Analysis of Feathers, a Short Story by Raymond Carver

Analysis of 'Feathers,' a Short Story by Raymond Carver American poet and author Raymond Carver (1938 - 1988) is one of those rare writers who is known, like  Alice Munro, primarily for his work in the short story form. Due to his economical use of language, Carver is often associated with a literary movement known as minimalism, but he himself objected to the term. In a 1983 interview, he said, Theres something about minimalist that smacks of smallness of vision and execution that I dont like. Feathers is the opening story of Carvers 1983 collection, Cathedral, in which he began to move away from the minimalist style. Plot of Feathers SPOILER ALERT: If you dont want to know what happens in the story, dont read this section. The narrator, Jack, and his wife, Fran, are invited to dinner at the home of Bud and Olla. Bud and Jack are friends from work, but no one else in the story has met before. Fran is not enthusiastic about going.   Bud and Olla live in the country and have a baby and a pet peacock. Jack, Fran, and Bud watch television while Olla prepares dinner and occasionally tends to the baby, who is fussing in another room. Fran notices a plaster cast of very crooked teeth sitting on top of the television. When Olla enters the room, she explains that Bud paid for her to have braces, so she keeps the cast to remind me how much I owe Bud. During dinner, the baby begins fussing again, so Olla brings him to the table. He is shockingly  ugly, but  Fran holds him  and delights in him in spite of his appearance. The peacock is permitted inside the house and plays gently with the baby. Later that night, Jack and Fran conceive a child even though they had not previously wanted children. As the years pass, their marriage sours and their child demonstrates a conniving streak. Fran blames their problems on Bud and Olla even though she saw them only on that one night. Wishes Wishes play a prominent role in the story. Jack explains that he and Fran regularly wished out loud for things we didnt have, like a new car or the chance to spend a couple of weeks in Canada. They dont wish for children because they dont want children. It is clear that the wishes arent serious. Jack acknowledges as much when he describes approaching Bud and Ollas house: I said, I wish we had us a place out here. It was just an idle thought, another wish that wouldnt amount to anything. In contrast, Olla is a character who has actually made her wishes come true. Or rather, she and Bud together have made her wishes come true. She tells Jack and Fran: I always dreamed of having me a peacock. Since I was a girl and found a picture of one in a magazine. The peacock is loud and exotic. Neither Jack nor Fran has ever seen one before, and it is much more dramatic than any of the idle wishes theyve been making. Yet Olla, an unassuming woman with an ugly baby and teeth that needed straightening, has made it a part of her life. Blame Though Jack would place the date later, Fran believes their marriage began to deteriorate precisely on the night they had dinner at Bud and Ollas, and she blames Bud and Olla for it. Jack explains: Goddamn those people and their ugly baby, Fran will say, for no apparent reason, while were watching TV late at night. Carver never makes it clear exactly what Fran blames them for, nor does he make it clear exactly why the dinner gathering inspires Jack and Fran to have a baby. Perhaps its because Bud and Olla seem so happy with their strange, squawking-peacock, ugly-baby lives. Fran and Jack dont think they want the particulars - a child, a house in the country, and certainly not a peacock - yet perhaps they find they do want the contentedness that Bud and Olla seem to have. And in some ways, Olla does give the impression that her happiness is a direct result of the particulars of her situation. Olla compliments Fran on her naturally straight teeth while she herself had required braces - and Buds devotion - to fix her crooked smile. At one point, Olla says, You wait until you get our own baby, Fran. Youll see. And as Fran and Jack are leaving, Olla even hands Fran some peacock feathers to take home. Gratitude But  Fran seems to be missing one fundamental element that Olla has: gratitude. When Olla explains how grateful she is to Bud for straightening her teeth (and, more generally, giving her a better life), Fran doesnt hear her because she is picking through the can of nuts, helping herself to the cashews. The impression is that Fran is self-centered, so focused on her own needs that she cant even hear someone elses expression of gratitude. Similarly, it seems symbolic that when Bud says grace, Olla is the only one who says amen. Where Happiness Comes From Jack does note one wish that came true: What I wished for was that Id never forget or otherwise let go of that evening. Thats one wish of mine that came true. And it was bad luck for me that it did. The evening seemed very special to him, and it left him feeling good about almost everything in my life. But he and Fran may have miscalculated where that good feeling was coming from, thinking it came from having things, like a baby, rather than feeling things, like love and appreciation.

