it also reflect the “patriarchal culture” in the American

society; the country which based on freedom to all individual.

What distinguish Mamet is has won style and his language. Mamet in his style and

language makes a special impact in the audiences’ soul, so his plays aims and massages

going deeply in the mind and heart. Therefor the audiences call the way Mamet writes the

play by “Mamet style”. Mamet is one of the rarely dramatist who mix between the

ancient drama and modern drama; he like to makes the individual is the heroes and the

government is the guilty. He in most plays tackles the issues which revolve around the

individual suffering, up of that he look to the society in an equally view no one in the top

no one in the bottom. David in his style likes the ambiguity and indirect way in highlights

the issues; because he wants the audiences share him the solution. In addition to he

always dwell upon the old issues in a very modern way like the issue of racism, because

he believe that the drama not only tackles the issue but it makes the solution for it.

Mamet believes that language is the dominating element in in theatrical art, taking

pre-eminence over character, plot, dramatic actions, physical action, center conflict,

theme, and spine or through line, performance style, scene design, costume and other

technical elements. David in the use of language he always distinguishes in the mix

65
between tragedy and comedy. So his plays always are attractive and emotive for the

audiences. Also he uses many kind of language depend in the kind of the audiences, so he

use many kinds of language in one play; educational, normal American (general or

vernacular), political and Negro language. This use of all kinds of languages tells us and

the audiences that Mamet’s message is not for specific people but for all.

66
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Anna, Brand. An Article, Donald Trump: I Would Force Mexico to Build Border Wall.
Data 6-28-15. http://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/donald-trump-i-would-force-mexico-build-
border-wall/amp

Berkowitz, Gerald. American Drama of the Twentieth Century. New York. 1992. P.p.
190-194

Billington, Michal. Race – review | Stage | The Guardian

https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2013/may/30/david-mamet-race-review. Hampstead
theatre. London. 30 May. 2013.

Charles, McNulty. Race Incendiary Topic Defused By Mamets’ Underwritten Characters.

https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-cm-race-mamet-review-20140908-
column.html. 8 Sept. 2014.

Charles, Spencer. Race, Hampstead Theatre, review – Telegraph

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/theatre-reviews/10089489/Race-Hampstead-
Theatre-review.html. 30 May. 2013.

Chuck, Smith. In Robert, Falls. On Stage Goodman Theatre. 170 North Dearborn Street.
Chicago. March, 2012. P.8

Cynthia, A. Young. Race, Rape, and White Victimhood: David Mamet “Race”. American
Quarterly, Volume 63, Number 4, December 2011, p.1017 (Article).

David, Krasner. Companion to Twentieth-Century American Drama. Blackwell

Published, 2005, p. 410.

David, k. Sauer. David Mamet’s Oleanna. New York Continuum, 2009, P.34

"David Mamet Quotes." BrainyQuote.com. BrainyMedia Inc,

https://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/david_mamet_601937. 19 April 2019.

67
David, Mamet. Basis of Drama. www.goodreaders.com.the.
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David, Mamet. Oleanna. New York: Pantheon Book. 1992.

David, Mamet. South of the Northeast Kingdom. N.W. Washington. 2002. P.149.

David, Mamet’s. Oleanna Drama Criticism. Ed. Lawrence J. Trudeau. Vol.24. Detroit:
Gale, Print. 2005. 129-31.

David, Mamet. Race. New York: Penguin.2009.

Delgado, Richard, and Jean Stefancic, editors. “Racism Is Here to Stay: Now What?” The
Derrick Bell Reader, NYU Press, 2005, pp. 85–90.

_________“Racism Is Here to Stay: Now What?” The Derrick Bell Reader, NYU Press,
2005, Pp. 73-77

Derrick, Bell. Faces at the Bottom of the Well: The Permanence of Racism. Basic Book,
New York. 1993. P.222.

Don, Shiach. American Drama1900-1990. New York: Cambridge University Press,

2000. P.46

Gloria, Ladson. Billings, A. and William, F. Tate. Toward a Critical Race Theory of
Education. Opinion Papers. New York. 1995. P.60

Henderson, D. Higgins, A. Day, B. Waller, S. Literature and Ourselves. Pearson,

Longman: London, New York. 2009. P.854.

Ingrid, kerkhoff. David Mamet Contemporary American Drama.

http://www.fb10.unibremen.de/anglistik/kerkhoff.

Jessie, Daniels. Meeting with David Mamet in NY time journalism. 7spet, 2009.

John, Lahr. Show and Tell. New York: Overlook press, 2000.P. 28.

68
John, Peck. & Martin, Coyle. Literature Terms and Criticism. Third Ed. New York.
Palgrave Macmillan. 2002. P.177

Julie, Rivkin. And Michael, Ryan. Literary Theory: An Anthology. Sec. Ed. UK, Oxford:
Blackwell published, Ltd. 2004, p.965.

