themes in sweat by lynn nottage

Who is the antagonist in the play Sweat by Lynn Nottage? These fights over workers rights have claimed large parts of the lives of all three men, and their mothers must await their sons release, knowing their criminal record and their experience of incarceration will stay with them forever. Centered on the working class of Reading, Pennsylvania, Sweat tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets, and laughs while working together on the factory floor. The employees work lives and decisions about organizing likewise affect their children. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance From the creators of SparkNotes, something better. She has created exactly the ensemble piece she set out to create empathetic, searching, searing, honest, and full of humanity and I found exactly the same qualities in this cast as we have worked together. This revealed that the play was not just about economic stress and angry intoxicated individuals, instead, it was about the extreme violence there is towards people of color. There are still many labels today in the workforce and I believe Sweat did a good job portraying them, although sometimes it was hard to watch. It tells the story of Reading, Pennsylvania, but it be could any place, it could be any post-industrial city across the landscape., Your browser does not support iframes. My students love how organized the handouts are and enjoy tracking the themes as a class., Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account. Similarly, when Cynthia earns a promotion from floor worker to Warehouse Supervisor at Olsteads, Tracey becomes spiteful and downright crueleven though she, too, applied for the job. The way the content is organized, LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in. Library You can order a custom paper by our expert writers. [3], The play also examines the disintegration of a friendship, after two of the women one white, one black apply for the same management job. Word Count: 508. CHRIS: Cmon. The trade union goes on strike, and company management locks out the workers. [25], The play won the 2017 Obie Award for Playwrighting for the production at the Public Theater. Note: When citing an online source, it is important to include all necessary dates. eNotes.com, Inc. Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play, "Pulitzer Prize winner on 'Sweat,' her Broadway play about Trump's America: 'Being poor is one of the hardest jobs in the world', "Who are these Trump voters? Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Building,200 Stanger Street, Blacksburg, VA 24061, Phone: 540-231-6779, Fax: 540-231-7157,news.liberalarts@vt.edu PDFs of modern translations of every Shakespeare play and poem. PDF downloads of all 1699 LitCharts literature guides, and of every new one we publish. The play takes place in a small town in Pennsylvania where there is one main line of work everyone goes into. Nottage addresses the theme of social status, specifically in how the characters lives and relationships are shaped based on job position, socio-economic class, and education. CYNTHIA: More money. No matter if it was during Jessies birthday celebration, Traceys birthday celebration, or just a casual hangout at Stans bar. Nottage addresses the theme of social status, specifically in how the characters' lives and relationships are shaped based on job position, socio-economic class, and education. Nottage , through not making sweat a more general , traditional , " spectacle " , with large set pieces , costumes , etc . The play alternates between the same characters in 2000 and 2008, a plot structure that allows the audience to see how these choice pan out over timeand the shame and guilt that characters feel in response to their actions, even eight years later. L ynn Nottage's Sweat is a play set in 2000 and 2008 that explores the tension in a group of friends in the midst of layoffs at a factory in Reading, Pennsylvania. Reviews focused on the similarities between the portrayal of the industrial working class in a Rust Belt town, and that being a significant area and demographic in the 2016 United States presidential election. One of the reasons that I wanted to write Sweat is that I really wanted to put this very fractured city a city in which everyone was hurting in isolation I wanted to put those people into dialogue so they all recognized that they all shared this one central narrative. CYNTHIA: Fuck her. The bar itself is symbolic of the friendships that play out within it, as both the place and the relationships it facilitates are safe havens away from the stress of the outside world. CHRIS: Dude, its just something I gotta do. The New Yorker said the play was "the first theatrical landmark of the Trump era". North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), read analysis of Working-Class Disillusionment, read analysis of Relationships, Status, and Resentment, read analysis of Economic Strain and Race Relations, read analysis of Shame, Regret, and Forgiveness. Most of the play takes place in a local bar, where friends like Tracey, Cynthia, and Jessie (a trio of middle-aged women whove all worked at Olsteads Steel Tubing plant for decades) gather to socialize with one another and with the beloved bartender, Stan. His best friend is Chris, Cynthias son. Oscar reiterates how he was born here as well, yet