The Cost Of Living Essays - Arundhati Roy, Bengali People

The Cost Of Living Essays - Arundhati Roy, Bengali People The Cost Of Living Question #1 With the 3600(A. Roy 16) hydroelectric dams either going up or already built in India, there will undoubtedly be over 33,000,000 people displaced by the big dams reservoirs (16), most of which are Adivasi or Dalits (18), natives of India. Without a proper resettlement program in place, many are left with no place to go. Much of the land thats needed for the reservoirs was confiscated, scammed away, or bullied into being sold by the government. And what land the government did buy, not everyone received the money they were supposed to. The resettlement programs that are in place, are best described by Roy I can warrant that the quality of their accommodation is worse than in any concentration of the Third Reich(20). From what I gather from Roy, these resettlement sites sound pretty inhumane and Im really surprised actions like that of the Indian government arent under fire of the U.N. Granted this doesnt seem to be the most publicized nor well documented ongoing incident. As for the Nuclear weapon problem that faces India, Roy didnt seem to address it in great detail. And if she did, I read right through it. With lack of proper storage facilities and the threat of contaminating Indias extraordinarily expensive drinking water. It might be wise decision for the Indian government to either discontinue their nuclear weapons program or properly address these issues. Question #2 I guess I really have no other choice but to agree with Roys opinions. Maybe if we were given some type of written response from the Indian government or anything from a different viewpoint. Anyone that has read this book, without any outside information, would have to have something against the Adivasi or seen something in the book that probably 99% percent of the people that have read it missed to disagree with Roy on the problems in India. The only people profiting from the dams are in the government, part of World Bank, Jai Prakash Associates, and anyone with enough money that needs the water. Moreover, it doesnt appear that any of the rural citizens of India will be sharing in any of the profits or even get water for quite some time. Question #3 The cautious equation Roy calculates on pg. 17 that estimates 33,000,000 people have been displaced by big dams is a huge strong point in Roys argument. To add insult to injury, the people that are even lucky enough to get resettled, are put in tin shacks on inhospitable land, a far cry from what there used to. Before the dams, the displaced were self-sufficient and doing all right for the lifestyle they led. All of the evidence Roy offers about the Indian government points to a total disregard for human life or a great degree of incompetence. Either way, something drastic must happen before anything is really going to change. To be honest, I failed to recognize any weaknesses in Roys arguments. Im not trying to say there arent any, but I didnt find any. Question #4 I chose to label as coming Roy from a social conflict perspective. I basically did this through the process of elimination. She is definitely not a structural-functionalist. She was certainly not trying to be objective, in the loosest sense of the word, while writing this book. This is another of the states tested strategies. It kills you with committees., she sounds pretty involved in that sentence while describing one of the committees suppose to conduct an independent review. Her equations, monetary reports, and percentages give her a little symbolic interaction flavor, but she definitely is more into the way her people are being treated Bibliography The cost of living by andretti roy

