Free Essays on Wilsons Fences (is The Recurring Theme Dependant On Racism)

Theater critic Robert Brustein has criticized Wilson’s play Fences on the grounds that, â€Å"his recurrent theme is the familiar American charge of victimization.† Brustein argues, †Wilson’s larger purpose depends on his conviction that Troy’s potential was stunted not by his own behavior but by centuries of racism.† Robert Brustein’s analysis is correct and Wilson’s play is primarily a social critique that dramatizes the effects of racism. The recurrent theme of Fences is based on racism, and Wilson’s larger purpose is to get his audience to find sympathy for a character facing a no-win scenario that has been created by centuries of racist oppression. The recurrent theme in Fences is that a black American has two choices in how to live his life. The choices are to live responsibly but have no hope for happiness, or to seek happiness while ignoring your responsibilities. There is no third option, for a black person, where they can take care of their responsibilities and pursue happiness. The reason that blacks are denied this third option is because they been victimized by centuries of racist oppression. This theme is demonstrated in the conversation between the characters Troy and Cory when they are discussing the possibility of purchasing a television. Troy says, â€Å"Two hundred and sixty-four dollars . . . cash money. While you thinking about a TV, I got to be thinking about the roof . . . and whatever else go wrong here. Now if you had two hundred dollars, what would you do . . . fix the roof or buy a TV.†(Wilson 1764) Cory suggests the option of buying a TV and somehow being able to fix the roof, â€Å"Iâ₠¬â„¢d buy a TV. Then when the roof started to leak . . . when it needed fixing . . . I’d fix it.† (Wilson1764) Troy tells Cory that it is not possible to pursue both, â€Å"Where you gonna get the money from? You done spent it for a TV. You gonna sit up and watch the water run all over your brand new T... Free Essays on Wilson's Fences (is The Recurring Theme Dependant On Racism) Free Essays on Wilson's Fences (is The Recurring Theme Dependant On Racism) Theater critic Robert Brustein has criticized Wilson’s play Fences on the grounds that, â€Å"his recurrent theme is the familiar American charge of victimization.† Brustein argues, †Wilson’s larger purpose depends on his conviction that Troy’s potential was stunted not by his own behavior but by centuries of racism.† Robert Brustein’s analysis is correct and Wilson’s play is primarily a social critique that dramatizes the effects of racism. The recurrent theme of Fences is based on racism, and Wilson’s larger purpose is to get his audience to find sympathy for a character facing a no-win scenario that has been created by centuries of racist oppression. The recurrent theme in Fences is that a black American has two choices in how to live his life. The choices are to live responsibly but have no hope for happiness, or to seek happiness while ignoring your responsibilities. There is no third option, for a black person, where they can take care of their responsibilities and pursue happiness. The reason that blacks are denied this third option is because they been victimized by centuries of racist oppression. This theme is demonstrated in the conversation between the characters Troy and Cory when they are discussing the possibility of purchasing a television. Troy says, â€Å"Two hundred and sixty-four dollars . . . cash money. While you thinking about a TV, I got to be thinking about the roof . . . and whatever else go wrong here. Now if you had two hundred dollars, what would you do . . . fix the roof or buy a TV.†(Wilson 1764) Cory suggests the option of buying a TV and somehow being able to fix the roof, â€Å"Iâ₠¬â„¢d buy a TV. Then when the roof started to leak . . . when it needed fixing . . . I’d fix it.† (Wilson1764) Troy tells Cory that it is not possible to pursue both, â€Å"Where you gonna get the money from? You done spent it for a TV. You gonna sit up and watch the water run all over your brand new T...

Bare Infinitive After Certain Verbs

Bare Infinitive After Certain Verbs Bare Infinitive After Certain Verbs Bare Infinitive After Certain Verbs By Maeve Maddox An ESL speaker has two questions about the following construction: I was startled to hear a local radio announcer refer to a contest for artists to submit designs to paint â€Å"murals† on storm drains. Question 1 Can you, please, explain to me why the construction calls for the plural form of the verb â€Å"refer† rather than the singular one (refers) when the subject of this verb (a local radio announcer) is singular? Answer Refer is not inflected because it is not a main verb in this clause. It’s an infinitive. The sentence contains one main verb (â€Å"was startled†) and four infinitives. Three of the infinitives are easy to spot: to hear, to submit, and to paint. The fourth infinitive- refer- lacks the identifying to because it is a bare infinitive. A â€Å"bare infinitive† is written without the particle to. Bare infinitives are not as common as complete infinitives, but they do follow certain verbs. The modal auxiliary verbs will, shall, would, could, can, may, might, must, and should are followed by the bare infinitive. For example: We should go to bed early tonight. (bare infinitive) Can you help me? (bare infinitive) When certain verbs, such as hear, see, make, and let, are followed by an object, the object will be followed by a bare infinitive. For example: I saw him make a face. The object of saw is him. Make is a bare infinitive. She heard Charles tell a lie. The object of heard is Charles. Tell is a bare infinitive. I was startled to hear a local radio announcer refer to a contest. The object of to hear is a local radio announcer. Refer is a bare infinitive. Question 2 Would I be correct if I use the participle form of the verb; i.e., â€Å"I was startled to hear a local radio announcer referring to a contest†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ? Answer The use of refer rather than referring in this context is a stylistic choice. The original sentence is made up of two clauses: Because I am used to thinking of a  mural  as a painting on a wall, I was startled to hear a local radio announcer refer to a contest for artists to submit designs to paint â€Å"murals† on storm drains. The word refer points the reader to the words following it. Changing refer to referring would shift the emphasis from what was said to the announcer saying it. It wouldn’t be â€Å"wrong,† but it would weaken the sentence. Want to improve your English in five minutes a day? Get a subscription and start receiving our writing tips and exercises daily! Keep learning! Browse the Grammar category, check our popular posts, or choose a related post below:7 English Grammar Rules You Should KnowCannot or Can Not?"To Tide You Over"