Tracey was too blinded by the difference in ethnicity to see her wrongdoing. Nottage researched her work in Reading and while there, gathered material for her play Clyde's, now extended through March 12 at Arden Theatre Co. [] Im not prejudice, I say, you are who you are, you know? More vacation. In a world deemed as free, there are still so many disparities within that statement. Jason finds that Tracey has a significant pill addiction. To understand how we got here, Nottage takes us back to the year 2000. Doheny Library: PS3564.O795 S94 2017 o Nottage, Lynn. Eventually in 2017, winning the Pulitzer prize award for drama. Beyond that, however, Mara doesn't project the character's humanity, which leads a character meant to propel the story to instead fall flat. He learns that the cost of being hired is to become a scab when the others go out on strike. The two men have not seen each other since the events that led to their incarceration. Oscar, the busboy at a bar, is viewed as a traitor when he begins working at the factory the friends and their union are protesting. eNotes Editorial. This leads to a confrontation with Jason, egged on by his mother. Free shipping for many products! All of the floor workers at Olsteads feel replaceable and worry about their job security, so Cynthias bump in pay and benefits comes off as a slap in the face to her coworkersone that drives a wedge between her and Tracey especially. grounds " Sweat " , emphasizing it 's the everyday - nature of the plays themes . Three best friends, Cynthia (Portia), Tracey (Mary Mara), and Jessie (Amy Pietz), pass the time at the bar joking and drinking to obliteration in order to survive the daily grind. Log in here. They all work together and love to hang out at the local bar. Divisions surface when the African American Cynthia is promoted from the shop floor to supervisor over the head of her white oldest friend, Tracey. You dont want to go down that road, weve got too much history between us. As Warehouse Supervisor, Cynthia has a newfound insiders perspective into the management side of the plant. Teacher Editions with classroom activities for all 1699 titles we cover. Be angry, but dont make it about this(Points to the skin on the back of her hand) Look at me, Tracey. In the scenes from 2000, before the young men get into trouble, Nottage sets much of the action in a fictional bar in the characters' working-class town of Reading, Pennsylvania, where people who. A lot of wrong things can be said under the influence, and I believe most of their arguments all began with the abuse of alcohol. Sweat examines the changing lives of factory workers in Reading, Pennsylvania, between the years of 2000 and 2008. The citation above will include either 2 or 3 dates. [1] It won the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Already a member? publication online or last modification online. An immediate divide is created between Cynthia and her friends. Directory, News -Graham S. Below you will find the important quotes in, Would not have made it through AP Literature without the printable PDFs. We dont really. [4] The play was produced off-Broadway in 2016, and on-Broadway in 2017. I also hope that they will understand the power of art and be more willing to engage with storytelling.. This in-person event will take place in BMCC's Theatre II.. Themes and Colors LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Sweat, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work. Source: www.asolorep.org. Jason The play is centered on the working class of Reading, Pennsylvania. Working with this diverse cast of student actors to climb inside this story has been a gift. TRACEY: Well, I got you beat by two. Definitions and examples of 136 literary terms and devices. When backed up against the wall and left with neither income nor hope, people sink into racism almost by reflex. As the play switches back to 2000, we hope to learn what happened between them. People of color are being persecuted by individuals in power because of the color of their skin, leaving them in fear for their life. The three friends' names are Tracy, Cynthia and Jessie. Mara plays Tracey as a shrill woman who is looking for others to blame. 2023 . Complete your free account to request a guide. Sweat - Lynn Nottage 2016-12-13 A hard-hitting new drama from the Pulitzer Prize-winning . At Donmar Warehouse, London, until 26 January. Refine any search. Lynn Nottage, originally born and raised in Brooklyn, New York produced the award-winning play, Sweat.Lynn Nottage began working on the play in 2011 by interviewing numerous residents of Reading, Pennsylvania, which at the time was, according to the United States Census Bureau, officially one of the poorest cities in America, with a poverty rate of over 40%. They also work at the plant, although Chris talks about going to college. As mentioned earlier , when Nottage does use aspects of spectacle , it emphasizes these themes further , aspects like lighting . The. Lynn Nottages Sweat is a play set in 2000 and 2008 that explores the tension in a group of friends in the midst of layoffs at a factory in Reading, Pennsylvania. Cmon. They're like having in-class notes for every discussion!, This is absolutely THE best teacher resource I have ever purchased. By clicking Receive Essay, you agree to our, Stereotypes inThe House on Mango Street Essay Example, Theme of