Thursday, November 16, 2006
Thematic Idea #1
In the play, we notice that Sharon Pollock uses character doubling. Thinking specifically of the poker players (Prologue) and Louis (the play proper), what is the effect of that doubling? (Remember that in the Prologue, the poker players say nothing, and in Acts One and Two, Louis is one of the most vocal characters)
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Character doubling allows Pollock to communicate both sides of a character. During the prolog, we see the poker players that don't talk, and then in the play Louis is very expressive. This allows the reader to see how Louis can be quite in certain situations but generally is not. It allows the reader to gain more than one perspective, and deeper insight into the characters of the play. -Caitlin St.Dennis
By character doubling, Pollock uses distinctive comparison of the personality and actions of a character to provide the reader with an attentive outlook on the character and the play. The comparison of both sides of Louis as the non-vocal poker player in the prologue and the very vocal Metis scout throughout the play, which utilises doubling, present a deeper understanding of the character and is quite intuitive with our comprehension of "Walsh".
By using character doubling, Pollock is able to provide the reader with different perspectives of a certain character, like Louis. The readres are able to see the expressive side of Louis in the play, but in the prolog, we are introduced to a non-vocal character. Using character doubling allows a greater perspective and makes the characters more complete in their own way (ie: personality).
In the prologue, Pollock portrays Louis' character as a silent poker player in the background. As the prologue unfolds, there are no stage directions nor lines said by other characters on stage that suggest the poker players' game was interrupted in any way, except during the freezes and at the very end of the prologue, where Walsh hits the Prospector across the face. With this, readers can infer that the poker players are unfazed by anything that happens and don't voice their opinions on anything or do anything, like when Billy plays Garryowen. This could reflect how Louis doesn't play a very active role in the situation between Walsh and Sitting Bull later on in the play. Yes, he is rather vocal, but he says nothing about what he thinks about Sitting Bull's situation (where he asks for sanctuary in Canada and protection from the Queen) and how it should be dealt with. As such, he acts as a kind of bystander, rarely interfering with Walsh's decisions or voicing his opinion in any way.
Pollock uses character doubling to provide the reader with a better understanding of the importance of what a character is saying and of their opinions/personality. Louis in the prologue is silent and unmentioned. This contrasts with how vocal he is in acts one and two. With character doubling the reader is shown the significance of what Louis says during the play proper.
By doubling characters such as the poker plays who remain silent throughout the entire prologue and Louis who chooses to speak quite often, Pollock is creating a contrast can parallel other aspects of the play including the Canadian government as it stands aside and says nothing during the Sioux's plight- and Walsh who is trying his best to make his and the Sioux's voice heard.
Through character doubling Pollock is able to show the audience two different views of a given character. She is allowing the reader to see Louis with an inconspicuous role in some cases and then having him be seen as a major character with a purpose in others. This gives the reader a clearer idea of the character's personality not only from what he says (as Louis is in Act One) but from his actions when he is not speaking (as the poker player in the Prologue).
poop
Character doubling allows Pollock to communicate both sides of a character. During the prolog, we see the poker players that don't talk, and then in the play Louis is very expressive. This allows the reader to see how Louis can be quite in certain situations but generally is not. It allows the reader to gain more than one perspective, and deeper insight into the characters of the play.
Character doubling allows Pollock to communicate both sides of a character. During the prolog, we see the poker players that don't talk, and then in the play Louis is very expressive. This allows the reader to see how Louis can be quite in certain situations but generally is not. It allows the reader to gain more than one perspective, and deeper insight into the characters of the play. By character doubling, Pollock uses distinctive comparison of the personality and actions of a character to provide the reader with an attentive outlook on the character and the play. The comparison of both sides of Louis as the non-vocal poker player in the prologue and the very vocal Metis scout throughout the play, which utilises doubling, present a deeper understanding of the character and is quite intuitive with our comprehension of "Walsh". In the prologue, Pollock portrays Louis' character as a silent poker player in the background. As the prologue unfolds, there are no stage directions nor lines said by other characters on stage that suggest the poker players' game was interrupted in any way, except during the freezes and at the very end of the prologue, where Walsh hits the Prospector across the face. With this, readers can infer that the poker players are unfazed by anything that happens and don't voice their opinions on anything or do anything, like when Billy plays Garryowen. This could reflect how Louis doesn't play a very active role in the situation between Walsh and Sitting Bull later on in the play. Yes, he is rather vocal, but he says nothing about what he thinks about Sitting Bull's situation (where he asks for sanctuary in Canada and protection from the Queen) and how it should be dealt with. As such, he acts as a kind of bystander, rarely interfering with Walsh's decisions or voicing his opinion in any way.