Final report Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 1

Final report - Essay Example In 1987, a new Commercial Bank head office opens on Grand Hamad Street. In 1990, ATMs are introduced in Qatar by Commercial Bank. In 1992, Point-of-sale machines are introduced in Qatar by Commercial Bank. In 1997, Dedicated Customer Call Centre is established. In 2006, Commercial Bank signs an agreement to become the title sponsor for the Qatar Masters golf tournament. In 2008, First Qatari bank to list GDRs on the London Stock Exchange. Also, it is the first Qatari bank to list bond issue on the SIX Swiss Exchange in 2010. In 2011, incorporates Commercial Bank Investment Services. In 2012, A strategic partnership with Katara Cultural Village Foundation is announced. Commercial Bank won several internationally recognized awards, including  the Citi Performance Excellence Award and  the JP Morgan Quality Recognition Award. In 2013, Commercial Bank acquires 74.24% shareholding in Alternatifbank in Turkey. The Commercial bank mission statement is "everything is possible". Qatar’s National Vision rests on four pillars – Human Development, Social Development, Economic Development and Environmental Development. The Commercial bank goal is to support this National Vision and help provide a high standard of living for all Qatar’s people. Commercial bank has divided into two segments which are the retail banking segment and the wholesale banking segment. Each of them provides different services. The retail banking segment consisting of current consumer and vehicle loans; The position I was entitled during my internship is a relationship officer. This job title involves learning and gaining brief understanding about general transactions and other related process of Commercial Bank Qatar. Also it requires filling and accomplishing some applications for clients during a specific period of time such as opening new account, depositing cash and

Public Procurement Law Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 6000 words

Public Procurement Law - Essay Example Under this option, there are several procurement methods that the procuring entity can utilize to source for goods and service, but this essay will focus on open tendering and restricted tendering. The open tendering method is of key importance because of its high value in the process of procurement and because it exerts a significant amount of cost from public resources. This method sets transparency principle to a very high standard. It requires tenders for proposals on how projects will be approached and quality will be met1. Article 28(1) stipulates that unless article 29 to 31, the entities shall use open tendering. Article 10 of the Module law deals with the specification of the tendering process. Article 43(2)(c) establishes that the tender is considered responsive if all requirements conform to the tender documents for solicitation. Article 43 (1)(b) states that minor deviations are possible while not material changes are allowed in terms, conditions, characteristics and any set of requirements in the documents2. When specifications are considered as unlawful, then the procuring entity is required to use the European Union law, to re-issue under lawful forms the specifications are carried out lawfully. For the open tendering method, the Specifications and conditions should be finalized in a clear and concise way, and notices must used to advertise the projects publically. The advertisement should be adequately made to all including international suppliers. This will promote wider competition and place better value for money. The procuring entity will have an understanding of the entity’s needs by establishing a short-term strategy, followed by a definition of the technical direction and requirements of the process.  

Rewrite Response Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 250 words - 1

Rewrite Response - Essay Example established, for example, â€Å"†¦A common assumption in the United States is that women are innately more nurturing than men, and men more aggressive than women†(3). This assumption broadens people’s way of thinking in relation to their environment. In addition, Ore is successful in making me understnad the intensity of ethnocentrism among different cultures. It is indeed true that the society plays a role in establishing these social constructs, which in turn shapes or view and thinking, by selecting what we believe is right and wrong. In my opinion, I agree with Ore on the issue of institution’s influence on sex and gender. For instance, the belief that men should work and women should be homemakers. However, I disagree with this belief as it undermines women in work place, especially when women CEOs don’t receive the same amount as men CEOs. My favorite part was in reading â€Å"Doing Gender,† by West and Zimmerman. It is fascinating to see how they give an example of a child looking at a photo of a man in a suit with a â€Å"pee-pee.† I believe this explains why private parts should not be displayed to the public. However, I did not clearly understand the connection between dressing and gender, because in the contemporary society, sexual orientation is based on what one puts on. Although, I feel that the society is not at liberty to criticize anyone who dresses in reverse with their gender

