Category Archives: Drama/Theater

The Marriage Proposal

Chekhov

Although written humorously, Chekhov’s play emphasized how most proposal’s have little to do with two people’s compatibility with one another and more to do with the grand “occasion.” Natalya and Ivan had little chemistry and did nothing but fight about their assets. During the beginning of the play we learn that Ivan was not marrying for true love, but instead for status. Nowadays, proposals have evolved to be more elaborate and must now be deemed “worthy” for social medias approval.

I think “The Marriage Proposal” was a fun jab created to mock those who marry only for the embellishment. In the United States, as gender quality comes more and more into fruition, women are finding ways to still feel like “women,” and proposals take on those gender expectations of man and woman. In Chekhov’s play we see that it was Ivan’s duty and his duty alone to find a woman to propose to. We also learn that while Natalya had feelings for him, she still did not take it upon herself to propose marriage since she was playing into her role of “woman.” Only she could be proposed to.

While Ivan had dressed for the occasion, his formal attire could not overcome the differences between him and Natalya. Meaning no matter how beautiful the event might be, it cannot overcome inconsolable difference.

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN

Dunbar-Nelson

In “Mine eyes have seen”, we can see what Platon called “ hold the mirror up to the nature”. This play show the lowest form of human behavior such as violence, racism, intolerance, lack of empathy, discrimination  and corruption. 

Chris’s father was lynched by his racist white neighbors and the rest of his family fled their home. Later they arrived in a new town, where his mother died. One day he came home with the bad new that he was drafted. He was so upset because he didn’t want to fight for a country that did not respect their rights and let his father’s death go unpunished.   

Marriage Proposal

Chekhov, Drama/Theater

Marriage Proposal

            Is the “marriage proposal” an outdated commentary on marriage, on gender roles, and on how the perfect proposal should be? Or is still reflected in culture today?

            In my opinion, I think that marriage proposals are still reflected in culture today. Working as a nail technician at a nail salon in Staten Island. I often had excited clients coming to the nail salon to get their nails done for this special occasion. Some of these ladies were my regular clients and others were people who were just looking for a nail salon to get their nails ready for the proposal.  With regular clients, we built relationships in which we get to know them well just like if we were best friends. We know when they have boyfriends, when they break up with them, when their relationships are long and serious, and we also know when they are going to be proposed.

            After being proposed and when it is time to get a new manicure, clients return to the nail salon. This nail appointment is very interesting and exciting too, because we get to know all the details of the proposal ceremony. Some clients get proposed on a cruise trips, on the beach, at a nice dinner in a fancy restaurant, at a dinner home, etc.

            I believe that marriage proposal will never be a thing of the past. I feel that nowadays marriage proposals are more common, and gender diversified in terms of gender of sex. Unlike a century ago, marriage proposals were only a man thing. Today, females can propose males, males can propose males, females can propose females.

Mine Eyes Have Never Seen

Dunbar-Nelson

Alice Dunbar-Nelson’s play “Mine Eyes Have Never Seen” exemplifies corruption under the guise of “upliftment.” I believe that Nelson’s play was written to depict horrible and heartbreaking situations that end in grief and heartache. However, that grief and heartache is camouflaged by patriotism that the characters in the play do not owe to anyone. “Mine Eyes Have Seen” tells the story of a family torn apart by racism and corruption. What once was a complete and loving family consisting of father, mother, and 3 siblings, has become instead 3 siblings fighting to survive in a society that has failed them. Their father was a successful black man that was lynched, and their mother died soon after due to a mix of pneumonia and heartbreak. Chris, their son, soon learns that he has been drafted to the U.S. Army, and feels no obligation to serve a country that has failed him and his family. However, after speaking to his neighbor, he is convinced that his purpose is to serve with honor. The family has felt enough heartbreak and pain and now must endow themselves to more in order to save face in a society that does not care about them. What some people might consider “empowerment” at the end really only made me feel grief and sadness. I believe Nelson’s purpose was to show the two faces a play can portray. While some may feel proud of the character’s sacrifice and duty, other’s feel hopeless. A brother, who cares for his family after everything they’ve been through, must now succumb to more heartbreak and pain.

I believe Nelson’s play fits both under “corrupting” and “uplifting” in interchangeable ways. “Corrupting” in the sense that we see just how mournful life can be. “Uplifting” is the facade that Nelson played upon at the end of her play.

Mine Eyes Have Seen

Drama/Theater, Dunbar-Nelson

What Mine Eyes Have Seen

In “Mine Eyes Have Seen”, the play does not teach piety and virtue. Instead, it teaches what Plato depicted as “hold the mirror up to the nature”. The play teaches amoral citizen behavior such as crime and racism. For instance, this family move to a new city where they were being harassed by white people, who did not want them there just because of the color of their skin.  In “Mine Eyes Have Seen”, Dan says “notices posted on the fence for us to leave town because niggers had no business having a decent home.”

In “Mine Eyes Have Seen”, the play also teaches crime and unpunishment. The house of this newcomer family was burned by the racist people and with that the family goals and plans were literally destroyed. Dan says, “To see them go up in the smoke of our burned home” referring to their plans. Their father was also killed and the person who committed the crime was never incarcerated. Chris says, “Must I go and fight for the nation that let my father’s murder go unpunished.”