According to White Hayden, historical accounts are connected to inherent and connectivity platforms. In his assertions, history and fiction ought to be taken as genres of a distinct basis. He argues on the plausibility of analyzing historical accounts as either fiction or science. Unlike science that is subject to interpretation and references, historical events do not entail facts that have been agreed upon and accepted to be inducted. Historical events focus on chronologies and past fallacies which find a recognition scope, as opposed to other submerged past occurrences.
In this case, Arcadia is well established along White Hayden’s provisions. Preferences of a historian determine the result. Historical recordings assume their basis from culture. According to White Hayden’s theories, history focuses on culture. A historian is interested in his culture as opposed to other cultures at that material time. Historical information is beefed up by themes and literary devices in the strict application by historians. A view on historical events from a subjective point of view leads us to a deep mire of not arriving at a cogent position of ascertaining the truth. Use of satire and instruction must be observed when analyzing historical events. In his regard, therefore, it is vitally essential to use White Hayden’s analogy and take of things in analyzing what Arcadia brings about Thomasina, a main character in Arcadia.
Thomasina is brought out as an analytic person. She goes ahead to conclusively sum up what she was reading to a comprehensive understanding of the nature and its chaotic shapes. She analyses a position assumed by rice that was under her contemplation. Aspects of commitment and knowledge driven lady emerges in scene three when historic recordings in regard to White’s postulations brings out facts that, she cried when she got wind of the destruction a library that she ardently considered and valued.
Thomasina’s theory and discoveries fall relevantly to Hannah. In this case, it can be concluded that, White’s stands as far as the relevance of history stage-marks the importance of ideas on circumstances that were prevailing .Similarly, Thomasina’s past activities and events in the old set up as brought out in Scene One of Arcadia show that, she was tactful and secretive. She intentionally hides information that her daughter tries to siphon from her. Thomasina diligently comes up with the second law of thermodynamics. Her relevance, therefore, can be attributed to White Hayden’s understanding of what brings about a reasonable impact in as far as past events are concerned. In this case, science was at play. Her scientific innovations and discoveries were not upon fallacious grounds.
In Arcadia, it is event that two scenes are close to each other. The reason behind this phenomenon falls upon the fact that, the transition marked the proximal establishment of events. For instance, between the first and the second scene, there is no significant gap and difference between the scenes. It was meant to bring on board White’s illustrations on the use of literary devices and mechanisms to demonstrate ideas that assumed a referential line essential in understanding the play. The shift from the first to the second scene is sharp. The relevance of this is that, contrast is well communicated owing to the trend of events. Linkages are better displayed in the event creative and scholarly approaches are used. In Thomasina’s case, for example, it is unequivocal that the short synapse facilitates connectivity and the importance of her actions to the second scene. Had the scenes’ a gap reduced further, it is obvious that the flow of information and ideas would have been impaired on considerable grounds.
In Arcadia, the table symbolically represents an old phase of things passed on to a new generation. It increasingly appreciates in stature owing to the fact that it was purposed to establish a contrast of event which center stages the direction of the play. The theme of chaos and disorder is best fitted in the event of the table’s presence in narrations and staging that entails the play. It represents a dichotomy of events. At the end of the play, it is filled with a lot of different things that are not in order. Disarrayed things on the table culminate to an appreciation of the purpose of the writer in writing the play. A theme of irreversibility of time is supported by the table. However, it is virtually hard to come to the appreciation of a reversibility of time. Similarly, the table merges the present time as it regards the play with older times in history. In this case, it is reasonable to come to a conclusion upon basing on assumptions on the fact that only one table was under the representation. It means that, even though the play was focused on two phases of time, the phases still interlinked and paid homage on the same baseline. In this regard, it is plausible to state that the play can hardly exist in the absence of a large table. It is the backbone of ensuing events in the play.
In a statement uttered by Valentine on grounds that everything was mixing, he meant that nothing at that point in time autonomously existed on its own. Autonomy was a forgone instance. By stating that there was no time left, he meant that, time to correct the worsened aspects of the society to a new state which was not in scope. Time in this category of literary work represents White’s contestations on the use of words so as to capture historical observations and their discoveries. On aspects that revolve around free will and determinism, these statements pause into play instances that give a leeway to people in deciding what they want on their own rationality grounds or being under the curtail of circumnavigated directives.
Thomasina and Septimus are brought out as individuals with a strong and ardent cordial relationship with one another. As it regards themes of history, love and mathematics, Septimus and Thomasina offer the following support positions;
When it comes to the theme of history, the two individuals go ahead to comment on findings that had been made. Similarly, their close ties when it comes to aspects that assumed a social angle, it can critically be clarified that these interactions formed a historical basis. On the issue of mathematics, Septimus was a great mathematician whose ideas were well ramified throughout the play. In this case, achievements to this phenomenon were supported by her engagements with Thomasina. When it comes to love, they will have emotive aspects of on an erotic front. The significance of the relationship between Thomasina and Septimus was that, formed the basis of the play in all events that encompassed it.
Entropy is the scientific measure of disorder. It is in the field of thermodynamics. However, its principle has been extensively used in this play to illustrate social and erotic relationships between characters in Stoppard’s play. The play uses Entropy so as to bring into aspects of instabilities and hurricane that are represented by lustrous and erotic appetites by characters in this play. Entropy is equated to love. In this regard, upheavals and instantaneous problems that come along with love are equated to entropy and its characterization. The two characters that best illustrate this are, Thomasina and Septimus. Their interactions in the play end up developing expressions of desires of love. Their love journey appears to be along a wavy line which is facilitated by the ensuring problems that circumscribe their love.
The play shows that, Valentine’s mathematical graphing is similar to Hannah’s historical writings in that they all formed the basis of reference points. On the other hand, there existed differences that were guided by White Hayden’s illustrations on history and science. Hannah’s position was not cogent owing to the fact that, White guides us into understanding that history that is based on perceptions and personal views of things. On the other side of the same slate, Valentine’s work was of a scientific origin. It had a reasonable course since it was supported by facts and illustrations that were focused on further extrapolating its validity. Use of abstract approaches as telescope for peeping g into the future comes out as an outright odd representation by the two contrasting instances.
In summation, from the above thesis discussion, Hayden White’s essay substantively adds up value to Tom Stoppard’s Arcadia play.
Works Cited
" Arcadia." Stoppard, Tom. New york: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013. 8-12.
"Arcadia." Stoppard, Tom. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013. 15-18.
"Arcadia." Stoppard, Tom. New york: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013. 22-30.
"Arcadia." Stoppard, Tom. New York: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2013. 42-50.
"Historical Text as Literary Artifact." White, Hayden. New York: Ohio State Publishers, 2013.
