Night Essay Example For Students

Night Essay Of IguanaA reverends constant struggle for decency, preserving life, and moving forwardwhile escaping the past are among the primary thematic characteristics inTennessee Williamss Night of the Iguana. By far one of the mostpersonal shows I have seen, this play seems to speak to each audience memberuniquely; I at least found this true of Furman Theaters presentation. Althoughthe leading roles lacked in their presentation, the supporting characters whereconvincing and extremely engaging, pulling the intimate theaters audience intothe story. Overall, the production elements heightened the audiences viewingexperience. Costuming and scenery complemented each other particularly well,creating an environment and period that enveloped the audience in the playssetting. Without a doubt, this was a job well done for Furman Theater. Maxine isthe proprietor of The Costa Verde, a cheap Mexican motel. Her character isestablished from the first few moments of the play along with her Mexicannight-swim mers. Their personalities exude an odd mixture ofpromiscuity, loneliness, and satisfaction. With the entrance of the onceminister now tour guide, Larry Shannon, and his bus load of ladies from theBaptist Female College, this satisfaction is eliminated and replaced with thepain of indecency in a defrocked minister. Shannons justification for arrivingat the Costa Verde is to rest and escape form the constant chatter and upliftingsongs of the female tour group. But in reality, his condition is much moreserious; he is both mentally and physically ill and feels as though the CostaVerde can act as a safe haven from the rest the world. With his tarnishedreputation in the church, Shannon also has a need to be atoned for the sins hehas committed. In doing this, he hopes to purify himself enough to return thepulpit. The insatiable need for companionship and understanding are recognizedimmediately in both Shannon and Maxine. Regardless of the sarcastic commentsbetween the two, the audience is easily convinced that both characters couldprovide friendship for the other. Unfortunately, with the entrance of HannahJelkes, a quick sketch artist, and her ninety-year young grandfatherand poet, Nonno, Williams no longer elaborates on the the relationship of Maxineand Shannon; instead he shifts focus to Shannons admiration for Ms.Jelkesthrough his constant use of fantastic. Shannon and Hannahs bond isestablished from their first hello. Shannons face seems to say, Wherehave you been all my life? Even though her reaction is not as strong inthe beginning, she steadily warms to his character. The two become fast friends,eventually uncovering each others the deepest secrets; Shannon revealing hispedophile tendencies while Hannah explains her two love experiences.As in Molieres Misanthrope, the two main characters seem so different in thebeginning, but we finally discover the two are very similar through thecompassion as well as the conversations between Hannah and Shannon. It isbecause of these similarities that they could not travel together. Never shall I forget those flames which consumed my faith forever. Never I shall forget the nocturnal silence which deprived me, for all eternity, of the desire to live. Never shall I forget those moments which murdered my God and my soul and turned my dreams to dust. Never shall I forget those things, even when I am condemned to live as long as God Himself. Never. By reading this quote you can hear Elie Wiesel anguish and what an impact concentration camps had on his faith. Before he was exposed to other mans madness and brutality he had faith in God and lived for him. He revered God by attending synagogue, study of Talmud and determination to comprehend the Cabala. His own suffering and that of other people made him question is there God, in who he believed in for so many years. He wonders why has God abandoned His people , and why is he letting so many innocent people suffer. What have they done to deserve such punishment? Despite his questions he dose not get any answers from God . Elie feels like God betrayed them, and he stops praying to the almighty one. Another change that Elie under goes is his relationship with his father. The camp brings them together, but at the end it separates them for ever. Spending time at the concentration camps has bonded Elie and his father. They were together and they both were struggling to survive. Each other presence gave them strength and reason to go on. They had one another while many people were alone with out their family. As they spent more time as the camp they both grew weaker, do to the lack of nutritious food and excessive amounts of work. At the end Elie, his father, and other prisoners are moved to a different concentration camp, called Buchenwald. They have to travel in the bitter cold, which prevented many people from reaching the planned destination. The snow became their eternal resting place. Fortunately Elie and his father survived, or was it unfortunate? If they gave up death would become their way of escaping. When they finally reach Buchenwald Elies father becomes very sick and de velops a disease called dysentery, which is an infection of the lower abdominal track producing pain. Even at this time Elie stays by him, but he discovers for himself its very hard to keep himself and his father alive. I gave him what was left of my soup. But it was with a heavy heart. I felt that I was giving it up against my will. He himself is very hungry, but he manages to share the food with his ill father. Invalids were allowed to stay in the block. So I would be an invalid myself. I would not leave my father Eliezers fear however prevents him from helping his father when the SS officer violently stroked him on the head. Even thoug he loved his father with all his heart he also found him a big burden, he became relived when his father died on January 29. When he learned of his fathers death those were the thoughts that occupied his mind, I did not weep, and it pained me that I could not weep. But I