Howard Brenton's
fantasy play, Thirteenth Night, is the movement of Shakespeare's Macbeth in a
not so distant future left wing totalitarian Britain for a Socialist
government. It is generally considered as a feedback of tiptoeing oppression
and constriction of socialism. In the opening part, Jack Beaty, the communist
visionary, is hit over the head and dreams of another world in which he himself
can guide individuals to rebel against degenerate types of government and
reliance on American cash through his communist talks. His socialist utopia
quickly degenerates into a Stalinist dictatorship. His dictatorship is unbearable, yet this last discourse demands that the
gathering of people considers what reasonable options there are if socialism is
really to grab hold and make due in Britain. As his dream turns to nightmare, Beaty slides into further murder and
eventual madness before himself being killed in a second coup d’etat.
Howard Brenton's
fantasy play, Thirteenth Night, is the movement of Shakespeare's Macbeth in a
not so distant future left wing totalitarian Britain for a Socialist
government. It is generally considered as a feedback of tiptoeing oppression
and constriction of socialism. In the opening part, Jack Beaty, the communist
visionary, is hit over the head and dreams of another world in which he himself
can guide individuals to rebel against degenerate types of government and
reliance on American cash through his communist talks. His socialist utopia
quickly degenerates into a Stalinist dictatorship. His dictatorship is unbearable, yet this last discourse demands that the
gathering of people considers what reasonable options there are if socialism is
really to grab hold and make due in Britain. As his dream turns to nightmare, Beaty slides into further murder and
eventual madness before himself being killed in a second coup d’etat.
Subjects | Creative Arts and Writing |
---|---|
Journal Section | Articles |
Authors | |
Publication Date | December 25, 2017 |
Submission Date | July 27, 2017 |
Acceptance Date | November 19, 2017 |
Published in Issue | Year 2017 Volume: 3 Issue: 2 |