Joyce, L. Hocker. &William, W. Wilmot. Interpersonal Conflict. McGraw-Hill

Education. New York, 2017. P.116

Kevin, Caruso. Rape Victims Prone to Suicide 2002. http://www.suicid.org/rape-

vicitems-prone-to-suicide.htm/.

Kerkhoff, Ingrid. Contemporary Theatre and Drama in the U.S. www.fb10.unibremen.de/

anglistik/kerkhoff

Jackson R. Bryer ،Mary C. Hartig.The Facts on File Companion to American Drama.2nd

ed. New York: Fact on File. 2010. P. 412.

Mark, Rubinstein. Writer to Writer: A Conversation with David Mamet. 18 Nov. 2013.
Update 23 Jan. 2014..

Robert, Dahl. A. The Concept of Power, Behavioral Science, 2:3 1957: July.p.201

Rothenberg.in Harris, L. Racism. Humanity Books. New York. (ed) 1998. P. 281

Roudane, Matthew. Mamet’s Mimetics. David Mamet: A Casebook, ed. Leslie Kane.
Garland Publishers,Inc., 1992. Pp. 3-32.

Sehvey, Henry. Power Play: David Mamet’s Theatre of Manipulation. David Mamet: A
Casebook, ed. Leslie Kane. New York: Garland Publishers, Inc., 1992. Pp. 87-108.

Steven, Ryan. Oleanna David Mamet’s power play. University of Toronto Press 1996:
393-403. Print.

Susan, C. W. Abbotson. Masterpieces of 20th-Century American Drama. ABC CLIO:

Westport, United States. 2005. P.173.

69
Theodosius, Dobzhansky. Heredity, Race and Society. Penguin books. New York. 1946.
P. 13.

Wade Bradford. Race by David Mamet: A play About Skin, Six and Scandal.
Thought.com.30 April, 2017. https://www.thoughtco.com/race-by-david-mamet.

Weber, Jean Jacques. Three Models of Power in David Mamet’s Oleanna: Exploring the
Language of Drama from Text to Context. Ed . Jonathan Culpeper, Mick Short and Peter
Verdonk. London: Rutledge, 1998. Pp. 112-127. Print.

70
 ‫جامعة بنها‬
‫كلية اآلداب‬
‫قسم اللغة اإلنجليزية‬

‫القوه والعنصريه في بعض مسرحيات ديفيد مامت المختاره‬

‫رسالة مقدمة لنيل درجة الماجستير في األدب االنجليزي‬

‫من الباحث‬

‫عبدهللا عباس عبدالقادر سالم‬

‫تحت اشراف‬

‫د‪ /‬وائل عبدالحكم‬ ‫أ‪.‬د ‪ /‬شرين الشورى‬

‫مدرس االداب االنجليزي‬ ‫استاذ االداب االنجليزي‬
‫قسم اللغه االنجليزيه وادبها‬ ‫قسم اللغه االنجليزيه وادبها‬
‫كليه االداب – جامعه بنها‬ ‫كليه االداب – جامعه بنها‬

‫‪2019‬‬
‫‪71‬‬
 ‫الملخص العربي‬

‫تناقش الدرما االمريكيه الحديثه في القرن العشرين جميع القضايا الساسيه و االقتصاديه واالجتماعيه‬
‫والثقافيه وغيرها في امريكا‪ .‬والتي جعلت كثير من الكتاب االمريكان امثال ميالر‪ ,‬تيسيني‬
‫ولياميز‪,‬يوجين اونيل و ديفيد ممت يناقشون هذه القضايا في كثير من اعمالهم الدراميه المسرحيه‪.‬‬
‫هوالء الكتاب اكتسبو شهرتهم في امريكا والعالم ليس فقط من خالل القضايا التي يناقشونها بل ايظا‬
‫من خالل االسلوب اللغه و طريقه طرح هذه االعمال ممكن يجعلها اكثر جاذبيه للقارء والمستمع‪.‬‬
‫واحد من هوالء الكتاب هو ديفيد ممت والذي هو دائما ما يكتب بطريقه جذابه جدا تلفت انتباه القارء‬
‫في مناقشته بعض القضايه الجوهريه‪ .‬لذلك كتبت هذه االطروحه لمناقشه بعض هذه القضايا مثل‬
‫السلطه والقوه والعنصريه في بعض مسرحيات ديفيد ممت المختاره‪.‬‬