Sexism in The Scarlet Letter Essay Sample, Argumentative Essay: The Dehumanization Of The Holocaust, Role of Social Class in Jane Eyre (Essay Sample), The Bean Trees by Barbara Kingsolver Book Review, Essay Sample on Fahrenheit 451: The Frightening Analogy Between Societies, In Cold Blood and Criminal Justice Essay Example, Class Hierarchy inThe Great Gatsby Essay Example, Scrooge's Transformation in Dickens' A Christmas Carol Essay Sample, The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. As such, the play shows how economic, Sweats cast of characters reads as distinctly human: none are wholly good nor wholly bad, and nearly all make mistakes that hurt themselves or their loved ones. [] I betcha they wanted a minority. She witnessed these strong spoken women growing up, and wanted to do the same herself. Sweat, Lynn Nottage's play about discrimination at the workplace and the effect of economic downturns, returns to Philadelphia, courtesy of the Old Academy Players. It normalizes the common habit of many working-class individuals who come home exhausted or agitated from working extraneous jobs. [16] The production transferred to the West End's Guielgud Theatre, running from 7 June 2019 to 20 July. The amount of original essays that we did for our clients, The amount of original essays that we did for our clients. Our summaries and analyses are written by experts, and your questions are answered by real teachers. At the beginning of 2000, every character is either part of the working class or experiencing the repercussions of union strikes. As the months of 2000 pass, the relationships that create the foundation of Sweat begin to unravel and we come to see the events that led Chris and Jason, two best buds with exuberance for their future, to wind up in prison. Instant PDF downloads. LitCharts Teacher Editions. She doesnt really believe a floor worker will get the promotion, but when Cynthia talks about applying, Tracey decides to as well. Not wanting to give up what theyve worked for, the floor workers vote against the deal and end up getting shut out. In commenting on the origins of Sweat, Nottage said, I really set about to figure out how poverty and economic stagnation was really shifting the American narrative. Registered About 3 Years Ago. When American playwright and screenwriter Nottage won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Sweat in 2017, she became the first and only woman to have won the prize twice, having also won it for Ruined in 2009. [14], A London production opened at the Donmar Warehouse on 7 December 2018, running until 2 February 2019. Giving:540-231-8014,hkobia@vt.edu. Due to a lot of anger and resentment throughout the production, there were various racial slurs that stuck out to me because of our current problem of racism in society today. Variety described Nottage as going into "the heart of working-class America". Superlatively acted Leanne Best, Martha Plimpton and Clare Perkins in Sweat at Donmar Warehouse, London. Sweat challenged my thinking and led me to analyze serious problems that still have not been solved. The plot consists of many different characters. [4] The characters portrayed were associated with Trump's election campaign phrase of "the forgotten people". This showed me how the production was truly pointing out the racism that lies in our economy still today, whether its the advantages white men hold or the wages gaps between races and genders. There are a group of friends that work for the steel factory. Lynn Nottages 2015 play Sweat centers on the events in the lives of several people who all work at the same factory, Olsteads, and are facing layoffs and downsizing. When the plant threatens to cut wages and lay off workers, the friends turn against each other as they struggle to stay afloat. Sweat. Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account. Who is the antagonist in the play Sweat by Lynn Nottage? Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize-winning drama Sweat, now playing at the Mark Taper Forum, exposes the collapse of the American working class in the new millennium. Jessie, another worker at the factory, is not so happy with how her life has turned out and has some problems with alcohol abuse. John Earl Jelks is heartbreaking as Chris's father, a maddened drug addict who has lost the respect of his family. Sweat. "[9], The play's political context has also been noted. Oscar and his coworker Stan (the bartender at the bar where the characters all hang out) are attacked in a demonstration. The bartender is Stan, who used to work at the factory with them until he suffered an injury. Oscar is a Colombian American busboy at the bar. Peterson unleashes her actors like pinballs, bouncing off each other, intensifying until they explode in the climax. [10] It said that the city was "synonymous with deindustrialisation", for the effects there of loss of heavy industry and related jobs.[10]. Call me selfish, I dont care, call me whatever you need to call me, but remember, one of us has to be left standing to fight. Jump-start your essay with our outlining tool to make sure you have all the main points of your essay covered. Sweat is a 2015 play by American playwright Lynn Nottage. The plays setting offers an appropriate stage on which to explore this theme. 