Three Phase Induction Motors Engineering Essay

Three Phase Induction Motors Engineering Essay Three phase induction motors are one of the most widely used industrial machines. This is mainly due to their simplicity, high reliability and robustness. Although three phase induction motors have the same physical stator as a synchronous machine, they do have different rotor constructions. In addition, three phase induction motors are divided into two groups: squirrel-cage and wound rotor. The magnitude of the flux in the quadrature axis in the stator diminishes, so that the flux will be zero, but the speed is increased above the synchronous speed. The rotor current comes from rotor voltage, so the resultant backward rotating for the flux component provides the magnetomotive force (mmf) so the flux is positive in the quadrature axis. So, the speed at which the magnetic field rotates can be determined. If the motor is connected to rated frequency, the speed of the magnetic field is called the synchronous speed (Ns). The following table shows the relationship between number of poles and synchronous speed when the frequency equals 50HZ. Pole pairs 1 2 3 4 6 Number of poles 2 4 6 8 12 Synchronous speed 3000 1500 1000 750 500 Table (3.1) relationship between number of poles and synchronous The relationship between number of poles and synchronous speed is inversely proportional. 3.2 Equivalent circuit of an induction motor. The per phase equivalent circuit is very important for induction motors and can be used to provide a great deal of understanding and prediction of performance of the induction motor in a stable state. The induction motor needs to provide for operation on the induction voltage and current in the rotor circuit from the stator circuit (transformer action); this is because the voltage and current in the rotor circuit of an induction motor is basically a transformer operation. So the equivalent circuit of the induction motor is similar to the equivalent circuit of the transformer. (In the transformer, primary like the stator in the induction motor, secondary in the transformer like the rotor in the induction motor. In an equivalent circuit per phase of an induction motor, as shown in figure (3.1), Rs and Rr are the stator and rotor winding resistance per phase. Ls and Lr are stator and rotor leakage inductance per phase. However, the aim of test and analysis is to be able to refer the rotor resistance and reactance to the stator circuit and thereby to drive an equivalent circuit referred to the stator. Figure (3.1) induction motor per-phase equivalent circuits. (3.1) (3.2) (3.3) (3.4) (3.5) (3.6) (3.7) (3.8) (3.9) (3.10) (3.11) (3.12) (3.13) In this circuit between a and b apply Thevenin Figure (3.3) Simplification of equivalent circuits of an induction motor Open Circuit voltage at ab (3.14) Short Circuit supply (3.15) (3.16) (3.17) (3.18) Maximum occurs: (3.19) (3.20) . 3.3 Overview on control of Induction motors. Induction motors with squirrel-cage motors are used in industry because the advantage of these types of motors is their relatively low cost and simple construction. Induction motors always work at a nearly constant speed. However, power electronic converts; it can work to vary the speed of an induction motor. The induction motor drives can be divided into groups based on their applications: (a) Adjustable-speed drive. One important application of this drive is in process control by controlling the speed of fans, compressors, pumps. (b) Servo drive: by means of sophisticated control, induction motors can be used as servo drives in computer peripherals, machine tools, and robotics [reference]. I would like to give a brief explanation of two methods that are used in the control of induction motors and I will go into more detail about these methods later. Vector control is a method of control of induction motors so the stator current is controlled in the field rotating reference using PWM inverter [Reference]. The rotor flux and stator flux linkages are represented by ÃŽÂ »ar (t) and ÃŽÂ »as(t) depends on the angle of the rotor Ó ¨m because the mutual inductance between the stator windings and rotor windings position is connected. However, the main reason for the q and d axis analysis in machines like the induction machines is to control them properly, for example: vector control [reference], the method of vector control of induction motor drives produces better dynamic performance than scalar control [reference]. The following block diagram shows the direct torque control system of an induction motor. Figure (3.4) shows direct torque control of induction motors. This alternative type of control of an induction motor is very simple and basic in terms of construction. It consists of a switch table, hysteresis controllers, flux estimator and torque. It is much easier to represent in a block diagram compared to the block diagram representing the vector control system due to the absence of coordinate transformation between the synchronous frame and stationary frame and also it does not need a pulse width. Direct torque control drives are controlled by the method of a close loop system without using a current regulation loop and are also related to use of a stationary d-q reference frame as well as having the d-axis aligned with the stator q axis. Moreover, the flux and torque are controlled by the stator voltage space vector defined in this reference frame[reference]. Scalar control is another method of control of induction motors and is also the first method of control before the vector control method. The advantage of this method is simple cont rol and ease of use. The motor drive is described by three factors: (a) frequency (b) voltage (c) parameters of the motor and its power supply [reference]. The scalar variable is strictly one represented by magnitude alone. This method uses either close loop or open loop control and any feedback loop such as that for speed. This use of scalar quantities gives the basic characteristics of satisfactory steady state behaviour, but poorly controlled transient response. 