Oleanna blog question 4

David Mamet’s critically acclaimed play Oleanna, paints a sordid picture of he said, she said. The “victim” is the, presumably, college age student Carol, who is not doing to well in a certain class and desperately wants to turn that around. One way she goes about doing this is by meeting with the seemingly chauvinist professor of the course, John, in his office. During this meeting Carol often times disagrees with John and his perspective on higher education and life in general. Because of these disagreements, Carol reports John to the college board who start to review his job status. In scene two Carol is telling John about the implications and John starts to lose his in charge persona and almost starts to break down emotionally. This is seen when John wants to continue talking to Carol as she leaves and he is left to nothing more than physically restraining her. Scene three plays off of the physical restraint at the end of scene two, and shows Carol accusing John of rape. Throughout the play we receive multiple clues that John is married, has kids and is about to buy a house. The legal implications of rape set John’s world into a tailspin. After being interrupted by a phone call from his wife, Carol tries to correct his personal life by telling him “Don’t call your wife baby” (Act 3). This intrusion sparks something in John and he starts to physically berate her, until he gains composure, and then the play ends. Mamet changes John and Carol throughout the duration of the play. Carol starts out as an innocent student, one that most students can agree with. “I take notes…it’s difficult for me.” (Scene 1) She then turns into someone that sadly some of us can relate to the “victim.” Seeing no way out of her problem, she thinks the easiest way is to give someone else problems. She never talks about life outside of school, just a “group” that is interested in suing John. “I come here… on behalf of my group.” (Scene 2) I think that it is dangerous to feel like a victim too much because; we see here that it leads to us wanting to make someone else the victim. Sometimes it means going to the extreme to give others our grief. John, on the other hand, is at first portrayed as the sort of person that tries to prove that they are smarter than you. This is offset, however, by the continual phone calls John receives throughout the play. Oftentimes it is either John’s wife or John’s friend calling about a house that John wants to buy for his family. By the middle of scene 2 the audience feels almost empathetic towards John. Facing losing his job, this would also means losing his dream house and making life difficult for his family. “But to me it is important. A home. A Good Home.” (Scene 2). This whole dream is dashed when he gives into his own feelings and starts to beat Carol. Mamet is wonderful in painting this picture of John’s character and then turning it upside down and reversing it back to its original shape.As a father, husband and man that is looking to buy a home I somewhat empathize with John. I think that one needs to be very careful in what they do behind closed doors. That, when in a position of authority we need to still respect others and their desires. This still does not make me like or agree with Carol in the least but, after acting like she was the victim, she finally becomes, in reality, the victim. I think that Mamet wants us to think if we are a John or a Carol and what these dangerous personas may lead to.