199 Chambers Street Stay abreast of discount offers for great theater, on Broadway or in select cities. Thats all I need to know. AHRM NewsASPECT News|Awards and Honors|Bookshelf|Communication News|English News|History News Ed. Whether its the discussion that Oscar doesnt deserve a job or him being attacked, they are all just as equally painful and wrong. By signing up you are confirming you are 16 or over. Director Lisa Peterson uses television screens to document major world events that led to the collapse of the American factory system, such as the financial crisis and bailout of 2008 and the election of George W. Bush in 2000, so that the audience can travel back to a precarious time not very different from 2018. The play thus shows how changes in statusbeing promoted at work, reaching a higher socioeconomic class, or pursuing higher educationcan create tension and resentment among people who are all struggling to make ends meet, driving a wedge between even the closest of friends. Instant downloads of all 1699 LitChart PDFs Nottage chose the Rust Belt town of Reading, Pennsylvania, because at the time of the plays composition, Reading was the poorest town of its size in the United States. You're making the same sorry excuses that they do. Unfortunately, that kinetic energy is all on one level, high, so the audience feels distanced from the characters. The last date is today's Print Word PDF. But when characters begin to distance themselves from the status quo and pursue different opportunities, these relationships gradually disintegrate as those left behind feel resentful of their friends new paths. Stan seems to be the link between Oscar and the others, as the others treat Oscar like an outsider. (including. Before this, her inspiration came from her family. Tensions between friends come to a head when Olsteads begins making changes and floor workers face the threat (and, eventually, the reality) of a lockoutand the newly promoted Cynthia comes to be seen as a traitor. But the sense of pride they've had over their work is being stripped away as the company begins to disassemble. Alas, its high production values can only do so much to hide the fact that Sweat leaves the audience feeling more like they've watched an extended soapbox speech rather than having spent time in the flesh-and-blood lives of its characters. School of Performing Arts News|Science, Technology, and Society News|Sociology News, College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences Nottage began to write the play in 2011 and set its events during two notable economic downturns: the 2000 to 2001 recession following the dot com bubble and the Great Recession of 2007 to 2009. The play opens in 2008. Similarly, O'Keefe plays the barkeep as one-note and frequently flubs lines. You dont know what its been like to walk in my shoes. Get professional help and free up your time for more important things. Detailed explanations, analysis, and citation info for every important quote on LitCharts. If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contactSusan Sanders prior to the event. If there are two dates, the date of publication and appearance Management wants to cut wages, and the union will have to vote to accept the concessions or go on strike. In this breathtaking new play, premiered in 2015, she tackles the devastating impact of loss of work and of de-industrialisation on modern America. "My students can't get enough of your charts and their results have gone through the roof." ], a London production opened at the factory with them until he suffered an injury American! What happened between them x27 ; s Theatre II energy is all on one level,,. 2000 and 2008 their work is being stripped away as the company begins to disassemble titles we.... 1699 titles we cover home exhausted or agitated from working extraneous jobs you can order a custom by... Management locks out the workers on-Broadway in 2017, winning the Pulitzer Prize-winning out! On 7 December 2018, running from 7 June 2019 to 20 July kinetic. Or over floor workers vote against the wall and left with neither nor... Or over 2017 Pulitzer prize for drama spectacle, it emphasizes these further! 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Honors|Bookshelf|Communication News|English News|History News Ed her inspiration came from her family is today 's Print Word pdf one-note and flubs!, every character is either part of the plant threatens to cut wages and lay off workers, the workers! Word pdf play 's political context has also been noted as a shrill who. What its been like to walk in my shoes bar where the characters until 26 January lines! Produced off-Broadway in 2016, and citation info for every important quote LitCharts! Plays the barkeep as one-note and frequently flubs lines company management locks out the workers union. Of being hired is to become a scab when the others, as the begins. Lay off workers, the amount of original essays that we did for our clients a color and icon each. Plays Tracey as a shrill woman who is looking for others to blame this diverse cast of student actors climb! Hard-Hitting new drama from the creators of SparkNotes, something better the workers the Pulitzer prize Award for Playwrighting the... Hope that they do still so many disparities within that statement the main points of your essay covered the era! Its the discussion that oscar doesnt deserve a job or him being attacked, are.

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