3.4 Description of the Induction motor drive Since a motor drive plays a big part in the control system, it is necessary to have some background information about it. In a typical induction motor drive, power electronic devices are used to operate AC motors at frequencies other than the supply one. It consists of two main sections, a controller to set the operating frequency and a three-phase inverter to generate the required sinusoidal three-phase system from a DC bus voltage. Therefore, an induction motor requires a variable-frequency three-phase source for variable speed operation by using a power converter system consisting of a rectifier connected to an inverter through a DC link. The next figure shows a block diagram of the power circuit of a typical variable-frequency induction motor drive. Figure (3.5) shows Variable-Frequency Induction Motor Drive The rectifier converts the power grid AC voltage into a fixed DC voltage. An LC filter to provide a smooth DC voltage, which is then applied to the inverter input, filters out the harmonics. 3.5 Induction Motor Control Methods 3.5.1 Vector control The vector control of induction motors has been widely used for high performance drives. There have been many studies developed and presented which allow an overview of vector control (reference). Many proposals for the theory of electric machines discuss using space vector control to represent sinusoidal distribution in the air gap and they also discuss types of control of ac drives including induction motor drives, permanent-magnet ac drives and switched reluctance drives (reference). Induction motor drives have performance control as the same high performance four-quadrant DC drive. In 1960 field-oriented control (FOC) was used in the area of induction motors, but in the past decades, induction motors have been controlled by using scalar control methods like the voltage/hertz. However, this manner is an old way used before vector control in the area of induction machines, but it was an easy method of controlling an induction motor (Reference). 3.5.1.2 Concept of vector control The concept of vector control of AC drives is related to a space phaser which provides a means of representing three phase variables in a machine, voltage, current and flux (Reference). Both flux and torque (DTC) are basically controlled by methods of closed loop; so are methods of control of an induction motor, using closed loop without current loop, similar to the conventional vector control drives (Reference). So the stator current will be utilizing transformation to the d q synchronize system and direct axis with the rotor flux space factor; therefore, the stator d q axis current is controlled dependently and the d q-axis for rotor flux will be zero. (3.21) The relationship between the stator current, rotor flux and electromagnetic are shown by this equation: (3.22) Where Is rotor flux linkage, Rr , Lr , Lr are rotor resistance, and Lm magnetizing inductance. (Reference). However, the space vector in the three phase inverter will produce eight output states [1 0 0] switch states, upper in switch phase is represented by à ¡ and b- is closed and c are open. The eight space vector represented by V0 [ 0 0 0] and V7 [ 1 1 1 ] are null and continuing six are of equal magnitude and arranged 600 part in space diagram as shown in figure. (Reference). Figure (3.6) shows witching voltage space vectors. 3.5.1.3 Control Characteristics Vector control has allowed the dynamic performance of AC drives so that they better DC drives; the flux and the torque can be controlled separately by using vector control producing components of the supply current. The terminal voltage cannot be directly monitored, but can be using the dc link voltage and switching function of the inverter supplying the motor. Currently, the drive dynamic is largely used with the inverter control of the stator current of the induction machines; this in turn is determined by the supply voltage and inductance of the machine. The main features of the direct torque control (DTC) are direct control of the torque and flux, and indirect main control of voltages and currents. This type of control has a number of advantages: sinusoidal stator current and reduced torque oscillations; excellent torque dynamics; and the main advantage of (DTC) direct torque control, absence of coordinate transformations which related to vector control implementations. However, in this type of control there are some disadvantages: possible problems during starting and low speed operation and also during change in torque command; it also requires flux and torque estimators (Reference). The vector control theory provides independent control between torque and flux; torque is controlled by the q-axis component of current if the flux is constant and oriented along the d-axis of the referred frame. The referred frame can be rotor flux-oriented control, stator flux-oriented control or air gap flux-oriented control. Thus, the phase angle and the modulus of the current or current vector have to be controlled. Figure 2.1(a), [Reference], shows the rotor angle  Ã‚ ±r with respect to the stator. Since the vector control is to be implemented in the rotor flux oriented reference frame, the induction machine is fixed in that reference frame by rotating the variable as appropriate. Figure (3.7) shows that the rotor flux reference frame rotates at speed (angle  Ã‚ ±e) with respect to the stator reference and the d-q axes are fixed to the rotor flux space phasor. This results in decoupling of the flux and torque which are separately controlled by stator direct-axis current i ds and quadrature-axis current iqs. [Reference] (B) Vector rotation Figure (3.7) (A) Rotor angle 3.5.2 Direct and Indirect Rotor Flux-Oriented Control The vector controls can be divided into two groups, indirect and direct, for the indirect (slip frequency controlled) and the direct (field oriented). The characteristics of these two controllers have been considered to be the same, but there are some differences between these methods. However, the direct control type is a modern control theory and also has high performance and it is more well-known than indirect control (Reference). In this