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Shoe Horn Sonata & the Send Off

Decent Essays

Distinctively Visual Essay – Shoe Horn Sonata & The Send Off In John Misto’s play ‘The Shoe-Horn Sonata’ (1996) and the poem ‘The Send-Off’ written by Wilfred Owen distinctively visual techniques are used to explore past experiences of war and individuals and society’s perceptions. These concepts are conveyed and explored through the use of distinctively visual techniques such as visual and aural imagery, stage directions and dialoged. In ‘The Shoe-Horn Sonta’ distinctly visual techniques are used to highlight past experiences of World War II and provide distinct visuals of the unjust acts committed against nurses. Through the use of powerful dialogue, and engaging dramatic techniques, Misto explores their testimonies of the …show more content…

Music plays an important role in the play; with the title itself having a hidden meaning with a sonata being a piece for two musical instruments, or voices representing instruments. The partnership between Bridie and Sheila constitutes a sonata with their music symbolizing hope and joy with the objective of bringing happiness to the other prisoners. They sang when they were in the huts at night, or digging graves ‘So the camp would know there was still music left’. Symbolism is used to show they are still clinging on to life, just as the shoehorn is a symbol of their strength and will. The beat of the shoehorn is still there, canvassing the strength of their beliefs and their lasting courage. They supported each other throughout their time in captivity, but lose contact after their release. In Act one, Scene three the audience’s attention is captured with the distinctively visual dialogue spoken by Sheila. ‘For a while nothing happened. Just the roar of the sea – and us, ghostly white on deck.’ The dialogue encompasses the use of light to put emphasis on an idea or to create a mood. Misto uses spotlights to emphasize the drama of what is happening on stage. [Both of them are isolated in spotlights]. Where as Owen reinforces the negative tone of the poem by using words such as ‘not ours’ and ‘never’ this showing how their

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