Journal Entries for the play, “Of the Fields, Lately” by David French. Essay

The play Of the Fields, lately portrays an average running(a) class family living in the c octogenarian, isolate argona of Newfoundland. Written by David french, The Mercer Family struggles with themselves in their close-knit traditions and encounter difficulties in acquiring along with to each one new(prenominal). The Mercer Family is non a picture-perfect family as the Brady Bunch. They prevail values and behavior which predominantly affects their spiritednessstyles.The descent amongst Jacob and Ben is rattling bizarre considering that they argon catch and watchword. Their family family relationship is revealed to be bitter and dysfunctioning, as prove by dint of the conversation between Ben and his mother, bloody shame (pg. 7).This implies that Ben does non wish to inter f ar with his yield in some(prenominal) way. He doesnt even occupy punctuate of his stay puts presence in the household. He is immediately insulted when bloody shame questions him regard ing his go. Ben states to bloody shame that he does non wish to establish any type of new relationship with Jacob. bloody shame acts as a peacekeeper in raise to establish a sense of belong between the two and both Ben and Jacob simply avoid each other.The croak line from this selection (pg.7) is the most efficacious part of the discourse since it is affairing to notice that Ben suspects his mother wants him to leave the house, when she only wishes for him to intromit the presence of Jacob.Another raise of dialogue which defines the relationship between Ben and Jacob is when Ben is asked closely his career coming denture (pgs 9-10). Both Ben and Jacob gaze at each other painfully, season lag for the other person to respond. This reveals that this family is so impaired that they housenot even turn to to one some other in a sincere modal value for a few seconds. Usu totallyy, people are very emotional and especially unrestrained to speak to a family member later o n a out-of-town period of time. muckle tend to dispel onetime(prenominal) disputes by apologizing for whatever bulwark had caused them to not speak to each other. However, in this particular case, it sure as shooting depends that the brick ring is simply a barrier overly wide for them to resolve their differences. The brick wall illustrates the tension in the father-son relationship. The wall symbolizes the strength that keeps the two from expressing themselves with each other.In addition, the trio moment that sheds light on Ben and Jacobs relationship takes place when Ben asks Jacob if he raise stay at home for a short while (pgs 65-66)Once again, Jacob shows his mulishness by un forgeting to open up to Ben when he offers to move back in. Ben faces that heavy tempered consume inside, Jacob wants him to stay at home, unless Jacob shows his unreasonableness by stating that Ben can stay home on his mothers appropriate of the house.The consequence of the title, Of t he Fields, recently get in touchs and holds great significance to adult maley aspects of David Frenchs play. It ties into the themes of isolation and faade. The title sheds light on the major events that shape the relationships of the play.The characters in the play tally the ideal characteristics of the Newfoundland land and cultural customs. Newfoundland is a distant province in the eastern Coast of Canada, off the mainland. This resembles Ben being a distant place extraneous from Jacob.The elements of stagecraft a kindred play an important role in the play. The music establishes the mood of the scene. The lighting and set design overly play a role in setting the aura of the play. The room with the radio shows the earreach how distant away Ben and Jacobs relationship unfeignedly is. The stagecraft also helps express things that simply wouldnt surface.There is a lot of contest stirred up on Of the Fields, lately which raises the question as to who is to blame for the familys situation. Jacob blamesBen for not being there when he suffered a nitty-gritty attack. Ben blames Jacob for beating him as a child and embarrassing him amongst his childhood. bloody shame spirits distressed since her babe has recently passed away. bloody shame is stuck in the middle of things as she tries to act as a peacekeeper in the current dispute between Ben and Jacob. I regain that if there is someone to blame for the familys situation, it must be Ben.I feel that Ben is the character responsible for the pain change in the Mercer Family. Ben has to realize that as children, we pull in mistakes adult maley times in our lives and our parents are there for us everyday to look us whenever were in trouble. peradventure even if it were Jacobs fault, Ben has to realize to yield and forget. Instead, he remains passive and be mystifys fright by his father, kinda than accepting his father for who he is.Ben has to learn that we all devil mistakes as human beings. disdain this, Ben is tranquil bitter as he doesnt hold much back. He was not willing to listen to his father for any reason and now he will regret having the opportunity to clear things up when Jacob was up to now alive.The character who I feel is not responsible for the pain see in the family is Mary. This is certainly because she acts as a peacekeeper in arduous to resolve the on handout course between Ben and Jacob. She is reminiscent of the safe times where her animateness was less occupationatic. She wants him to come to terms and resolve their pity issues but they are both unwilling to do so, video display their stubbornness.Mary feels very terribly since she not only has to get off with her sisters death, but experience this quarrel that she feels must be prevented in outrank to resolve peace in the family. Also, she has to cope with Jacobs heart condition. mayhap his heart attack was a result of his intoxication and smoking problem. Wiff is also getting on Marys nerves. Mary tries to handle with both Ben and Jacob individually but it seems as if they are too distant away from each other and can never break the brick wall standing between them.The main interest in Of the Fields, deep was the relationship between Ben and Jacob. They save a very dysfunctional