Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Anna in the Tropics

One of the things that I loved about this play was the way Cruz was able to infuse Cuban tradition with the literature of Tolstoy, two seemingly, completely different things. By structuring the play around the reading of Anna Karenina, not only is Cruz able to comment about the parallels between the characters of the play with those from Tolstoy's novel (which suggests such passions and romances are universal and, as suggested in the play, entirely human), but also suggest the romance we have lost with the coming of modernity. This is exemplified by the inclusion of lectors which has been a tradition since the Taino indians as said by Juan, giving the play a romantic yearning for what we have lost.

5 comments:

  1. I like that you comment on the loss of romance in the modern world, and I do think it is a big part of the play. This feeling of tragic nostalgia almost reflects and brings back the romance itself :)

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  2. I love that too! Nilo was able to tap into universal human traits that transcend culture and space.

    "giving the play a romantic yearning for what we have lost."
    I think you hit it right one the head there! The play is pretty tragic, yet it left me with such a dreamy romantic feel. I couldn't figure it out at first, but your last line really made me think.

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  3. Definitely. The scene where Cheche wants to modernize the factory says so much about how Cruz feels about modernity. Not a single other person in the factory wants the machines because hand rolling cigars is such an important tradition. I love what Juan Julian said about the oidores and about the way a cigar is meant to be enjoyed. The world is spinning too fast.

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  4. I agree with your reflection. I loved the comparison of these two ideas and the way Cruiz is able to integrate them so wonderfully into the play. You had a great take on the reading for this week.

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