How I Learnt to Drive is a play that was written by Paula Vogel, who is an American playwright. The play was commissioned on March 16, 1997, at the Off-Broadway in New York near Vineyard Theater. The play is important because it concerns an affair between Li’l Bit who is a protagonist in the play and her uncle by the name Peck. The affair between the two takes place for a year where Li’l Bit matures regarding her character from eleven years to eighteen years. The play depicts several comical elements that signify humanity and the character that binds the two. The main characters in the play are Li’l Bit and Peck even though there are other characters that shape their lives in rural Maryland family. The film uses music such as "Dream Baby" and ‘Little Suffer Girl" that assist the audience to connect with one stage of the play and the other (Fleer 17). Family members such as Peck’s grandfather, grandmother and Aunt Mary play a critical role in shaping the play. The two main characters engage majorly in affairs between themselves. They are actively nurturing their relationship, and they expect their family members to support them and shape their future. Li’l and Peck say that they would live together but the other characters such as Aunt Mary talk ill of their plans.
The given opposing circumstances make their relationship to become strong. Even though other characters such as Aunt Mary do things that target to separate them but instead strengthens their relationship. The play’s central conflict is the antagonism between those who are for Li’l Bit and Peck’s affairs and those who are against it. The producer explains that characters such as Peck’s grandfather and grandmother are against the affairs of the two (Fleer 24). However, some other characters such as Peck’s mother and father are for the idea that the two continue with their affairs. This antagonism makes the two to rethink and redefine their relationship and thus, motivates them to go ahead with their affairs. The main forces that oppose the main characters are those coming from Aunt Mary, Peck’s grandmother and grandfather.
The characters speak differently in different situations, and this signifies the conscience that is found among the characters. For example, during the first year in college, Li’l Bit receives several letters from Peck explaining the forces that aim at bringing down their relationship. She does not reply to Peck’s letters but later meets him and explains to him that she is no longer interested in pursuing any relationship. However, they later met in driving lesson and restart their relationship. From the stage directions, it is clear that Peck is too much interested in Li’l Bit, but she has not taken seriously the love that Peck shows her. Furthermore, the costumes used by the characters reveal those who are supporting the main character’s relationship and those who oppose it. This is seen when the relationship between Li’l Bit and Peck reaches a crisis when Li’l refuses to reply Pecks messages and later tells him that she is not interested in pursuing the relationship further (Fleer 56). The climax of the play's climax is reached when Li’l and Peck meet in the driving lesson and reunite. The major dramatic question is whether the relationship with several opposing forces will succeed. The inciting incident is when Peck writes love letters to Li’l Bit. The way the plot is set by the producer is significant and reveals what happens between one stage and the other. What is more, the suspense provided in every stage makes the audience curious to know what follows in the next stage.
Works Cited
Fleer, Marilyn. "How role-play is learnt in families." How I learnt to Drive” (2011) Print.
