Full Text Available
Note: Clicking the button above will open the full text document at the original institutional repository in a new window.
Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988)
Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1991.
Saved in:
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | en_ZA |
| Published: |
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
2012
|
| Subjects: | |
| Tags: |
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1867613758646386689 |
|---|---|
| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Hutchison, Yvette |
| author2 | Hees, Edwin |
| author_browse | Hees, Edwin Hutchison, Yvette |
| author_facet | Hees, Edwin Hutchison, Yvette |
| author_sort | Hutchison, Yvette |
| collection | Thesis |
| dc_rights_str_mv | Stellenbosch University |
| description | Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1991. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/69124 |
| institution | Stellenbosch University (South Africa) |
| language | en_ZA |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:41:14.564Z |
| license_str | Other — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| publishDate | 2012 |
| publishDateRange | 2012 |
| publishDateSort | 2012 |
| publisher | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| publisherStr | Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | SUNScholar — Stellenbosch University Repository |
| spelling | oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/69124 Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988) Hutchison, Yvette Hees, Edwin Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of English. Stoppard, Tom -- Criticism and interpretation Stoppard, Tom -- Dramatic works Dramatists, English -- 20th century -- Criticism and interpretation English drama -- 20th century -- History and criticism UCTD Thesis (MA)--Stellenbosch University, 1991. ENGLISH ABSTRACT: In this thesis I shall be exploring the works of Tom Stoppard from 1966 to 1988. The thesis focuses on how and why Stoppard presents a world of multiplepossibilities and the processes involved in the individual's ordering andinterpretation of these options. In each case the question raised is: what is the 'realthing', the correct answer? I have divided this exploration into five chapters whichdeal with the texts thematically rather than chronologically.The first chapter is an introduction to techniques Stoppard uses to suggest themultiple options in interpreting experience. In this chapter I focus primarily onStoppard' s novel, Lord Malquist and Mr Moon and the play Rosencrantz andGuildenstem Are Dead to illustrate these aspects of Stoppard's work.Chapter Two focuses on Stoppard' s interest in the problems involved in perception.This chapter analyses the way the observer's/audience's interpretation of an event isdetermined by his a priori expectations, previous experience, and the extent of hisknowledge of the contextual frame. Meaning is thus determined by the observer'sperspective and expectations. The texts examined are After Magritte, ArtistDescending a Staircase, The Real Inspector Hound and Hapgood.Chapter Three will consider Stoppard's interest in language and its role in orderingand communicating experiences; the chapter comprises analyses of Jumpers,Travesties and Dogg 's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth. This chapter explores thelimitations of language, how it is contextually defined, and how it may be used as asocio-political tool to undermine or maintain the status quo. The plays dramatisethe implications these aspects of language have for the individual's everyday life.The fourth chapter considers Stoppard's 'political' plays. The issue of political'options' is particularly significant because these affect people's lives. Stoppard hasbeen criticised for his 'apolitical' stance in his pre-1977 work. This chapterexplores how Stoppard's work shifts after 1977 from withdrawal to a position ofmore overt involvement. In Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Fouland Night and Day Stoppard presents various political and moral arguments relatedto aspects of freedom with regarda to the individual, the press and politics.Stoppard explores the relationship between personal and community ethics, whileoffering the criteria by which he would order and judge these options. The final chapter concentrates on the role of the artist. What are the implications of a world of uncertainty in perception, language and moral judgements for the artist? What is his function in contemporary society? Where is the artefact situated in a definition of the 'real thing'? In Artist Descending a Staircase, Travesties and The Real Thing Stoppard presents options available to the artist. I have chosen to end my thesis with an analysis of The Real Thing because as a play it simultaneously presents all the concerns I have dealt with separately. This dissertation proposes that Stoppard' s significance lies in his paradoxical suggestion that while the world