two methods above are considered of voltage and current of a stator. The first method, indirect, is related to stator current control and the second method is related to stator voltage control. In both cases the system inputs are torque and flux reference which is required current values for isd and isq. Field oriented control to induction motor operation in a synchronously rotating d-q reference from that is aligned with one of the motor flux. So, control of the torque and flux is decoupled such as the d- axis component of the stator current and rotor flux magnitude and the q-axis component control , the output torque , where the ids stator current of d-axis component and is the rotor flux magnitude demand, so can be given in equation as (3.23) Where, Lm = magnetizing inductance. For the q-axis component of the stator current iqs, the torque demand as (T* em) so can be determined as the equation: (3.24) The d-axis of the synchronously rotating reference frame to be aligned with the rotor flux, the slip relation. (3.25) Direct rotor flux-oriented control (RFOC) has a control loop for flux where the measurement is performed using flux sensing coils (or Hall-effect devices) or by the flux model. In indirect rotor flux-oriented control (RFOC), the rotor flux angle is not measured but is estimated from the equivalent circuit model. One of the techniques for estimating the rotor flux angle ( Ã‚ ±e) is based on the slip relation, which requires measurement of the rotor speed () and slip frequency (). The slip frequency is dependant on rotor time constant ( Ã‚ ´r) and estimated rotor flux amplitude. This indicates that indirect methods are easier to implement since they do not require a flux model, but are less accurate. Nevertheless, if the model were perfect, the performance obtained would be identical to direct torque control. In [6], the relationships between direct and indirect approaches have been analyzed. It proves that they have the same control but have differences in coordinate of state va riable, the rotor flux and stator currents. A new indirect vector control with an observer has been presented which has the same characteristic as the conventional direct torque control. Figure (3.8) direct vector control Figure (3.9) indirect vector control 3.5.3 Scalar control method Scalar Control manner is related to AC machines and can use voltage fed-inverters. In addition, the scalar control is related to control of the magnitude of a variable only, also using of applications for constant voltage/hertz supply at the motor terminals are given constant air gap flux, so it could be that the stator voltage is dropped. (Reference) The scalar control methods are considered just for study state behaviour, but have poorly controlled transients. (Reference) This method applies to use in either close loop or open loop, and in any feedback loop such as that of speed. The scalar control method was basically developed for study state operation. However, it is a method also used in variable speed applications. (Reference) In this curve, the voltage and frequency are applied on the stator, therefore, when the supply frequency is constant, the speed will be constant, but the torque can be changing as the square of the applied voltage. I will give more details about scalar control in another chapter. 3.5.4 Comparison of vector control (VC) and scalar control (SC). Induction machines are widely used in various industries as prime workhorses to produce rotational motions and forces. However, the squirrel-cage type is a simple and rugged electrical machine with low cost and minimal maintenance; this is reason that the squirrel-cage types are most widely used in industrial electrical motors [reference]. With regard to the scalar control methods for an induction machine, only the motor model is considered for steady state and the scalar control methods are controlled based of the induction motor, but this method will not give good performance transients for an induction motor and it is also poor in terms of dynamics; but the vector control methods considered above are valid for transient conditions and the vector control will give a dynamic performance far superior to that of scalar control [reference]. The scalar control method to control an induction motor is simple to execute and easy to programme, but the vector control is related to the varyin g magnitude and phase alignment of the vector quantities of the motor. Moreover, the scalar control is related to the voltage per hearts v/f control and is usually used for low cost drives where high dynamic performance is not a key requirement. The applications include fans, blowers and pumps where the applied load is known. In this method, the form is simple, the control does not require any sensors and the control algorithm can be implemented in a relatively low performance microprocessor. Vector control is related to a mathematical model which deals with voltage, current, flux torque and the motor parameters. We can control the instantaneous stator currents, control the magnitude and position is. The following diagram shows a feedback control system for measuring currents. When the controller has a fast response then is vector can be imposed on the stator rapidly. Advantages and disadvantages of vector control and scalar control [reference] Method Advantages Disadvantages SC Simplest method of obtaining variable speed. Low cost and easy to implement solution. Is widely used. Is not as complicated as other control methods. Poor transient performance and poor dynamic. It cannot control torque directly. The transit response such as control is not fast. VC For those d component and q component are two decouple components can be independently controlled by passing through separate PI controller. This control method has an excellent torque and speed curve. It has excellent dynamic performance. Sensitive parameter variation use PI current regulators that decrease transient performance. Is more complicated than any other control method. Cannot control torque before transformation is done. Table (3.2) advantages and disadvantages of scalar control and vector control

