Tuesday, 24 November 2015

Discuss how Posner and Irwin's relationship is presented in this exchange

At the start of act 2 Irwin is seen five years later in a wheelchair doing what seems to be a documentary. On page 60 there is a man watching Irwin being filmed, the audience are yet to know who the man is. Then whilst off film Irwin speaks to the man and uses asyndetic listing "eye-catching, showy, false" this has an effect that Irwin can make an ongoing list describing "meretricious". This gives the impression to the reader that Irwin may be speaking to a former student due to the fact he is speaking to the man as if  he was or used to teach him. The man who is later I the scene revealed to be Posner tells Irwin "you were a good teacher" the adjective "good" shows the audience that Posner respected Irwin and his teaching styles. This may suggest to the audience that Irwin may still be in touch with some of his former students and that his relationship with them is strong because Posner has purposely came to see him. 

Posner and Irwin's conversation began to heat up on page 61 when Dakin's name is brought into the conversation "He liked you... didn't he" this a tag question used by Posner, he already knows that Dakin liked Irwin but he needs to hear it himself. This shows the audience that maybe Posner is jealous of Irwin because he feels that Irwin stole Dakin of him. Irwin realises that Posner is miked and is trying to set him up "how did you come to this?" Irwin is in disbelief at Posner trying to get him in trouble when they used to have so much in common for example their similar feelings for Dakin.

Irwin uses taboo language "now fuck off" this is Irwin telling Posner that yes he may have been his teacher and had to treat him well but now 5 years on there is no rule on how Irwin should speak and treat Posner. A vocative is used when Irwin signs the book "I'll put to Posner" this represents a big power change in Irwin and Posner's relationship and that although Posner used to have the power on what to call Irwin, however now Irwin has the power to call Posner what he likes. There is now a feeling that Irwin has lost all respect for Posner and has decided because he hasn't grew up that he will call him his child hood name instead of "David". 






1 comment:

  1. There's good understanding shown here and you identify some good techniques with terminology. To improve, show how the techniques do what you say they do e.g. the connection between the asyndetic list and semming as if Irwin is speaking to a student isn't clear. Making the point that Posner hasn't retained any of the "meretricious" knowledge gained by playing the game Irwin's way and that this puts him in the 'student' role again, which Irwin emphasises by using an asyndetic list that suggests he is well-educated enough (unlike Posner) to know not only the definition but many appropriate synonyms (the lack of conjunctions makes it seem as if he could go on listing adjectives indefinitely). Notice how the triplet ends on "false" - what could that suggest?

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