summative paper 2

1. Identify some of the forms intolerance can take, and discuss how its effects on both the victims and the intolerant are presented.

Intolerance is a destructive technique that can take many forms. It is often presented in literature and drama as a motivation for conflict and chaos. The two plays that show this well are "The God of Carnage" by Yasmina Reza published in 2008, and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" by Edward Albee published in 1962. "The God of Carnage" is about two pairs of parents, one of whose child has hurt the other with a stick at a public park. The parents meet to discuss it in a civilized manner, though chaos erupts partially due to intolerance. "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" is about an aging couple, who with alcohol in their system use their younger guests to evoke emotional damage to each other over the course of a long night. In both plays, intolerance is portrayed as a destructive technique that leads to the breakdown of the character's relationships and the unraveling of the characters' lives.

In "The God of Carnage," intolerance is presented through the interactions of two sets of parents who meet to discuss a playground fight between their sons. As the conversation unfolds, it becomes clear that both sets of parents are deeply intolerant of each other's worldviews and beliefs. The couple Annette and Alain represent the more liberal, educated, and upper-class values of the play and are unable to connect with Michel and Veronique who represent the working-class, traditional values. They criticize each other's parenting styles, cultural differences, and class distinctions, leading to heated exchanges and eventually physical violence. An example of this is when Alain sarcastically makes fun of Michel's job by asking him a range of questions that were not meant literally. It shows that their intolerance towards each other's worlds can lead to conflict. Another example is when Annette judges Veronique's interest in her writing a book about a region in Africa. This intolerance leads to backlash and more conflict between the characters. In "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" intolerance is presented through the interactions of two couples. As the story progresses, the couples reveal their darkest secrets and engage in mind games, exposing the inclosed biases and assumptions that hold up their relationships. One example of this in the play can be seen in the way that George speaks to his wife Martha. George is often patronizing and unenthusiastic towards Martha, and he belittles her intelligence and her opinions. For instance, in the exposition, George mocks Martha's knowledge of Bette Davis movies and suggests that she is not smart enough to understand the complexities of their marriage. This shows the intolerance that George has, which causes conflict to flare up, as well as engaging in mind games. Another example of intolerance is the way that George and Martha treat Nick and Honey. George and Martha give a bombardment of personal attacks and insults, making fun of their youth, intelligence, and marriage. The older couple's behavior is cruel and intolerant, and they seem to enjoy inflicting pain on their guests to compromise for their own mental state. The effects of intolerance on the victims in this play are intense. The characters are forced to confront their own limitations and failures, as well as the limitations and failures of their partners.

In conclusion, intolerance is presented in literature and drama as a motivation for conflict and chaos. "The God of Carnage" and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" both portray intolerance as a destructive technique that leads to the breakdown of relationships and the unraveling of the characters' lives. These plays serve as cautionary tales, warning us of the dangers of intolerance and the importance of empathy, understanding, and acceptance in building healthy relationships and meaningful life.