Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Anna in the Tropics

"There is nothing like reading a winter book in the middle of summer. Its like having a fan or an icebox by your side to relieve the heat and caloric nights."

I think this line does a wonderful job of describing the juxtapositions that make the story. Nilo Cruz has many opposing forces acting at the same time. Marela and Conchita are caught up in the romance of the literature and contrast the disenchanted and desperate Cheche. Cheche's arguments for the cigar rolling machines oppose the romance of hand rolling the cigars that Santiago and Ofelia seem to value.

The reflection of Conchita, Palamo and Juan Julian in Tolstoy's story give a good structure. The passages from Tolstoy build our expectations and then Crus delivers scene's that match those expectations with the added benefit of a contrast of Tampa and St. Petersburg. Hot and cold.


6 comments:

  1. I liked your analysis of the use of juxtaposition by Cruz in his play and the quote you found definitely supports this idea. You can definitely see this juxtaposition in the title, Anna in the Tropics, where the idea of Anna Karenina being in the tropics may sounds weird at first, but ultimately works to suggest the parallels between the book and this family in Florida.

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  2. I liked that you made romantic juxtapositions that have implications for the whole story. I felt the same way about the passages from Tolstoy!

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  3. "There is nothing like reading a winter book in the middle of summer. Its like having a fan or an icebox by your side to relieve the heat and caloric nights." When I first read this line it made me thinkg of a Hot August night with a glass of ice cold lemonade. Your sense of juxtaposition is great and I feel it too. Throughout the entire play Cruz plays with the idea of hot and cold, treating each moment with a certain degree of flair.

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  4. opposing forces clashing definitely adds to the romanticism of the piece and i think it is portrayed even more strongly because it is in the form of a play

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  5. I totally copied down that line when I read it. As well as capturing the juxtapositions, like you said, it is a beautiful insight to the mind of Ofelia and the other workers. Being read to is a life line for them. I love the passion behind the line.

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  6. I think you took hold of really lovely line within the play and made light of how true this idea is for the entirety of the play.

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