Week 6 Olleana

4.

Yes, I think that Mamet defiantly builds up empathy with John. At first I thought that it was very rude that he kept answering the phone and interrupting his meeting with Carol, but each time he answered the phone it was to say he could not talk. The phone calls made the reader aware of his family life, that he had a wife and kids, that he's life was going in a new direction because he is about to be granted tenure, and that he is going thought the process of buying a house. It is the only interaction that is made besides John and Carols conversation made during the play. It sets John up as being someone who finally just hit the big time and life is starting to look much better for him. Things could not be better for the professor. Despite all the phone calls he appears to be a good teacher making time to help his student. This throws the reader for a spine when Carol starts making claims against trying to hurt his career and family. So naturally John is the one that receives the empathy right away.


8.

I think that it is really cool that they treated Carol and John as two separate features to the play and that it said "Whatever you think/ Whichever side you choose, you're wrong". It made me step back and I was reminded that, "Hey this is English, no this is art! There is no right or wrong answer." There is no secret way in which Oleanna and be interpreted or analyses that proves one hundred percent that there is a right or wrong answer. The only bad argument is one made without any defense. The only way to figure things out is to try to understand Mamet's intent, and I do not believe his intent was to make the audience side complete with one person. He wants people to walk away from the play and say those two people were both evil. Both John and Carol are in the wrong, there are both sinners. Both of them are equally to blame. There is not right or wrong person in this play. Both are wrong.

Having said this, it is what I think, and if you refer back to the program that means that I am wrong.