does offer multiple alternatives, it is not random and chaotic. Finally, not all the options are equally acceptable; some answers are more probable, and preferable, than others. AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die ondersoek is toegespits op die werk van Tom Stoppard van 1966 tot 1988. Die tesis fokus op hoe en hoekom Stoppard veelvoudige interpretasiemoontlikhede daarstel en op die prosesse betrokke by leserreaksies daarop. Die kemvraag is die na die moontlikheid van 'n finale teksinterpretasie. Die verdeling van die ondersoek in vyf hoofstukke berus op tematiese eerder as chronologiese oorwegings. Hoofstuk Een is 'n inleiding tot die strategiee waarmee Stoppard betekenispluraliteit tot stand bring. In die verband word hoofsaaklik op die roman Lord Malquist and Mr Moon en die drama Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead gefokus. Die tweede hoofstuk konsentreer op Stoppard se belangstelling in die problematiek van waarneming. Daar word nagegaan hoe die waarnemer se interpretasie van 'n gegewe bepaal word deur sy a priori verwagtings, vorige ervarings en die mate waarin hy kennis dra van die kontekstuele raam. Hiervolgens word betekenis gekondisioneer deur die waarnemer se perspektiewe en verwagtings. Die tekste wat bespreek word, is After Magritte, Artist Descending a Staircase, The Real Inspector Hound en Hapgood. Hoofstuk Drie verken Stoppard se opvattings oor taal en die rol wat taal speel in die ordering en kommunikeer van ervarings. Tekste wat geanaliseer word, is Jumpers, Travesties en Dogg's Hamlet, Cahoot's Macbeth. Die klem val op sienings aangaande die beperkinge van taal, hoe taal kontekstueel gedefinieer word en hoe dit as sosio-politieke instrument gebruik kan word om die status quo te handhaaf of ondermyn. Die genoemde toneelstukke dramatiseer die implikasies wat die aspekte van taal vir die lewe van die individu inhou. Die vierde hoofstuk handel oor Stoppard se "politieke" dramas. Die vraagstuk oor politieke keuses is belangrik, omdat dit iedereen raak. Stoppard is gekritiseer vir die "apolitieke" ingesteldheid van sy werk voor 1977. Hierdie hoofstuk ondersoek die verskuiwing in sy werk na 1977 vanaf onttrekking tot 'n minder subtiele betrokkenheid. In Every Good Boy Deserves Favour, Professional Foul en Night and Day stel Stoppard 'n verskeidenheid politieke en morele argumente voor aangaande die vryheid van onderskeidelik die individu, die pers en die politiek. Stoppard ondersoek die verhouding tussen persoonlike en gemeenskapsetiek en ontwikkel kriteria vir die ordering en beoordeling van hierdie moontlikhede. Ten slotte word die rol van die kunstenaar in oorweging geneem. Watter implikasies hou 'n wereld gekenmerk deur onsekerheid van waarneming, taal en morele oordele vir die kunstenaar in? Wat is sy funksie in die hedendaagse samelewing? Watter rol speel die artefak in die definiering van 'n ware werklikheid ("the real thing")? In Anist Descending a Staircase, Travesties en The Real Thing bied Stoppard insae in van die moontlikhede wat tot die beskikking staan van die kunstenaar. Die tesis word afgesluit met 'n analise van The Real Thing, omdat al die voorafgaande aspekte wat ondersoek is, hierin konvergeer. Hierdie tesis kom tot die slotsom dat die beduidenis van Stoppard se werk gelee is in die paradoks dat die wereld ondanks betekenispluraliteit en veelvoudige keusemoontlikhede nie lukraak en chaoties is nie. Uiteindelik is nie alle interpretasies ewe aanvaarbaar nie; sommige is verkieslik bo ander. Masters 2012-08-27T12:26:56Z 2012-08-27T12:26:56Z 1991 Thesis http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/69124 en_ZA Stellenbosch University 205 pages : illustrations, includes annexures application/pdf Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Stoppard, Tom -- Criticism and interpretation Stoppard, Tom -- Dramatic works Dramatists, English -- 20th century -- Criticism and interpretation English drama -- 20th century -- History and criticism UCTD Hutchison, Yvette Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988) |
| title | Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988) |
| title_full | Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988) |
| title_fullStr | Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988) |
| title_full_unstemmed | Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988) |
| title_short | Choosing and ordering the options : an exploration of the 'real thing' in Tom Stoppard's plays (1966-1988) |
| title_sort | choosing and ordering the options an exploration of the real thing in tom stoppard s plays 1966 1988 |
| topic | Stoppard, Tom -- Criticism and interpretation Stoppard, Tom -- Dramatic works Dramatists, English -- 20th century -- Criticism and interpretation English drama -- 20th century -- History and criticism UCTD |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10019.1/69124 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT hutchisonyvette choosingandorderingtheoptionsanexplorationoftherealthingintomstoppardsplays19661988 |