Theme: Bullying, Peer Pressure Flashcards
(13 cards)
What does Kelly’s play examine regarding peer pressure?
How quickly peer pressure can turn into bullying
This highlights the dynamics between social influence and aggressive behavior.
What consequence does Kelly portray as a result of bullying?
Normalization of violence and brutality
This suggests a societal acceptance(normalisation) of aggressive behaviors, which ultimately leads to tragedy
What ultimate outcome may arise from the normalization of violence and bullying in the play?
Tragedy
This indicates a severe and often irreversible impact on individuals and communities.
What important quotes does John Tate say in Act 1?
Hint: He says it in a threatening and menacing way about sides who is on who side and
“Then you’re on your own side, which is very, well, to be honest, very silly and dangerous” – John Tate, Act 1
What does Kelly show about some of teenagers, and what are they forced to do?
Kelly shows that some of the teenagers are threatened, forced to remain silent and complicit in the cover-up of a crime:
What does John Tate manipulation of Danny show? What is Danny threatened with?
Tate’s manipulation of Danny shows the impact of peer pressure as he is threatened with isolation or (implicitly) future acts of violence if he refuses to comply
What is the repetition of “very”? What does it underline?
The repetition of “very” is emphatic, underlining the sinister threat
Why are Tate’s words ironic?
Tate’s words are ironic, as the group’s silence and complicity ultimately leads to the characters’ decline and mental destruction as a result of their guilt
What quote shows Cathy threatening Adam in Act 3?
“I threatened to gouge one of his eyes out”– Cathy, Act 3
“I threatened to gouge one of his eyes out”– Cathy, Act 3
How does audience react to Cathy’s pride? What does her violent language(and nonchalant tone) suggest?
Cathy’s pride at the violence of which she finds herself capable is shocking:
Her explicitly violent language and matter-of-fact tone suggests that her reaction to violence has been normalised
What is the quote Brian says to show how Cathy loves violence in Act 3. He asks a question after?
“She loves violence now. Can you feel the sun licking our skin?”– Brian, Act 3
“She loves violence now. Can you feel the sun licking our skin?”– Brian, Act 3 What is Brian’s tone, and what does it reveal and what is it stemmed from?
Brian’s tone is also matter-of-fact and reveals his disturbed state of mind, also perhaps the result of his exposure to violence and bullying
What are the references to nature suggest? “She loves violence now. Can you feel the sun licking our skin?”– Brian, Act 3
His references to nature also suggest a desire to distract from the violence and Cathy’s cruelty
