An Exposition of The Play Marat and Sade - Essay Example

Number An exposition of the play Marat/Sade One of the most acclaimed and celebrated novelists and play is Peter Weiss. He achieved international recognition in 1964 at the age of fifty years. The production of the book in Germany was followed by unnecessary Marxist interpretations. The play is set in the Charenton Asylum. The play is a play within a play, with the larger play consisting of the main story that takes place on 13 July 1808 following the historical French Revolution in 1793. Most of the actors, in the play, are inmates of the asylums. There are also nurses and supervisors that occasionally step in the play to restore the required order. Coulmier, who is the bourgeois hospital director, has the role of doing supervision on the performance as the stage action continues. The play has several thematic contents that the writer has brought to the light of the readers. This essay will look into the lucid analyses of the themes using quotes as evidences or backups to the arguments and explanations. One of the most dominant themes in the play is tyranny or dictatorship. The eighth chapter begins with the word tyranny, written in italics. Pained Marat is giving an order to Simonne to give him more cold water. The tone he employs while delivering the message to Simonne is a commanding and authoritative one. “(Tyrannically). Smonnne Simonne. More cold water. Change my bandage” (Weiss 15). This is an example of allegory used in the play to represent the behaviors of different leaders in the society. Racism is another theme evident in the play. It is revealed through sarcastic remarks made by Simonne to Jean-Paul. He tells him not to scratch himself since he will tear his skin to into pieces. “Jean-Paul don’t scratch yourself you’ll tear your skin to shreds give up writing Jean-Paul it won’t do any good” (Weiss 15). Simonne, in this excerpt implies that Marat’s skin is weak and can easily get ‘torn’ due to scratches. In other words, it is not like the skins of other races that are tough and do not easily tear up due to mere scratches. Love is also portrayed in the play, as one of the core thematic messages that the author had in mind at the time of the play’s compilation. It is revealed through the way in which the characters relate in the play. Some characters enhance the theme through romantic love type whereas others show it as a way and means of strengthening the relationship in a given institution or family. For instance, in the 15th page, Simonne is taking care of Marat. She nurses his wounds and responds to his demand in order to ensure that Marat is not disturbed and gets all the support necessary for his survival. This way she portrays love as a theme in the play. Simonne stands ready behind him and carries out with maniacal movements her rehearsed tasks. She changes the bandage, fans him with the shoulder cloth and tips a jug over the bath” (Weiss 15). Love is also present when Simonne advises Marat not to scratch himself. She reveals her caring and love for him and that is the reason why she offers the advice. “...don’t scratch, you will tear your skin…” (Weiss 15). Weiss has also used certain characters in the play to allow for the enhancement of human suffering and death, as a theme in the play. He has used characters such as Marat ensures that his intention of depicting the theme to the saying such is an implication of pain and anguish. It is rare top find grown ups saying such even under serious pain. Marat is also talking of deaths that took place during revolution. “And what is a bath full of blood compared to bloodbaths to come?” (Weiss 15). Marat, in this quote, talks about the coming and the past suffering that occurred during the revolution. The songs are termed as political by the director. Coulmier is ashamed and he stands for himself saying that things are rapidly changing .This leaves the audience surprised of the unfolding events. The director has no way out of the victimization, and he comforts himself that such plays have been in high demand by his various audiences. Marat had laid a path for revolutionary change that the asylums desperately needed. They had a chance while acting and they immediately seized it without hesitation to air out their personal feelings.These are some of the words that appeared in the songs they sang while acting. Politics, in the play has been portrayed in a manner that reveals the dark sides of political situations and activities. Murders, lootings, and general insecurity in the nation, is portrayed in the play. “…arousing them to looting and murder…” (Weiss 14). The theme that is central in the play Marat/Sade is interpreted as the diverse definition of being cruel. The therapy methods of Marquis de Sade are disreputable .The development of the term sadism, show why his methods were infamous. This is not supported according to the treatment given to the asylums, which is considered as cruel. The public is asked about of their opinion. Marquis preserves himself saying that hismethods, which are unusual, are usually client requested and are very effective.He portrays his feelings stating that heperforms a service, which is beneficial to everyone and this, is evident by the level of which his patients are improving. Marat who is the revolution leader, thinks thatessence to obligeacts which are full of violence in contradiction to the founding is provoked. The French revolution led to the loss of thousands of lives. Marat is however plied as a conqueror, a sacrificial victim of the French revolution. What causes Charlotte Corday to assassinate Marat? Charlotte believes that Marat is a monster, and should be prevented fromcausing more deaths. The play of Peter Weiss's The Oppression and Murder of Jean-Paul Marat, which is performed by Inmates who live in the Charenton Asylum,and are under the Marquis de Sadewho is the director ,leads to the drawing of anumeral of traditions in the theater so as to order to convey the theme that is central .The theme is freedom by manner of revolutionary and can also include action that is anarchic . Two figures that are historicalare based in the play. The assassination of Marat arises due to political reasons. “Many of them died slowly in your workshop” (Weiss 21). The play also spreads certain facts about the figures. In the asylum at Charenton Marquis de Sade is known to spend time there. In the history of the French revolution, it is something that is very important.Another factor that is also important, is the aftermath, which took place when Marat was murdered while he was bathing. There is a link that is direct between the accomplishments of the play-in-a-play, with the outside world that involves the play itself. The story turns patients into a band that is revolutionary, when they see the story and turn against the asylum guards; and they try to incorporate their own beneficial rules. The Marquis de Sade, tantamount with nastinessby the use of the term “sadism,” which is resultant from his own name. He takes pleasure mutually in the meanness seen in the play, he offers to the audience and theanxiety he founds. This implies that sadism is one of the profound themes in the play. People like Marat are murdered in front of other people (enemies), and they show little mercy towards his execution. “What are few looted mansions compared with their looted lives?” (Weiss 21). This is an implication of merciless murdering that occurred, for instance, that of Jean Marat. Martyrdom is another theme revealed in the play. The assassination of Jean Marat is a symbol of saving the larger group of his origin. He is a sacrificial lamb to his exposed societal members. “What is the blood of these aristocrats compared to the blood of the people shed for you?” (Weiss 21). This extract has martyrdom and aristocracy a s two important themes in the play. Aristocracy involves excessive use of power to execute certain mischevious and inhuman activities to other people. An example is the ruler who ordered the murder of Jean Marat. Vengeance is another theme that Weiss has brought to the light of the viewers and readers of his play. “You are watching that revenge and you don’t remember you drove the people to do it” (Weiss 21). In the conversation, Marat is talking to the audience concerning the ongoing war. He states that the war is all about revenge by the opponents. This leads to the assassination of Marat because, he is seen as a person who has caused a lot of death, and he is not ready to let go his push for change no matter what number of people die. This forced Charlotte Corday to kill him. Shebelieved that with Maratdead, people will stop fighting, therefore less deaths. Marat is seen as a Martyr, he died not only fightingfor himself, but also for other people.Nihilismis portrayed in the play whereby morality is not put into consideration when Marat is assassinated. “Man has given false importance to death” (Weiss 23). Death, in this case, is that of Marat. The French revolution was a way to fight against oppression. The death of Marat had great impacts on the asylum inmates. Despite them trying to be resistant and airing their views in the play. They are still not listened to and they continue to suffer. The modern world today has taken the same path as during the French revolution. Organizations which come together to fight oppression are usually stamped out and their leaders sometimes assassinated. Works Cited Weiss, Peter. Marat/Sade. London: Marion Boyars, 2001. Print. Read More