Statement of Intent Essays

Statement of Intent Essays Statement of Intent Essay Statement of Intent Essay Torvald Helmer and Willy Loman, the respective male protagonists from Ibsens A Dolls House and Millers Death of a Salesman, make interesting characters for comparison. Though for the must part they are complete opposites, both live in illusory worlds, an inevitable product of their masculine pride. Willy, out of place in a social environment he hates but wants desperately to belong to, is constantly fleeing to a heavily edited past for comfort, while systematically denying the reality around him.Helmer, though brashly self-assured in an environment he feels belongs to him, also lives an illusion, as his arrogance blinds him to the maturing woman inside the skylark he thinks is his wife. Through an imaginary conversation between the two men, I will try and show how their different characters and illusions comes out strongly in their language, in both cases a veritable rhetoric of the deluded. In recreating their very different dialects, I will examine how subtl e elements like tone and register are integral to characterization. I shall also include a little of each mans separate thought process to try and further develop their characters. Finally, I will interweave some important motifs of each play into this.We begin with a confused Torvald, mulling bitterly over why Nora left while nursing his bruised ego with self-pitying thoughts and lots of caffeine.1***It was hardly the kind of place he frequented often. Had it not been for the fact that he was in no mood to bump into anyone he knew, he would never have set foot in such a hovel. Eight years of marriage and it had come to this! How dare she leave him how would she manage onher own? This world was no place for a woman on her own. And what would people think? Could she not have spared his reputation a little thought at least? All that business with the money had been a terrible bore, but in retrospect it just showed how fragile and unsuitable to independence she was. Such a little songb ird, she could only come to harm without his protection.***Willy couldnt stop fidgeting. Everyone was laughing at him! He was sure of it. He shifted uncomfortably, feeling hemmed in by the cafes dark walls. The place had looked so open when he had walked past, full of flowers and air. But now more people had come in overpopulation it was and those flowers had turned out to be plastic. Everything was just walls and bricks, these days, just bricks and walls. It shouldnt be allowed! A man two tables across suddenly caught Willys attention. For a minute he thought it was that goddamn Howard. He looked the same age even had that same smarmy look on his face. Imagine! Hed named the man, hed helped the company grow, and now look what they do to him. Flustered, Willy clutched at the rough wood of the table, squeezing so hard it hurt. Something about the feel of that timber, so solid in his hands, made him feel all choked and, with a little cry, Willy stumbled up to leave.***A couple of t ables away a tragic-looking man clumsily got up, almost knocking down his chair. What a lumbering giant! So below him. Yet Torvald suddenly had a crazy desire to talk to this funny old man, with his Walrus-like, drooping face. He watched as the huge thing plodded across the floor looking self-consciously apologetic and completely lost. Have a seat, old fellow! Torvald boomed.He liked how the man jumped. The startled eyes, the immense, fidgeting hands which went immediately to straighten the cheap tie and then knotted themselves together frantically. He especially approved of how the man had obeyed immediately, and now sat staring at Torvald with obvious trepidation.You look like a man in a spot of trouble, if I may say so. Torvald was trying a little sensitivity here. Something about this mans abject apologeticness reminded him a little of the old Nora.Im strapped, Im strapped. I dont know what to do. The words escaped quickly from Willy. Hed been so sure the businessman had been la ughing at him! But he wanted to talk to him! How remarkable! The man was saying nothing, but had raised an eyebrow quizzically. Willy carried on talking quickly, words rumbling haphazardly out of his mouth. I was fired today. The woods are burning and that goddamn Howard fired me today.Oh dear. Torvald knew he should never have been compassionate; it was simply far too much bother. Still, business matters were his forte. Yes, its a wonderful thing to know that ones position is assured and that one has ample income, I quite agree, but arent you of retiring age, anyway? I