‫بختصار هو ديفيد الن مامت هو كاتب امريكي معاصر ولد في ‪ 30‬من نوفمبر ‪ 1947‬شيكاغو‪,‬‬
‫الينوي الواليات المتحده‪ .‬هو كاتب و روائي و مخرج كتب كثير من المسرحيات التي تناقش قضايا‬
‫مختلفه مثل اميريكن بافلو ‪ 1975‬و غيرها الكثير‪ .‬حصل ممت على العديد من الجوائز مثل جائزه‬
‫بوليتزر للدرما وترشح للتوني لجلنغاري غلين روس ‪ . 1984‬كتب مسرحيات كثيره مثل مسرحيه‬
‫ريس السباق ‪ 2012‬تناقش العنصريه بين البيض والسود في امريكا وايظا مسرحيه ولينا ‪1992‬‬
‫والتي تناقش سوء استخدام القوه في الحرم الطالبي من بعض االساتذه والدكاتره‪.‬‬

‫سوف تقسم هذه االرساله الى مقدمه ‪ ,‬و ثالث فصول من ثم الخاتمه‬

‫المقدمه‪:‬‬

‫وهي تقديم وشرح لما سوف اقوم فيه في الفصول االخرئ‪ .‬وهي السيره الذاتيه للكاتب ديفيد ممت كا‬
‫روئي امريكي معاصر حياته ولدته دراسته و اعماله وتحدث عن المواضيع و النظريات النقديه و‬
‫التنقنيات التي ستخدمها في مسرحياته المختاره‪.‬‬

‫الفصل االول ‪ :‬نظريات القوه والعنصريه‪:‬‬

‫سيتكلم هذا الفصل عن النظريات النقد القوه والعنصريه في مسرحيات ديفيد ممت ‪‘Race’ and‬‬
‫‪‘Oleanna’ .‬‬

‫‪72‬‬
‫نظريه العنصريه هي عمليه البحث النظري والتفسيري التى تتعلق بدراسته امور العنصريه والعرق‬
‫من خالل هيمنه العادات والتقاليد والثقافات‪ .‬وهذه النظريه تعمل على البحث في كيفيه تاثر الفرد‬
‫ويصبح ضحيه لمشاكل العرق والعنصريه وتسعى ان يمثلو انفسهم المواجهة التحيز‪ .‬فالعرقيه‬
‫والعنصريه يمكن ان يكونو في جميع البلدان والمجتمعات المحليه بطرق واشكال مختلفه عنصريه‬
‫العرق بين لون الجلد اسود و ابيض‪ ,‬عنصريه الحاله غني و فقير‪ ,‬عنصريه الجنس رجل وامراه‬
‫واشكال عديده اخرى‪ .‬امريكا هي من اكثر البالدان وجود لهذه العنصريه ان لم تكن اكثرها‪ .‬هذا‬
‫الموضوع اصبح نقطه رئسيه لكثير من الكتاب والدرامين ليتناولوه في مسرحياتهم‪ .‬ديفيد مامت واحد‬
‫من هوالء الذين ناقشو العنصريه في مسرحياتهم مثل مسرحيه (العنصريه) و (والينا)‬

‫(العنصريه) هي مسرحيه تتكلم عن فتاه سمراء البشره سوسون تعرضت لالغتصاب من قبل مدير‬
‫الشركه التي تعمل لديها هو رجل غني ابيض البشره جارليز‪ .‬االتصاب هو واحد من اكثر رموز‬
‫االعنصريه و العبوديه حيث ينظر الرجال للمراه على انها اله لتفريق شهواتهم بستثناء سمراء او‬
‫بيضا البشره‪.‬‬

‫سوسون ‪ :‬انها ليست مسأله جنس انها عنصريه‬

‫جاك ‪ :‬وما الفرق بين االثنين ‪.‬‬

‫(العنصريه) كتبت ‪ 2009‬بعد ان تقلد الرئيس االسبق لي امريكا باراك اوباما الحكم هو الرئيس رقم‬
‫‪ 44‬واالول صاحب البشره السمراء والذي هو من االمريكان االفارقه وهو ايظا من شيكاغو‪ .‬من‬
‫الصعب ان يملك رئيس اسود الحكم في بلد البيض‪ .‬ولكن باراك اوباما كسر هذه القاعده واثبت ان‬
‫لون البشره ليس هي ميزان االنسان وان صاحب البشره السمراء يستطيع عمل ما يمكن ان يعمله‬
‫البيض بل ممكن افضل لذلك اراد ديفيد ممت للتطرق لهذا الموضع في المسرحيه حتى وان كان‬
‫طريقه غير مباشره‪.‬‬

‫نظريه النقد السياسي او القوه هي نظريه تهتم بدراسه ما يخص السياسه‪ ,‬العداله ‪ ,‬الحقوق البشريه‬
‫والقوانين وتعزيز الشفره القانونيه للسياده ماهي الحقوق والواجبات التي تحمي البشر كيف يجب ان‬
‫يعامل الشخص في مجتمعه‪.‬‬

