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The Zoo Story

n the 19th Century, plays would often follow a set formula. This was called melodrama. It had set ingredients. Melodramas contained likeable characters. In the Zoo Story, there are no likeable characters. The audience dislike Jerry right from the beginning of the play. Peter is different. Although the audience may feel sympathy for Peter, they dislike him because he comes over as quite stuck up and he looks down on Jerry. Jerry is rude and aggressive. He is not someone that the audience would like. Several issues are raised in the play. Although the play was written around 30-40 years ago, many of the issues raised are often discussed in today´s society. Sexuality is a very important concept of the play, as Jerry has had a homosexual relationship: "I was a h-o-m-o-s-e-x-u-a-l." and Peter has not fathered a male child. Jerry knows that Peter wanted boys and Jerry uses this fact to his advantage throughout the play, and I do not think that there is any coincidence in that it is Peter being taunted about this that eventually forces Peter to get up and fight. Smoking is another important issue in the play. Jerry makes references to disease and health throughout the play, the first of which is raised when Peter prepares his pipe. "You´


Peter is quite ignorant at the beginning of the play: "Hm?... What?" He looks down on Jerry. "Why yes; yes it is". He talks vaguely to Jerry, as if he wouldn´t understand what Peter was talking about, although in the play itself it is Peter who can´t understand Jerry. He tries to get rid of Jerry, but believes him to be slightly simple, so he tries to be polite, to humour him. The audience would feel that Peter doesn´t deserve this man disturbing him, and Peter would be trying to show that he would prefer if Jerry would go away. It is obvious that Peter feels that his privacy has been invaded. He is on the defensive throughout the play. He is ignorant because he has been interrupted. The text shows that Peter is 'anxious to get back to his reading´ when he answers Jerry early on in the play. He tries to be polite and not get frustrated with Jerry, but there are certain times in the play when you feel that Peter has had enough of him, like when Jerry starts asking questions about Peter´s personal life: "That´s none of your business!" Yet Peter is always quick to apologise and to forgive:

I think this play is a good example of a 20th Century play because the audience is not simply entertained. They are made to think about their lives. This is not just a play with simple characters, where the play runs through smoothly from beginning to end. This is Epic Theatre. The shape of this play is different from most. The format of having just two actors in one scene shows what a simple thing life is, yet in the play we are shown how complicated life is. The play makes the audience think about life. Their lives, their families´ lives and their lives in co-existence with their families and other people.

It feels almost like Peter wanted Jerry to turn up on this Sunday afternoon. Yet Peter is hesitant. He makes many pauses, especially in the first few pages of the play. He feels that Jerry has invaded his personal space. He would be sitting towards one end of the bench. He would be sitting defensively, with his legs crossed, as Jerry points out: "The way you cross your legs, perhaps?" Peter is trying to get rid of Jerry throughout the opening one and a half pages of the play. He agrees with Jerry, hoping that he will leave him alone. The text tells us that Peter turns back to his book. This shows that he is more interested in other things than talking to Jerry. When Jerry says something back to Peter, he only replies vaguely. The audience wants Jerry to leave Peter alone as much a

Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1688
Approximate Pages = 7 (250 words per page double spaced)


  

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