Death and a King’s Horseman and All My Sons Essay Example for Free

shoemakers last and a great powers Horseman and All My Sons EssayComp are the ways in which Soyinka in Death and a Kings Horseman and miller in All My Sons present Elesin and Keller? How outlying(prenominal) would you agree that the per word of honoral tragedy of each protagonists remainder is little grievous than the annihilate of their sons? Soyinka and miller shape the protagonists by their presentations of their voice using different style and enjoyment of setting heathen context which presents their different responsibilities and duties exposing their character. The different presentations of the characters determine how the auditory sense connect with the protagonists. Elesin and Kellers deceases are climatic points in the play, with their sons demises too being pivotal acting as catalysts for the protagonists death which cause the protagonists to acknowledge their fatal flaws. The different purposes of the protagonists suicides, made unembellished also by the protagonists presented characters, determine whether the tragedy of their death is more important than the death of their sons.The setting and cultural context of each of the plays a profound role in shaping the characters as the differing cultural context affects the characters duties and responsibilities which shape their presentations as characters. Though set in the selfsame(prenominal) time periods, the cultures differ between plays. Soyinkas Death and the Kings Horseman opens in Oyo, an superannuated Yoruba city in Nigeria, 1944, during British colonialism whereas All My Sons by Miller is set in the outskirts of an American townspeople just after the war in the late 1940s after world war two. Soyinka and Millers introductions of the culture and the setting at the beginning of the plays expose the protagonists individual characters. The monastical atmosphere on the outskirts of an American town in which All My Sons opens acts as a dramatic braid to show Kellers devotio n to his family by presenting him as sectioned off from wider society. Additionally, the closely planted poplars which adjourn the area act as a dramatic device to represent Kellers somewhat pin up minded principles and set values.Soyinkas portrayal of the culture and setting also presents Elesins character and nature. Soyinka invites the audition to the rich Yoruban culture through Elesins voice a man of enormous vitality who exposes the strike of the setting to the interview, thus revealing his lust for earthly pleasures. The smell of indigo on their cloth, this is the air I wish to breath portrays Elesins yearn for life. The use of evocative description of the setting and culture creates a picture of Elesins vibrant character. The authors use of language, which creates the characters voice, presents the protagonists differently and shapes the audiences reactions and feelings towards them in each play. Millers use of disjointed language such as whats goin, to create Kellers vo ice, presents him as an un-educated simple man. Though his incoherent language means the audience isnt enticed or fascinated by him, it presents him as an ordinary character, allowing the audience to connect with him on a personal level. The detail the audience is able to connect with Keller personally, because of his down to earth nature, means the audience are less sympathetic of his fatal flaw as Millers presentation of him causes the audience to be un-expectant of his down fall.Back in my day you were either a doctor or a attorney exposes Kellers myopic perspective of the world and strong attachment to his set values. Conversely, Soyinkas use of daedal language to create Elesins voice fascinates and captivates the audience, giving him high status as a character. Soyinka presents Elesin as an exuberant character fascinated by earthly pleasures. I become a monarch whose palace is built with tenderness and beauty. The flowing rhythm of his voice and the use of positive adjectiv es expose his wrath for life his fatal flaw as a character. Elesin speaks poetically in riddles such as when the dollar bill sniffs the stable does he non strain at the bridle? presenting him as articulate and expressive. He also uses metaphors to express his ideas such as youre like a jealous wife when talking to the Praise-Singer. This use of riddles and metaphors makes him sometimes difficult to understand presenting the idea he hides his fatal flaw by using his language to distract the praise singer from acknowledging his love for life which distracts him from his cultural duty.For example when the praise singer accuses Elesin of forgetting a long faithful mother of his children referring to his responsibilities to his culture, Elesin replies poetically saying when the horse sniffs at the stable does he not strain at the bridle?. However, his superior position makes it difficult for the audience to connect with him on a personal level. This augurs his downfall as a character as he later abandons his responsibilities to his culture by not committing to his duty of suicide. Because his fatal flaws are foreshadowed, when his downfall is eventually exposed it is expected by the audience thus they feel sympathy for him and his death is seen as an act of redemption.Both All My Sons and Death and a Kings horseman are structured with the climatic parts of the play at the end and use foreshadowing techniques throughout the plays to build up the tension and climax. In Death of a Kings Horseman Soyinka portrays Elesins fatal flaw his desire for earthly pleasures which distracts him from the responsibility of death to foreshadow his downfall as a character. Soyinkas use of language exposes Soyinkas desire for mortal pleasures. This merchandise is my roost foreshadows his inability to sacrifice his be devotion for life for the benefit for the people in his culture. Similarly, Miller uses foreshadowing techniques to prognosticate the revelation of Kellers mistakes. The broken tree which is a memorial for Larry acts as a dramatic device which foreshadows the end of Kellers familys ignorance to his mistake. The mother also foreshadows this by The different purposes within the narrative of the protagonists death affect their differing importances compared to the death of their sons which acts as a catalyst The point at which the fathers acknowledge their sons death is the pivotal point at which the protagonists accept their fatal flaws. In Death and a Kings Horseman, because the death of Elesin is presented as an act of redemption, in my opinion the tragedy of his death is more important than the death of his son When Kellers mistake of killing Larry is discovered he responds defensively to protect himself. The minute theres trouble you mother run out of strength suggests Keller attempts to direct the blame on to somebody else and deny his mistakes.The fact his death takes place as a result of his family shunning him suggests his intentions for his suicide are selfish, to protect himself from gloominess as his family is the only thing he values in life. This causes the audience to view his death as a cowardly act rather than an act of redemption from his mistakes. In my opinion this makes his suicide less important than the death of his son within the play which is the pivotal point of exposing Kellers faults as a character. On the contrary, Elesins intentional death is presented as an act of redemption. It is clear Elesin kills himself for the benefit of his culture as he has a duty to perform.The presentation of his cultural duties at the beginning of the play The hour at which he kills himself is more important than the death of his son as it is the pivotal point in the novel where his mistakes and flaws are redeemed by showing his loyalty to his culture. Therefore, although Kellers suicide seems less important than the death of his son as his suicide is merely a selfish act to protect him, Elesins intentional death i s an act of redemption, making it equally important as the death of his son.