Arcada

How does Stoppard successfully achieve this combination?

Arcadia by Stoppard fulfils the requirements for a successful play, which is the ability to entertain the audience while at the same time stretching the audience’s mind. Stoppard utilises various amusing theatrical technique such as wit, slapstick humour and comic situation to dramatise deep philosophical ideas. The idea of enlightenment versus romanticism dominates the play as the differences between the two movements are displayed throughout Arcadia. Other ideas that are dramatised in Arcadia include discoveries from various eras and significance of nature.

Arcadia has a single setting with a dual time frame which leads to clever plot devices. For example, many elements of the play are parallel to each other. The room in which the action takes place, the interchangeability of the furniture and the props, the way the characters parallel each other and the way the concerns of one time frame are elucidated in the other all positively contribute to the unity of the play. Stoppard cleverly establishes the plot where one sets in the nineteenth century and the other in the twentieth century. By util

ising a structure where the twentieth century characters are trying to gain knowledge of the action taking place in the nineteenth century Stoppard allows the characters to indirectly interact with each other. Later the interaction of characters is explicitly shown when the play is resolved with characters of both time frames sharing the stage dancing to the music at the same time. The characters and their relationship from the different time frames also parallel each other. Septimus in the nineteenth century parallels Bernard in the twentieth century while Thomasina parallels Valentine and Hannah. Both Septimus and Bernard are discovered to have written reviews criticising the books written by Mr Chater and Hannah. Thomasina, a student of Septimus, is found to be extremely intellectual, devising equations and theories that have not been discovered at that time. In the twentieth century, it is quite apparent that Valentine is compared to Thomasina as they both try to work on iteration, with Valentine having the advantage of twentieth century technology. Thomasina is also compared to Hannah as they both have the talent and intelligence to think outside the box to develop intellectual conclusions.

Throughout the play the actions in both time frames parallel with each other. Props are employed in both time frames and are collected on the table so that the characters from the different eras are able to utilise them without confusing the audience. The tortoise, Plautus in the nineteenth century and Lightning in the twentieth century, remains on the table while the actions are taking place. Thomasina’s books are used in the twentieth century as evidence for Hannah and Bernard. This is done until the end of the play, when eventually all the items are collected on the table. Those items that do not concern the nineteenth century, such as the modern version of the Mathematic Primers, are ignored. Sound effects used in the play, such as piano playing, also are parallel to each other.

The vast amount of parallels is used in Arcadia to convey the idea that is mention by Septimus. “We shed as we pick up…and what we let fall will be picked up by those behind. The missing plays of Sophocles will turn up piece by piece, or be written again in another language. Ancient cures for diseases will reveal themselves once more. Mathematical discoveries glimpsed and lost to view will have their time again.” Thomasina’s death in the fire, foreshadowed in Septimus’s speech, is similar to the burning of the great library of Alexandria. Although it is unfortunate for Thomasina to die without finishing her discoveries

Some topics in this essay:
Arcadia Stoppard, Mathematic Primers, Maid Turkey’, Septimus Plautus, Hannah Thomasina, God Newtonian, Lady Croom, Septimus Thomasina, Sidley Park, Isaac Newton, twentieth century, nineteenth century, enlightenment romanticism, carnal embrace, entertain audience, century characters, twentieth century characters, throughout play, play differences, audience amused, maid turkey’, play differences movements, writing bad review,