Week 7

4. Why do you think Mamet allows us a window into John’s life (signaled by the constantly ringing telephone, an apt metaphor for his connection to the outside world) but none into Carol’s (we have no sense of who she is or her life outside of this series of exchanges with her professor nor any events leading up to them)? Is Mamet empathizing with John by developing his character more than Carol’s? Do YOU sympathize with John and think perhaps the development of John’s character (as a professor, husband, father, recipient of a surprise party, etc.) might have something to do with where your empathy lies?
I think that Mamet allowsa us a window into John's life to built his character. He allows us to know that he has a wife and a son. I do have some empathy with John becuase I don't think that him telling Carol that he likes her or him putting his arm on her shoulder should be claimed as attepted rape. But I also, think that as a male prossfer that he should not have called her into his office told her those things.

1. Consider John and Carol’s first interaction (not the entire interaction, but up to point at which Carol mentions her background in relation to her performance in the professor’s class). What do you think is established in this interaction? Who and what do the characters reveal themselves to be? In such revealing, then, do you identify any miscommunication, non-communication, or a simple lack of communication? (In your discussion, consider particularly the “term of art” (701) exchange, the way in which John tells Carol she’s failing his class, and/or Carol’s offerings with regard to her performance (the language John uses, her socio-economic background, etc.).
In the first interaction it shows that both Carol and John had problems understanding things. Carol said that she had trouble understanding what John and the rest of the class were talking about. She said that she took notes and still did not understand. She was asking John what he wanted from her. I think that him telling Carol about his past and everyone telling him that he was stupid, was to let her know that everyone has problem understanding certain things, even teachers. Carol just makes excuses that she does not understand. She never once asks what she can do to help improve her grade.