Character doubling allows the reader to gain further insight into the story by looking beneath the surface. From what they initially appear to be does not necessarily define who they are later, creating suspense to a certain degree through unexpected changes so we'll have to read though the whole story to get the full picture of what each character means and reveal the 'secrets' of the implementation of character doubling. (Jonathan Kwan)
In Pollock's play, Walsh, she specifically uses the same actors to play two characters (or more) to show their double-sideness. For example, one of two poker players is later played by the same actor as Louis. The poker players say nothing, but that illustrates how in their heated game they concentrate and focus on playing poker, showing very little attention towards the action going on in the brothel (sp?). As for the part of Louis, through his limited vocabulary and broken english, we can tell he is an uneducated and illiterate man. Having these 2 characters played by the same character illustrates how a serious and focused poker player, someone of fairly strong perception, could also be illiterate and vocally challenged. We can then come to a final conclusion that there are more to the people around, but we are only burdened from seeing their other characteristics because of our narrow-minded nature, which Pollock attempts to open up. - Alain
Sharon Pollock uses character doubling inorder to communicate to the reader about both sides of an character. For example, Pollock uses the comments from louis to show his expressive character. As a result, it reveals the two sides to louis character. Therefore, readers gain two different perspective of louis.
In Walsh, Pollock uses character doubling to give the reader deep understanding of each characters personality. For example, during the prologue Louis also plays one of the oker players, he remains silent throughtout the scene, but is very expressive. This gives the reader tyhe sense that louis even without words is still incredibly expressionate.
wow somebody with a really smart answer forgot to put their name on it
I'm just going to say that "anonymous" pretty much just copied and pasted what miranda said... (about the poker players being "unfazed"). Thought I'd put that out there.Way to go.
yeah whoever wrote that should give miranda credit for it.
I read that anonymous persons comment(s) over. It's Caitlin’s, then Harleena’s, and then Miranda’s directly copied and pasted.
Pollock uses character doubling in order to explain to the reader two ways of responding to a situation. Although the poker players do not say a word in the prologue, Louis is a main character in the play and voices his opinion often. Pollock uses the poker players and Louis also are used to show the two opposite sides of a persons personality. In life everyone has moments in which they do not participate or are more of a bystander which is represented by the poker players. Also everyone has "louis" moments in which they always have an opinion. Pollock uses these two extreme opposite character to voice this.
The use of character doubling creates a comparison of the same character with different personalities and therefore differnt believes. The comparison between Louis and "poker player" shows us a deeper understanding of the character by their actions in certain situations.
Pollock uses character doubling to show us both sides of the characters for instance the pockers players say nothing but they watch intensly but in acts one and two louis (the poker player double)is very intense in his feeling emotions and thoughts,so it allows us to see both sides of the character
In the Prologue the author uses different charcters to represent ones who appear later in the story. Louis and the poker players have non-speaking roles in the prologue, and can therefore foreshadow their roles in the play as less significant ones. Louis is later a character in the play who contradictory to his role in the prologue vividly expresses his opinions. This gives the reader a greater understanding of how passionate he must be about this issue to come out of his shell of not normally speaking, to voice his opinion.
Using character doubling, Pollack is able to fully depict her characters, giving the reader a better understanding to each one. Without the use of character doubling the reader can only envision one side or the 'flat' personality of the character. For example if the device was not used, we would only know the Louis portrayed in the prologue. When he is doubled during Act 1 and 2, his character persona is more elaborated on and easy to figure out. This also creates more well rounded and dynamic characters, making the play more appealing and comprehensible for the reader.
The use of Character doubling helps the reader gain a deeper understanding of each of the characters. In the case of the poker players being Louis it gives the reader a good idea of how he can be both passive and when entised very very loud and seem to be almost aggressive
A character usually has two sides to his personality. This is apparent when Pollock uses character doubling on Louis as a poker player in the prologue, and Louis as the talkative man he is in Act One. It is so the readers can witness the two sides to Louis. In the prologue, Louis was a poker player, who witnessed everything that was said and happened. He takes everything into consideration, and doesn't voice any opinion. Just because he isn't vocal, does not mean he does not have one. Later on in act one, Louis is now the "real him", as a Metis : Half French and half native. There are times where Louis rambles on occasionally about nonsense or doesn't help much, though he is present. On page 25, Louis "attempts to be helpful", but isn't. Notice later on in that section, he doesn't speak much either. This proves that the "poker player" in Louis hasn't completely gone away. He says a single line, then is completely silent, though he has not exeunted. Later Louis does bring his talkative nature to use, on page 34, when he is talking to Crow Eagle in their native language. He also has an intelligent side to him, and is of use. Louis has many sides to him, and we get to witness them all. Due to Pollock's use of character doubling, we delineate the character, and get a deeper understanding of the character as a whole. Louis is just one of the characters that are doubled in "Walsh".
( Rachel Lee )
The prologue of the play allows for the reader to see another side of the characters. In this section, Pollock is introducing the use of character doubling to establish distinctive characters. Most of the characters in the book are dynamic because they have different sides of them. Louis for example, is very quiet in the prologue, which suggests he has two sides of him. Walsh is similar, having Clarence acting as his concience.
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