‫‪73‬‬
‫(اولينا) هي مسرحيه كتبها ديفيد ممت تتكلم عن السياسه االكاديميه بين الطالب والمعلمين‪ ,‬تحرش‬
‫الجنسي وهي تتكلم عن طالبه تدعى كارول و استاذ جامعي اسمه جون‪ .‬ناقشت هذه المسرحيه كثير‬
‫من االمور النقديه مثل استخدام السلطه من بعض اساتذه الجامعه اتجاه بعض الطالب بطريقه سيئه‬
‫تحكميه ال اكاديميه‪ .‬كما قام به االستاذ جون عندما جائت الطالبه كارول لي مكتبه لتساله عن‬
‫موضوع في الدراسه غير مفهوم لديها وعندما سالته وبدء بالحديث معها اتاه اتصال كان من زوجته‬
‫مما جعله يقطع محادثته مع كارول وينخط في الحديث مع زوجته مما جعل كارول تشعر انها الشي‬
‫و انها غبيه وبهذا االتصال اراد ان يتخلص منها هذا الشيئ جعلها تبكي و تشعر انها غبيه‪ .‬هذه‬
‫الحادثه بينت سوء استخدام جون للسلطه االكاديميه و السياسيه حيث كان من المفترض ان يعرف انه‬
‫هو المسئول عن مساعدة وتحسين الطالب ال اهانتهم‪.‬‬

‫الفصل الثاني ‪ :‬العنصريه و المجتمع االمريكي في مسرحيه العنصريه‬

‫في هذا الفصل سوف اتكلم العنصريه في المجتمع االمريكي من خالل مسرحيه العنصريه والتي‬
‫تتكلم عن قصه فتاه سمراء تعرضت لالغتصاب من قبل مدير الشركه الرجل االبيض الثري والتي‬
‫اصرت على اخذ حقها منه بتقديمه للمحكمه لياخذ القانون مجاره ومحاكمته كمجرم‪ .‬في حين هو ال‬
‫يهتم ويقول انها سوداء البشره وسوف يقوم باسكتها من خالل تقديم المال لها‪.‬‬

‫وايضا سوف اتكلم عن العنصريه بين الرجل والمراه وكيف دائما ينظر الرجال للمراه بأنها تعيش بال‬
‫حقوق والمكان المفضل لها وهو بيتها واخذ العنايه بي ابنهائها و زوجها‪.‬‬

‫وايضا سوف اشرح التكنيكات التي استخدمها الراوي والتي تساعد في ايصال الصوره بشكل جذاب‬
‫للقارء والمشاهد وايضا سوف تعطي جمال للنص والسياق واصبح اكثر نجاحا‬

‫الفصل الثالث ‪ :‬اساءه استخدام السلطه (القوه) في اولينا‬

‫تناقش هذه المسرحيه العديد من القضايا االهامه في المجتمع االمريكي مثل سوء استخدام السلطه‪,‬‬
‫الصحافه السياسيه‪ ,‬قوه اللغه و تاثيرها والعالقه بين الجنسين وهي تتحدث عن طالبه تدعى كارول و‬
‫استاذ جامعي اسمه جون اساء استخدام سلطته االكاديميه معها مما ادى الى انها تشعر بانها فاشله‬
‫وتقوم بالبكاء لما فعل معها الكتور من اسلوب سيئ في معاملتها فتتهمه بأنه حاول االعتداء عليها‬
‫وتتقلب االحداث الن انت تصبح كارول هي صاحبه القوه و صبح جون هو االضعف للدفاع عن هذا‬

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‫االتهام ‪ .‬استخدم ممت في هذه المسرحيه الكثير من التقنيات اللغويه التي جعلت االحداث فيها جذب‬
‫للمشاهد والقارئ لمعرفه ما الذي سوف يحصل في نهايه المسرحيه‬

‫الخاتمه‬

‫من خالل هتان المسرحيتنا اثبت لنا الكاتب ديفيد مميت انه كاتب عظيم حيث انه استخدم االدب‬
‫وخاصه الدراما لي خدمة المشاكل والقضايا التي يتعرض لها االنسان ‪ .‬فا في مسرحيه سابق ناقش‬
‫واحد من اهم المواضيع التي يعاني منها كثير من المجتمعات حول العالم وهي قضيه العنصريه بكفا‬
‫انواعها ‪ .‬وفي مسرحيه اولينا ناقش ايضا قضايا اخرى مثل سوء استخدام السلطه العالقه بين الرجل‬
‫والمراه والتحرش الجنسي والعالقات السياسيه‪ .‬باالضافه انه استخدم الكثير من التقنيات في‬
‫المسرحيه التي جعلتها اكثر جاذبيه للقارء والمشاهد و ساعد في ايصال الرساله باسهل طريقه‬
‫واظهرت الجانب االنساني العظيم الذي يحمله االدب لحل مشاكل المجتمعات‪.‬‬

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