Review for cloud 9 - Book Report/Review Example

no. Critical Book Review: Act in Cloud 9 Act I The first act of the pay mainly portrays traditionalism ofthe society that is mainly highlighted in terms of gender and racial roles that are presented as bunches that are later blown away as pins. For instance, Caryl Churchill builds sets of traditionalisms by portraying gender and racial roles; however, he then dismissed these traditionalism and accepts modernization where different roles are divided among different gender and races without prejudice (Churchill, 8).

These changes in roles indicate how the setting of the play changes dramatically between the colonial period of British in Africa and the modern days of civilized England. For instance, Betty is initially presented as a submissive wife but later she turns out to be cheating on her husband. Additionally, Clive is portrayed as responsible husband as expected by the traditional society but turns out to be cheating on his wife, this is only common in the modern society. Traditionalism is further washed down by men taking roles of women.

For instance, son Edward being a model and having sexual relationship with another man, Harry. Therefore, it can be said that Act I depicts the importance of traditional society despite its deteriorating manner. Act IIThis Act shows the total destruction of the society. For instance, Churchill is no longer naïve with his actions and he plays them openly and with confidence as they are normal things (Churchill 49). In this act, the society thinks that accepting and embracing changes or breaking from the tradition would make the world utopian paradise.

In a mix of everything, Act II depicts that despites the changes in the traditional, people will still be there for each other. For instance, Gerry still treats his love as expected by the traditional society or the same way Edward treated his love in Act I (Churchill, 53). Moreover, the people in Act II are seen to be questioning the traditional roles. They now consider them as oppressive. In Act I, Edward is scorned by the father in the same way he is scorned by the wife in Act II. Edward is scorned because he is regarded as a traditional feminist.

Edward is gay, a trait that is relatively accepted socially in the 20th century, which is the setting of Act II (Churchill 57). The partially embraced traditional feminine quality in Act II by men is somewhat ridiculed. These character traits others show that ditching tradition has placed the society on a cross road since not everyone accepts the changes of gender or traditional roles in the society. Act IIIAct II seems to analyze the effects of traditional and modern society. Some people in this Act are now lovers of traditional ways of life.

For instance, Betty seems to love traditional mother; however, she was played by a man in the traditional setting. This Act shows a lot of confusing that lead to independence on personal thinking. Changes in the society has made it confused and hostile that every person tend to think and shape their own life to what they think is good (Churchill 74). Everybody seems not to be contented with what the modern society is offering, but they learn to accept and live by it. These Acts combined show that change has consequences and it is difficult to break form the norm.

Work CitedChurchill, Caryl. Cloud 9. Drama. NY: Psychology Press, 1984. Internet source.