20世纪文学教学课件Cloud

1、Caryl Churchill sourcesourcesourceBorn in London on September 3, 1938.She grew up in England and Canada.Churchills writing focuses on issues of class and economics and their effect on women.In 1960, she received a BA in English from Oxford University.She wrote three plays: Downstairs, Youve No Need

2、to be Frightened, and Having a Wonderful Time.After graduation, she began to write radio plays for the BBC. Including The Ants (1962), Not, Not, Not, Not Enough Oxygen (1971), and Schrebers Nervous Illness (1972). Her first professionally produced play was Owners (1972) at the Royal Court Theatre in

3、 London.sourceChurchill has written plays in extended workshop processes with the directors and actors of two British theater groups: Monstrous Regiment and Joint Stock. While working with Joint Stock and Monstrous Regiment, Churchill wrote a number of successful plays including Light Shining on Buc

4、kinghamshire (1976), Vinegar Tom (1976), Cloud Nine (1979), and A Mouthful of Birds (1986).Churchills association with Joint Stock resulted in her most famous play, Cloud 9 (1979), about the relationship of colonialism and gender oppression.sourceChurchills remarkable career continues to develop, he

5、r plays seem to be growing more and more sparse and less and less inhibited by realism. In The Skriker (1994), she utilizes an associative dream logic which some critics found to be nonsensical. Churchill married David Harter in 1961 and has three sons. Her awards include three Obie Award (1982, 198

6、3 & 1988) and a Society of West End Theatre Award (1988).sourceAct I - CharactersClive - Bettys husband, a British aristocrat, a racist, have an affair with Mrs. SaudersBetty - Clives wife, played by a man, indecisive, dreams of relationship with HarryJoshua - An African native, Clives servant, play

7、ed by a white, negation of his own raceHarry - Clives friend, a British explore, homosexuality, sexual leanings of the members of Clives family Act I - CharactersMrs. Saunders - A widow, objective, having an affair with Clive Edward - Clives son, played by a woman, proclivity to feminine things, att

8、raction to malesVictoria - Clives daughter, played by a dummyMaud - Bettys mother, a traditionalist, believes that women are meant to serve husband and home Ellen - Edwards governess, fond of BettyAct I Summary (1) The main characters of Clives family welcome the audience to his African home with a

9、song paying tribute to England. Clive returns home after managing the troubles among local tribes. Betty greets him and they swap stories about their days experiences. When Clive learns that Joshua has been rude to Betty, he scolds Joshua. After this scolding, Clive greets the rest of his family, as

10、king his children about their daily activities. Then the family welcomes Harry Bagley and Mrs. Saunders. Harry, an explorer, visits the family between expeditions. Mrs. Saunders, a widow, arrives exhausted, seeking protection from the natives. Betty and Harry flirt, revealing their attraction for on

11、e another. Later, Harry asks Joshua to have sex with him, and they leave for the barn together.Act I Summary (2) Clive chases Mrs. Saunders away from the house and performs oral sex on her. At the Christmas picnic, Clive and Harry toss a ball with Edward. The game of ball gives way to a game of hide

12、 and seek, during which Edward and Harry reveal that they have a sexual history. Edward hopes to rekindle this relationship, but Harry is hesitant to approve. Meanwhile, Ellen professes her love for Betty. Betty dismisses Ellens comments as ridiculous. Later, Clive and the men flog the natives as th

13、e women wait inside the house. Ellen becomes angry with Edward for playing with a doll and slaps him. When Clive returns from the flogging, Edward apologizes for playing with the doll and asks his father for forgiveness. When all but Betty and Clive leave for the verandah, Clive tells Betty that he

14、knows about her affair with Harry and then he forgives her.Act I Summary (3) As tension grows among the natives, Clive finds a moment alone with Harry telling about the increasing dangers. Harry makes a pass at Clive. Seeking a cure for Harrys perversity, Clive attempts to marry Harry to Mrs. Saunde

15、rs. She refuses it. News that Joshuas parents have been killed by British troops distracts Clive momentarily. Then Clive forces an engagement between Harry and Ellen. At the wedding party, Mrs. Saunders announces that she is leaving, but before she can exit, Clive kisses her, prompting a fight betwe

16、en Mrs. Saunders and Betty. Disgusted at Mrs. Saunders behavior, Clive kicks her out of the house. When Clive goes to toast the newly engaged couple, Joshua raises a gun to shoot Clive. Edward sees this action, but does not warn Clive.Act - CharactersBetty - Played by an old woman, acquires sense of