Analysis of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers :: Theatre Drama Blood Brothers Plays Essays

Analysis of Willy Russell’s Blood Brothers Tell me it’s not true Say it’s just a story These words echoed in my head as I entered the Phoenix Theatre. I had had past experience with â€Å"Blood Brothers† by singing the heartbreaking ballad â€Å"Tell Me It’s Not True† in a past show. Therefore I anticipated that the performance I was about to watch was going to be a roller coaster of emotions, with bitter consequences. I expected a first class show with strong, slick performances from the cast and fantastic musical numbers. This expectation of â€Å"Blood Brothers† was partly due to it being in the reputable West End of London and had been running at the Phoenix Theatre since 1991. This made me think that a musical that could still have large audiences coming to see it in the highly competitive London Theatre scene, must have something exceptional. I also has background knowledge about â€Å"Blood Brothers† from reading the script in parts in class. However, some parts of the play were still patchy to me, so I was looking forward to having the entire story acted out from start to finish. It was interesting for me as well because I was familiar with other plays Willy Russell had written. Having seen Shirley Valentine and read â€Å"A Grand Day Out† I enjoyed his of simple, uncluttered style of writing. â€Å"Blood Brothers† is set in Liverpool 1962. Its story stems from an impoverished single mother of six called Mrs Johnstone who, by finding that she is pregnant with twins, is persuaded to give up one of her unborn children to her employer, Mrs Lyons. The story unfolds by portraying how the two brothers grow up so differently without ever knowing they have a twin. â€Å"Of one womb born, on the self same day How one was kept and one given away?† The story deepens when the twins become friends when they are seven but both realise that they have the same birthday and therefore are both â€Å"nearly eight†. They become best friends and declare one another to be their â€Å"Blood Brother†. From then on the story follows their persistence to remain friends and the obstacles each come up against. Sadly though, their forbidden friendship finally leads to one another’s tragic death; never knowing the truth that they were brothers. Never knowing they shared one name Till the day they died I never really absorbed the absurdity of the storyline because the script was so subtle in its telling of the story, and the performance of the cast didn’t over dramatise the events unfolding. If they had, it would have made the story have an unwanted comical element as it