As Matt states in his post, when The Contrast was written America was just beginning to construct itself an identity. While reading The Contrast, one is able to tell that an American society was much different than the society in Europe based on the reactions of Dimple to such things as the acting in a play and the actions of American citizens. The reactions of those who associated with Dimple to such things as clothing shows even more of how much American and European societies were different.
In Act IV, Dimple says that American actors, “murder comedy and make a farce of tragedy” in New York. He continues to say that he was unable to determine if the play was a comedy or a tragedy due to “the laugh of the horrid creatures round me.” Due to these reactions of Dimple’s, in a European society, the theatre is held to high standards and play are performed by highly trained actors and the audience acts in a professional manner when watching the play. In Act II, Manly’s sister, Charlotte tells Manly that his regimental coat is not fashionable. Due to Charlotte’s affiliation with Dimple, she shows that the fashions of Americans are not the same as those in Europe.
Throughout the play Manly represents the American society. He wears his regimental coat from the war because he has respect for what it stands for and does not believe that America needs to look to Europe for an identity. To me, the actions of Manly and the view of the culture of America at the time makes our society our own. Sure Americans may dress funny, be poor at acting, and act “horrid“ during a play, but Americans loved to drink during this time and taverns were everywhere, whose to say there was not one right across the street from the theater?
Reading this play gave me more information on this time period and made me appreciate our society even more. I like the thought of Americans being seen as silly, drunken, and rugged people by European nations because that is the way we like to live and if you don’t like it, I don’t care.
I agree with what you said here. I also felt like this play was using Manly to be an example of what the ideal American should be. Maybe most Americans weren't like that back then (I'm not sure that we ever were), but Manly was a standard that the playwright wanted all Americans to compare themselves to. America was new at the time, and he was stressing that we needed to come up with our own standards and morals and leave European traditions to the Europeans. I also find it really funny that the character presented as ideal is "Manly", almost like it is another element for the audience to reach for :P
ReplyDeleteThe way Americans were portrayed in movies and dramas did give me the idea that Americans in general were wild, drunk, and very direct. That was before I came to the US, no offense. Haha. Anyway, I have always thought that Americans were very firm in holding on to their principles. They do what they think is right, and they don't give a damn on what other people say. In this case, I really admire the courage of Americans.
ReplyDeleteSerene, this comedy might have helped communicate and establish those perceptions you had of America--it's very hard to tell with certainty which came first: the comedy or this American character. At any rate, the comedy does work to "prove" in a way the viability and virtue in the new American character.
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