17、 independenceVictoria - Bettys daughter, search for her own identityLin - A brash lesbian, uncertain about being a mother, fond of Victoria Cathy - Lins daughter, played by a man, using aggressive languageAct - CharactersMartin - Victorias husband, Sex-obsessed, self-righteousEdward - Bettys son, pl

18、ayed by a man, homosexual, fits well into the role of mother and wifeGerry - Edwards lover, a promiscuous homosexual, distaste for commitmentTommy - Victorias sonAct - Summary (1) Victoria appears in a London park on a winter afternoon with Lin and Cathy. When Cathy exits to play elsewhere, Lin info

19、rms Victoria that she is a lesbian, and she asks Victoria to go to a movie with her. Edward, now a gardener, joins the two women, followed by Betty. Betty also mentions that she is considering leaving Clive. Betty lets Cathy play with her jewelry. In the spring, Edwards lover Gerry comes to the park

20、, where they argue about Gerrys lack of commitment. Victoria returns to the park with her husband Martin, who speaks about sex and his desire to please Victoria. Lin enters when Martin leaves and tells Victoria that her brother, a soldier, has died in Belfast. When Lin and Cathy get into a fight, th

21、ey lose track of Victorias son Tommy. A brief panic ensues before they find him. Gerry and Edward return, and Gerry breaks up with Edward.Act - Summary (2) On a summer night, Lin, Victoria, and Edward come to the park to hold a ceremony for a sex goddess. Martin arrives and they pull him into the or

22、gy. Moments later, Lins dead brother appears and relates the experience of his service in the army. Lin collapses when her brother disappears. Characters from Africa begin to make brief appearances, interacting with the London characters. By late summer, Lin, Victoria, and Edward have moved in toget

23、her. Betty has rediscovered the joy of masturbation. Gerry and Edward reconcile and make plans to go out some time. On a trip to get ice cream, the Dead Hand Gang assaults Cathy. Martin and Lin fight over who was supposed to be looking after Cathy. All but Gerry and Betty leave. In her discussion wi

24、th Gerry, Betty comes to terms with the fact that Edward is homosexual. Betty from Africa returns and embraces the new Betty.On September 23rd through the 26th 1999, Clemson Universitys Theatre Department performed Caryl Churchills play Cloud 9 at Clemsons Brooks Theatre.Costume Designers for Cloud

25、9 The costumes let the audience be transported back into the time period of the play and to get a better understanding of the dress of that time. In the first act, the setting is Africa in 1879In this time period, the dress was traditionally Victorian which can consist of hoop skirts, tight bodices,

26、 knee high socks, and riding outfits. So this part is difficult. Many pieces of costumes had to be made by hand. In the second act, the setting is London in 1979.This would be standard contemporary dress. So dressing the actors was a little easier.Cross-dressingIn the play, there are men playing wom

27、en and vise versa. The director wanted the audience to recognize the actors by their face, not by the type of costume they wore when they were the previous character.Costumes of Characters in Act 1The director wanted Act 1 costumes to be bright because of the mood.CliveBettyEdwardHarry Bagley Mrs. S

28、aunders Joshua Costumes of Characters in Act 2 In Act 2, the colors of the costumes would be muted because the mood of this act was more somber than Act 1.BettyEdwardVictoriaLinCathyGerryMartinInteresting Information The hardest costumes were Lin and Gerry in Act 2 (She did not want them to look lik

29、e the stereotypical homosexual) Women shoes that fit men sizes are very hard to find Casts (in general) usually do not like the costumes (The cast for Cloud 9 has been really great in accepting the costumes.) ThemesColonial OppressionSexual OppressionViolenceSex and GenderThe Quest for IdentityThe S

30、ets on the StageAct I takes place in Africa, roughly during the 1870s, the British Victorian era. During this time period, British colonialism was still in full swing.Act II takes place in London around 1979. By this time period, British colonialism had all but completely deflated, but other forms o

31、f repression remained. Homosexuals, though far from completely welcome, had established a presence in the cultural landscape of British society. Divorce had become acceptable, and women had gained new freedoms and greater status. Colonial OppressionCLIVE had those Stable boys flogged.CLIVE: Its my d

32、uty to have them flogged, to keep you safe.CLIVE: You can tame a wild animal only so far. . Sometimes I feel the natives are the enemy. Implacable. This whole continent is my enemy. I am pitching my whole mind and will and reason and spirit against it to tame it,. (p. 33)*CLIVE made JOSHUA flog thos

33、e stable boys, and he thought its necessary to do so. Colonial OppressionThe British Soldiers oppressed the African nativesCLIVE: . Harry, there was trouble last night. But its all over now. Everything is under control. CLIVE: We did a certain amount of damage, set a village on fire and so forth.CLI

