Comparative Studies: Cultural Context
Culture is simply the people’s way of living. The Cultural context in a movie, play or reading materials can be analyzed in terms of time at which the people lived; the place; setting; environment; social organization; social divide; family culture; gender roles; economic, religious and political status (Mcdonough 2005). In most cases authors of novels, books or articles and the directors of movies and plays apply more than one of the cultural contexts to bring out several intended themes. Integration of these aspects permits them to develop a close contact with the readers since this set platform for depicting reality. This essay aims to compare the cultural context in ‘The Plough and the Stars’ play by Sean O'Casey; ‘The Kings Speech’ movie which was directed by Tim Hooper; and the novel by Hugo Hamilton titled ‘The sailor in the wardrobe.' The comparison therein brings out the implication of cultural context within any given piece of art.
In terms of the settings used, the movie, the play and the novel exhibit a connection to the Britain and Ireland politics- especially the wars that confronted the land and its aftermath. All the three article focuses on the 19th century. In the play, ‘The Plough and the Stars’ O’Casey had very intense feelings about the war which is depicted in the characters behavior. The first two acts take place in 1915 as Ireland looks forward to its independence. The characters behaviors and choice of words are tormenting to each other (Sean 1915). Similarly, Hamilton’s novel ‘The sailor in the wardrobe also depict the aftermath of the Ireland war during the 1900s. Dan and Derry have very intense resentment towards each other. There are many troubles experienced by the family which reflect the Irish struggle for independence and the Second World War. Furthermore, in the ‘Kings Speech’ -produced in 1925- a state of commotion and lack of peace is also demonstrated in Britain and Northern Ireland especially following the death of King George V and the abdication of King Edward VIII. Bertie reassures the people of peace by his last speech after he succeeds his father as the king of Britain.
The other aspect that features significantly in the three genres is the theme. All of the three compared genres have love as one of the themes. In the play, the nature of love shown by the characters is so complex with various categories of love included; love for the country, family love and romantic love. The love between Nora and Jack is at stake in Act three where Jack finds himself in a dilemma of either choosing to stay with Nora or to go to fight for his country. A similar case is depicted in the movie whereby Elizabeth also shows love to her husband Bertie, especially by encouraging him regarding his speech problems. In comparison to the novel, Hugo’s father also shows a lot of love to his country. He feels that speaking the Irish language will unite the Irish people against the Britain. Love for his son is also shown when due to the rivalry that exists between Hugo and his father; at one point, the father physically attacks him but the mother comes in to intervene. This intervention brings out the love that Hugo’s father had for him- love that surpassed their rivalry and hatred.
Language seems to be an integral cultural aspect in all the three categories since it has always been so important in the Irish culture (Eliot 1949). The Sailor in the Wardrobe presents Hugo’s father as being very tyrannical about language. He did not permit any person in his house to speak in English simply because he believed that the only way to unite the Irish people is through speaking the Irish language. A similar instance regarding language also occurs in the movie whereby the fact that Bertie stammers during his first speech at the beginning of the movie affects him so much. The fact that he cannot communicate well is so disturbing especially because he is the Prince (Tim 1925). He decides to go for speech therapy and in the end; he makes such an impressive speech that comforts the people. Comparatively the play also puts a lot of emphasis on language and the power that words have (Joe 2004). For example, Fluther at some point refers to the speeches that people give by saying ‘jammed as I was in the’ crowd, I listened to the speeches pattern’ on the’ people’s head like rain falling on the’ corn..’ (Sean, 1915) It is imperative that language has a lot of power in both the novel the play and the movie.
Gender and gender roles also come out as an important cultural theme. In the play, women do not present themselves in the expected traditional way. The women engage in activities that are traditionally permissive to men such as drinking and fighting. Women also speak language which is not traditionally fit. Berssie, for example, says ‘After all, there is a power of women ..’ (Sean 1915). Despite this fact, women’s instinct is concerned with the well-being of the family, which makes them suffer from loss of family members more. Similarly in the novel, Hugo’s father appears to be the leading voice in their family as the mother and Hugo try to follow the rules. Hugo’s mother also shows the role of women in seeking to maintain peace in the family when she intervenes the fight between Hugo and his father. Likewise in the movie, Elizabeth continually comforts and encourages Bernie.
There are several differences between the movie, the play, and the novel. To begin with the novel has a cultural theme on religion. This theme is mainly developed by Dan, who is a Catholic, from Derry and Tyrone who are protestants coming from Belfast. In contrast, the theme of religion in ‘The King’s Speech’ depicts rebellion whereby Bertie refuses to be loyal to the church and the archbishop who seem to be so much worldly. In the play, religion does not seem to have any place in the people’s discussion.
The representation of money and work are also different in all the three. In the novel, Hugo goes to Berlin to search for work. His mother had been working for the Germans, and his grandfather died while sailing. The life they live can be categorized as lower middle class. Contrary to this, the play depicts a community that lives in Uttermost poverty. They drink a lot and their morals are not upright since they quarrel and fight. This initiates a view of society that is not ready to work hard for everyday earnings. Money seems to be very scarce. Divergently, the main characters from the king’s speech are from royal family and are obviously wealthy; consequently, there is no much concentration on the process of getting money within this society.
The other significant differences between the three are on the general historical setting. The novel is set in three different backgrounds especially focusing on the life of Hugo whose life starts in Ireland, and then he travels and gets pilgrimage in Berlin. The grandfather of Hugo is German, the father Irish and the mother is also a German. Divergently in the play, the setting takes place in Ireland for all the four acts, though the first two acts happen in the same year and the two last parts happen in the same period also. This differs strikingly in the movie. The characters involved are all pure in their race unlike in the novel where the main character is from a German mother and an Irish father (Momentum Pictures 2011).
The cultural context of ‘The King’s Speech’, ‘The Plough and the Stars’ and ‘The Sailor in the Wardrobe’ have various similarities on the setting, the language and wordings used. Further, the theme of love also helps in building the different themes. There are also several differences between the movie, the play and the novel on different cultural setting.
Bibliography
Eliot, T. S. (1949). Notes towards the definition of culture. New York, Harcourt, Brace. http://books.google.com/books?id=f_YtAAAAMAAJ.
Joe C (2004) The Plough and the Stars: Sixteen characters in search of analysis. http://www.redbannermagazine.com/Plough%20and%20the%20Stars.pdf
McDonough, T. (2005). Was Ireland a colony?: economics, politics, and culture in nineteenth-century Ireland. Dublin, Irish Academic Press.
Momentum Pictures (2011). The kings speech: Film Education
Sean, O (1915). The plough and the star: Abby theatres
Tim H. (1925).The King’s speech: Movie