say, which woods are burning exactly? I live rather near a forest.Retire? Why Im vital to the company! Im a people person, see. Open sesame for me it is but its not really the business, actually. My boys-they think Im a phony fake! But times are changing, and I dont understand. There used to be respect and comradeship and gratitude and now now theres nothing!Torvald was lost. Hadnt they just been talking business? What on earth was this fellow rambling on about? Still, loss of respect was something he could certainly relate to the man was still talking, honestly, there was no shutting him up.I put 34 years into the firm. Then-discarded like rotten fruit! There aint no respect these days, just people! People and no respect. Gee, how do we get back to those old times? Those light, open times!This was terribly hard to understand. Hed better try and clear things up a little before he got even more confused. Torvald hated confusion. And he was still worried about those woods. Now, calm down. Getting overexcited is useless; after all Im sure your boys will help you out.Theyre lazy, goddammit! They dont have respect either! Lazy when they could have gone so far. Theyre very attractive, yknow. Adonises they are Do you have boys?Oh yes, children. Another thing Miss Independent had forgotten in her foolishness. Torvald spoke slowly, painfully. I am left with three motherless children. Motherless, poiso ned children.Well, Willy wasnt sure how to react to that. Poisoned? Gee, that sounds badmaybe you should get a doctor?Oh, doctors Perhaps that Rank had something to do with the whole sorry business. Nora had been spending unsuitable amounts of time with him lately. But he found talking about his problems disarming. With a sigh he eased the conversation onto safer planes. Forget it. So what is it exactly that you do?Selling.Selling?Sure, selling. Why, they know me all round these parts and further! At the sound of my name they just let me through. Everywhere I go. Used to average a couple a hundred dollars a week boy, I knocked them dead!Ah, so then theres no problem, eh? Youll find another job in no time. Torvald was finding this rather incongruous conversation oddly cheering. The silly old mans pathetic suffering seemed to provide a dark background on which the sunlight of Torvalds success shone so hard he was blinded to all thoughts of Nora. Torvald stretched his arms, admiring h is fine shirtsleeves, and sent his cigar box toppling to the floor.Willy swooped immediately to pick up the mans cigars. Black Havanas they were. Now that was quality.Im liked, he suddenly blurted, Im well-liked. Just sometimes I become confused. I dont know where I am anymore, or what Im doing. I lose myself. I should have gone to Alaska!Oh dont be so theatrical, replied Torvald curtly, as he reclaimed his cigars with a vague nod of acknowledgement. Your problem is that you probably dont know how to save your money. You spend it on useless things. You must learn to economize.Yes. Economize. Sure. But, ysee the problem is I just dont know where I am anymore, Ben.Oh, dont make excuses, snapped Torvald. And its Helmer, not Ben whos Ben?Gee, there was a man that was something. He really knew what he was aboutwhat everything was about! A real miracle was Ben.So why dont you go and talk to him then? Honestly. Ungrateful fool and why was everybody so obsessed with miracles?Its a cutthroat world and Ben conquered it! Into the jungle without a penny, he went, and out with a fortune! What a miracle, heh? I often wonder hows it donecouldnt you tell me the answer?The miracle of miracles muttered Torvald. The sound of the door slamming as someone left the little cafe jolted him, and he stood up abruptly. Id really better go, old chap, he said quite dazedly.To Alaska? Great opportunities in Alaska. God, if only Id gone. Imagine the magnificence!Imagine, said Torvald. Imagine, he repeated, and he turned to follow the echo of the door.A Certain Private Conversation in One ActUnlike many imagined conversations offered for this option (2b), the participants here, Torvald Helmer and Willy Loman, are cannily chosen and the reasons for their choice are offered, as well as a clear focus on what is to be achieved. Features of style to be included are appropriately identified. Language in the piece is a fine complement to the intelligent characterization, while the handling of the d ialogue is both skilled and witty. Materials from both plays are deftly incorporated; the fictional personalities of the two men shine through in a credible conversation. 5555 (20)1 Torvald being not the kind of man to drink-at least probably not.