34、VE: The army will come and visit, . to see the British army? (p. 37)Colonial OppressionThe British Soldiers killed JOSHUAs parents. MRS SAUNDERS: . Ive just found Joshua putting earth on his head. He tells me hisparents were killed last night by the British soldiers. I think you owe him an apology o

35、n behalf of the Queen. (p. 41) *Then JOSHUA shot CLIVE at HARRYs and ELLENs wedding.Sexual OppressionCLIVE forbad EDWARD playing with a doll. CLIVE: Whats that youre holding?BETTY: Its Victorias doll. BETTY: You dont want papa to see you with a doll.CLIVE: Ellen minds Victoria, let Ellen mind the do

36、ll ELLEN takes the doll. (p. 8)Sexual OppressionCLIVE felt disgusted at HARRY for hes a gay. CLIVE: My God, Harry, how disgusting. HARRY: It is not a sin, it is a disease. CLIVE: My God, what a betrayal of the Queen.HARRY: Clive, I am like a man born crippled. (pp 40-41) *CLIVE enforced HARRY to get

37、 married.Sexual OppressionELLENs inner oppression. ELLEN: Betty, what happens with a man?.BETTY: ELLEN, youre not getting married to enjoy yourself. ELLEN: Dont forget me, Betty. (p. 44)* ELLEN will be oppressed in her life after shes married because she actually loved a woman, Betty, not men. Viole

38、nceBETTY and ELLEN slapped EDWARD. EDWARD, meanwhile, has found the doll and is playing clap hands with her.BETTY: Edward, what have you got there?BETTY: Edward, Ive told you before, dolls are for girls.BETTY: You must never let the boys at school know you like dolls. Never, never. . (p. 30) (contin

39、ue)ViolenceBETTY: you wont grow up to be a man like your papa.BETTY: . and papa will beat you. BETTY takes the doll away, slaps him, bursts into tears. ELLEN comes in. . She slaps EDWARD, who bursts into tears and goes out. (pp 30-31)*BETTY and ELLEN slapped EDWARD because he held the doll again. ED

40、WARD didnt want to be a man like his father.*CLIVE himself was not actively violent, perhaps suggesting the hypocrisy of his oppression. *He kept his hands clean by allowing others to actually carry out his wishes with violence. ViolenceLINs and CATHYs conversation always filled with violence.CATHY:

41、 What is it? Who skilled? What?CATHY: Can I have his gun? CATHY: Fuck off. LIN hits CATHY, CATHY cries.LIN: And shut up or Ill give you something to cry for. They are all shouting. Then they laugh and embrace. (pp 67-68)Violence and Sexual OppressionThe violence of Act I (as CLIVE, BETTY and ELLEN d

42、id to EDWARD) reappeared in the assault on CATHY by the Dead Hand Gang. CATHY comes on howling with a nosebleed. CATHY: Took my ice cream.CATHY: Took my money.CATHY: They hit me. I cant play. They said Im a girl. (p. 84)Sex and GenderThe play gets inspired from the life stories and personal sexual e

43、xperiences of the theater membersThe great challenge of life is learning to reconcile ones upbringing and ones physical identity with ones true sexuality.cross-casting makes gender visible by separating feminine gender from the female body, ex: Betty played by a mancross-casting also illuminates the

44、 role of socialization in the formation of gender identity, ex: young Edward trying to escape from traditional role expectationsthe only cross-casting of Cathy in act two involves in the issue of what is considered correct behavior for a girl, in association with Edward in Act One characters not pla

45、yed by opposite-sex actors have nontraditional sexual orientations ex: Harrys sexual relationship with little Edward.The Quest for IdentityCharacters self introduction in the beginningCharacters in act one not able to act out their true feelingsgame of hide and seek allows them to reveal themselvesC

46、lives value system calls for a covering of identity if that identity disrespects EnglandBetty, Edward, and Victoria in act two continue the search for identitythey face new challenges of establishing an identity in a world far different from Victorian era AfricaMotifsEmbracingSeasonsEmbracingthe act

47、 of embracing repeatedly as a physical means of demonstrating love or the lack of love, ex: Ellen embraces Betty as she expresses her love for her.Clive and Betty never embrace, suggesting the superficiality of their relationshipthe two Bettys embrace at the end, showing Betty has finally grown to l

48、ove herselfSeasonsseasonal changes parallel the self journey act two opens in winter, the sexuality of the characters are cold and dead in many wayswhen spring arrives in act two, scene two, people begin to come out of sexual hibernation, ex: Gerry and Edward break off their relationship, Victoria and Martin argue about the their marriagewith summer comes sexual liberation, Lin, Victoria, and Edward hold a