relationship for a father and son. As the play progresses, their relationship grows further apart. The audiencebecomes aware close to the past and present situation as it is revealed. Ben and Jacob are in ceaseless arguments and can only hope to keep back a beneficial relationship in the future.Despite neither Ben nor Jacob reaching a via media with each other, the future of their relationship is foretold through Wiffs stories of himself and Dot. Wiff is portray to be a sensitive, mis unsounded man whose monologues foretell the audience that the relationship between Wiff and Dot was kind of similar to Ben and Jacobs relationship. It seems that Wiff and Dot undergo difficult times .They are depicted to be very loving and intimate with each other in the beginning of the play. Perhaps Ben and Jacob were like this when Ben was young too. Dot sees Wiff as an ignorant, self absorbed person. Likewise, Ben sees Jacob in the said(prenominal) light. Despite this, Dot still late cared for Wiff. Ben does not care for his father, while it seems that profoundly down inside, Jacob actually cared for Ben. Jacob made his generate for Ben by moving the family to Newfoundland in following of come uponing better education.Ben ignored him and did not acknowledge nor take advantage of his fathers sacrifice. Jacob was a hardworks man who brought home the dough after a long days work. Towards the end, Jacob shows an interest in Bens personal life. This suggests that the brick wall is slowing being taken down they are able to communicate in a compatible way. When Wiff refers to moments when he was having personal business with other women, I feel that this resembles the mome nts when Ben detested Jacob.Jacob was so proud of Ben at the baseball game game, even though it didnt seem this way. This can be related to the adore that Dot shared with Wiff. Both of these relationships took an brilliant downfall after this given moment. When Jacob dies, Ben fall having the opportunity to apologize and make up with his father. Likewise, when Dot dies, Wiff regrets neglecting her by spicy in affairs with other women.Overall, Bens relationship with Jacob strongly relates to Wiffs relationship with Dot. It foreshadows that Ben would have made the decision to resolve the issue with his father before it became too late. Unfortunately, this did not occur.Jacob is the character who I relate most to in Of the Fields, Lately. Although, I am not exactly a stubborn, abusive, old bully who has no admiration for his family, I never conclude fights I am the type of person that openly starts them to obtain reaction from the other person(s). I find myself also to be an aggre ssive person at times.I feel that my eyeshot must be heard and understood for someone. I dislike resolving conflicts from the past and tend to hang onto situations that appeal to me for a long period of time. I also feel that I should let things go and establish relationships with those from my distant past who I havent kept in touch with. Similarly, Jacob should have given Ben another(prenominal) chance for their relationship to be reconstructed.It is debatable to state whether or not Of the Fields, Lately is a very realistic play. all(prenominal) person has their own views based upon how they give and analyze the play. The realism can be determined by the characters, the dialogue, situations, and the mood going through the air during each scene. I believe that this is a realistic piece of work because it includes many disturbed characters who have a very struggling life. For instance, Jacob is an old, exacting father who always picks on Ben.He also acts rudely, especially to his family members. His family loves him and wishes that he clams working and rest due to his measly heart condition. The doctor also sees Jacob as a stubborn, old man who wont listen to the doctors lay outs or whats best for him. He doesnt want to see Jacob get hurt so then Mary holds responsibility for the family. Jacob should respect their wishes and spend time with his family before he ends up dying, rather than trying to burn out in his own glory by working in his last few days. Ben is the son who feels that his father treats him unfairly.Wiff is an alcoholic who has marriage problems and who suffers from skanky depression at times. Mary is trying to cope with the death of her sister and her husband who is in poor health and also trying to keep the familys expression together. Sam, Jacobs friend from the past brought about different aspects of Jacobs early life that was not established earlier. He portrayed innocence and curious behaviour that Jacob belike occupied when he was younger. Also, Billy (Bens older brother) is angry with Ben and agreed withJacobs way.Sarah portrays a different perspective as she tells her story by siding with Jacob, showing Ben to be ignorant and the source of the familys problems. I agree totally with Sarahs interpretation. Ike Squires is jealous and bitter towards Jacob. He is portrayed as a success man who is doing well for himself. Ike feels bitter about Jacob obtaining all the attention It seems that many of the characters in Frenchs play do not get along. Although these problems do not take place in most families, it still seems possible.In our world, there is always a family member who has a kind of problem like the ones displayed in Of the Fields, Lately. There are often people who are alcoholics, siblings who are fighting, family members not speaking to each other due to some reason. The Mercers remind me of The Simpsons with their constant family disputes.I feel that the situations in Of the Fields, Lately seem unrealistic since most Canadian families do not have unwarranted problems like the Mercers taking place. Every family has their times of grief and there is no hesitation that there are families who possess a lot of stress on their backs, like the Mercers. Ben and Jacob need to come to terms Mary needs to resolve her issues with Wiff and most importantly, everyone needs to forgive and forget in order to sustain a happy life*NOTE This is my collection of journals that I have compiled into this creative writing piece it is not a formal essay and this is why I use personal pronouns much(prenominal) as I*