General Knowledge Questions Flashcards

Question

Expand on the marriage and gender equality theme

Answer 1

Machinal was written for the stage in the early 20th century, a time when patriarchal norms dictated the dynamics of romantic relationships. In this male-focused environment, women were expected to defer to their husbands, sacrificing their own individuality and agency in order to maintain respectable marriages. These sexist expectations often manifest themselves throughout Machinal in terms of financial stability, as Helen’s coworkers and even her mother urge her to wed her boss, George H. Jones

Answer 2

The characters in Machinal often fail to effectively relate to one another using language. Instead of communicating clearly and listening to what other people have to say, they hold forth with their own monologues and ideas, showing themselves incapable of engaging in the give-and-take of successful conversation. Under these fraught circumstances, Helen finds herself hopelessly estranged from her husband, who never opens himself up to the possibility that their marriage has made her utterly miserable—instead, he speaks to her at length about things that clearly do nothing but deepen her feelings of unease, rendering it impossible for her to make him see that she’s unhappy.

Answer 3

Machinal is a play inundated by machines. The constant presence of mechanical sounds and industrialized landscapes shapes Helen’s life into an existence ruled by isolation, monotony, and anxiety. In a note titled “The Plan,” Treadwell comments on the nature of the play, explaining Helen’s relationship to the external world: “The woman is essentially soft, tender, and the life around her is essentially hard, mechanized. Business, home, marriage, having a child, seeking pleasure—all are difficult for her—mechanical, nerve nagging.”

Answer 4

Machinal is an example of Expressionist theater, a style of performance that aligns itself with the modernist artistic concept of Expressionism, which sought to represent not tangible, external reality, but rather the inner and subjective world of emotions and personal experience. In keeping with this, Treadwell imbues her scenes with disorder and chaos, qualities often invoked by the use of everyday sounds, needless repetitions of speech, and exaggerated linguistic clichés. In fact, she takes these elements to extreme heights by giving Helen long and nearly dissociative monologues in which the she almost nonsensically regurgitates common turns of phrase, repeating them time and again in a way that lends pathos to her words. By using fragmentation and the emotional distortions of Expressionism, then, Treadwell is able to use language to vividly represent Helen’s attempts to liberate herself from the oppressive structures surrounding her.

Answer 5

Cielito Lindo

Answer 6

a full moon

Answer 7

The young woman in the workplace, Mr. Jones asks her to marry him. She hesitates and doesn't decide.

Answer 8

The woman talks to her mother and says she doesn't love George. Her mother counters that George can provide for her. She decides to marry George, after going a lil crazy on her mother.

Answer 9

In the hotel during their honeymoon, the woman is uncomfortable and cries. She cries out for her mother, for somebody.

Answer 10

Helen is in the maternity ward and again is repulsed by her husband's presence. She says she can't succumb anymore.

Answer 11

In the speakeasy, Helen hangs out with the telephone girl, who is having an affair with Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith brings his friend, Mr. Roe, along with so he can occupy Helen while he gets down with the telewhore. Surprise, Helen falls for Mr. Roe and they kiss.

Answer 12

Helen has an intimate moment with Mr. Roe, and he talks about the Rio Grande (Mexican American border) and how he killed someone with stones.

Answer 13

Mr. jones lands a big business deal, Helen is not excited by it. In fact she has a panic attack and goes on about stones like Mr. Roe. Fade to black...

Answer 14

Helen is in court and confesses to murdering her husband.

Answer 15

Being executed

Answer 16

modernism naturalism and realism avant-garde expressionism

Answer 17

a global movement in society and culture that from the early decades of the twentieth century sought a new alignment with the experience and values of modern industrial life.

Answer 18

Naturalism was a branch of realism. Like realism, it depicted real people in real situations, but naturalists also believed in forces larger than the individual like nature, fate, and heredity.

Answer 19

basically, the people and ideas that are ahead of their time.

Answer 20

artistic style in which the artist seeks to depict not objective reality but rather the subjective emotions and responses that objects and events arouse within a person.

Answer 21

To Business

Answer 22

Prohibited

Answer 23

Vibrant underworld, cacophony of loud hoots, woops and drinking glasses clinking.

Answer 24

No rhythm to hint they are not bound by society

Answer 25

advanced women's exposure in an oppressive, man dominated world

Answer 26

Nettie's (mother) inability to divorce Alfred troubled Treadwell for all her life

Answer 27

frantic woman crushed by society

Answer 28

The role of marriage and a woman's dependant status on her husband's wealth in the 1920s

Answer 29

Harry Smith and Dick Roe

Answer 30

suicide, murder and divorce

Answer 31

with a metaphor for society as a machine

Answer 32

patriarchal norms dictated the dynamics of romantic relationships

Answer 33

women were expected to defer to their husbands, sacrificing their own individuality and agency in order to maintain respectable marriages.

Answer 34

his manner of leading her to the answer is patronizing, in the same way that all the other men in Helen's life have communicated with her in a condescending manner.

General Knowledge Questions Flashcards

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