Shoe_Horn_Sonata

English assessment task 4_ speech Images are made significant by the composers through their distinct writing styles. Their chosen form and respective textual features allow them to deliver their messages and place the responder in the scene of their text. The images are made possible by visual and literary representations. Dramatic features and humour are used to portray the ideas of heroism, reconciliation and atrocities of war in John Misto's “The Shoe-horn Sonata” and Bruce Beresford's “Paradise Road”. The composers writing styles allow the responder to visualise their ideas and helps them get a better understanding of the texts. “The Shoehorn Sonata” is a play about two women who were prisoners of war in Japan in WWII . They are brought together after 50 years to be interviewed about their harsh experiences. The idea of heroism is clearly present throughout the play. The play incorporates many heroic deeds of the women during the war. This is evident in sccene 8 where we learn that Sheila sold herself to the Japanese guards in order to obtain quinine tablets to save Bridie's life. Bridie doesn't take this too well and implies that she wouldnt have done the same for Sheila. This is evident in Bridie's truncated line “I'd have starved for you. Died for you. Anything but...”. This makes the responder think and ask would you do the same for your friend' This secret is revealed by Sheila when she returns Bridie's Shoe horn. The shoe horn symbolises various things throughout the play. At the beginning of the play it represents home and family to Bridie as it was given to her by her father before the war. It then comes to symbolise survival and the method that Bridie uses to keep Sheila awake in the ocean as they waited to be rescued. This is described by Bridie in scene 3 as “tap-tap-tap”. Then it comes to represent the secret of Bridie's sacrifice made for Sheila and the revelation of the secret. At the end of the play the shoe horn symbolises the reaffirmation and reconciliation of the friendship as it is returned to Bridie when the two have finally made peace. This significance of the shoe horn is emphasised by the lighting in act 2 scene 14 as the stage gradually grows darker except for a single bright spotlight on the shoe horn. The memories, dealing with pain and the reconciliation of Bridie and Sheila are significant ideas in the play. The reconciliation is not easily reached and it sometimes seems questionable that it will ever happen. When the two women are reunited we come to realise that memories must be relived and retold so that they can reach an understanding and come to accept each other. The two characters realise that dealing with their pain in a more open manner, now that they are together, is more satisfying than running away from their problems. For Bridie and Sheila there is both a personal reconciliation with their own disturbing and painful memories as well as reconciliation with each other. However, the reconciliation of their friendship can only take place when they restore harmony within themselves. Humour is used by Misto throughout the play which in some way compensates for the horendous and tragic incidents uncovered by the women's memories. Humour often arises when Bridie and Sheila criticise each other in a friendly manner. This is evident in the line “whinging poms” stated by Bridie. The humour highlights their courage, that through the horrors they have been through, they can use humour to relieve their grief. Humour is also used to entertain the audience and to create relief from the intensity of the horrific experiences that are revealed. The idea of heroism is also a key idea in Bruce Beresford's film “Paradise Road”. The heroic acts of the women in the prisoner of war camps are highlighted throughout the film. One act of heroism is present in the scene where the asian woman risks her life in order to obtain quinine tablets for her sick friends. The asian womans careful movements place the responder in the womans shoes and helps them sympathise with her. The danger and seriousness of the situation is shown through the dark lighting and tense background music. This keeps the responder interested and engaged. War and atrocities is a central idea in “Paradise road” and also in “the shoehorn sonata” . Throughout the film and play we constantly learn of the Japanese guards beating, and abusing the women. This is obvious in the film where the asian woman is caught and burnt alive in front of all the other women. The atrocities of war are visually shown and highlighted in the scene where Susan is forced to kneel in the sun surrounded by spikes for a whole day without food or water. This terrible scene is relieved by humour when the Japanese guard fakes that he is going to kill Susan. After the guard leaves Susan says to her friends “I knew he was bluffing.” this relieves the tension and the horror of this scene. Visual imagery is used throughout the play “The Shoe Horn Sonata” by John Misto and Bruce Beresford's film “Paradise Road” to place the responder in the texts. The composers use of dramatic features and humour help deliver the ideas of heroism, reconciliation and atrocities of war. This allows the responder to get a better understanding of the texts.