Title Explanation and Analysis

The Wardrobe; Scene 7

Title Explanation and Analysis

Titles:
Body Part: A foot out of line
Genre: Drama
Weather Metaphor: The Winds of Change
Arthur Miler Esque: Joffrey wants to punish Winifred, but Winifred wants to defend for her life.

These titles relate to my scene, 7. They both symbolise an event that has happened. To sum up scene seven, Master Joffrey of a high class household, is meaning to punish his "object", a slave; Winifred. She understands the punishment will be harsh therefore visualising only her death, she fights for her life. Innocently but intelligently, she deligates an agreement using blackmail as her tool of choice, to anger and subdue Joffrey by bringing up his love affair with Arthur. Joffrey knows if anyone were too find out about Arthur, they would both be in grave trouble; this being due to homosexuality not being accepted 1805.

A foot out of line

 This is my first title. It is a metaphor designed around the chosen body part; the foot. I  have used this as my title because I believe it symbolises the fact that a low class slave is fighting for the same rights as a high class person. This slave is answering back, blackmailing, assaulting this higher class boy. In 1805, this behaviour from such a low member under the normal fabric of society would be deemed preposterous. Any slave who were to speak out of line would have been executed. This is because they were not seen as people.
To Joffrey, Winifred is stepping out of line and is being outspoken. He sees only the consequence of her actions and the suitable punishment. I feel this is the main event because it has the most important impact of its time.

The Winds of Change

My second title is a weather metaphor. I have used this title because; too me, it sums up how the events and atmosphere have changed from the beginning to the end. It shows how the Winifred has gone from being an objectified slave to a self promoted, human, standing up for her rights. It also shows how Joffrey has devolved from being a master in a high class household who has had his emotions unravelled, down to a more open minded less arrogant boy.
This is an important historical event as the slave trade act was in forced by the movement of slaves like Winifred (William).

I believe that by creating these titles and analysing each one I have learnt a more in depth background of my character and have understood more about the reality that both these characters would have faced in 1805.

To conclude, my titles symbolise important events in the play and relate to the impact that they have had in reality, in 1805.

The Wardrobe; Scene 7 - Historial Research

Historical Event; 1805 Slave Trade Act

In 1805, House of Commons passed a bill that ruled it against the law for British people to capture and transport slaves from Africa. It was reviewed in the House of Lords who blocked this measure. It was not until 1806; when three opponents of the slave trade, voiced their campaign. Lord Grenville formed the Whig administration with Charles Fox. Along side William Wilberforce, they campaigned against slavery in the House of Lords. They're persuasion was successful and the law was carried out on the 25th March. 1807. It took 2 whole years for William Wilberforce's Slave Trade Act to become law.

This is a letter that William Wilberforce sent to the Free holders and other inhabitants of Yorkshire about the abolishment of slave trading. I have used this to show the historical evidence to back our scenes historical correctness.



Note: The law abolishes slave trade but not slavery.
Why? As the members of society chose to tactically aim on banishing slave trading so they stood a larger chance of succeeding and therefore making a larger impact on the views of slavery itself. If they were to just target slavery it would create a larger backlash and a massive social and political divide.
Culturally, this new law should have had an impact on religious beliefs; Exodus 21:16 "Whoever steals a man and sells him, be put to death. I believe that due to the bible condemning slavery, that Christians would be for the new law. That is just an example of how the culture may have positively been affected. It could negatively been affected by non religious folk who follow their own stance and have their own views and that may have decided that they had the right to slave trade which could cause some political backlash.
Also, the economy was obviously built upon on slave trading and by taking that investment out of the economy would have damaged businesses and the lives of the traders which could then be interpreted as the Government caring more for the slaves than its own people. Therefore a social effect.


Quotes used to persuade against Slave Trade
Lord Grenville; "Contrary to the principles of justice, humanity and sound policy"
Lord Grenville; "Not having abolished the trade long ago"
William Wilberforce; "You may choose to look the other way but you can never say again that you did not know"
William Wilberforce; "If to be feelingly alive to the sufferings of my fellow- creatures is to be a fanatic, then I am one of the most incurable fanatics ever permitted to be at large"

Facts!
They won the vote in the House of Lords by 41 votes to 20 votes.
It took a total of 30 years to abolish the slave trade act altogether.

Relating to the Scene
Character: Winifred
Costume: Barely substantial clothing, cheap material, dirty.



Example of African women slave and her clothing.

Character: Jaffrey
Costume: High class, fitted, expensive use of exotic materials and cottons grown by their own slaves.
         
             Example of  a   Master of the house outfit in this era.                                    
Setting: High quality wardrobe, upper class child' bedroom. Only the best items for the Master of the house' son. The only rough, and un fitting object in the room will be the slave (only in Jaffrey's mind)
Music plays in the background; Beethoven symphony, composed between 1804 and 1808, the most recent and relatable to the scene - THE LINK to Beethoven Symphny 5

I think by understanding the scenes historical value and massive importance has allowed me to feel the realistic and naturalistic personality, emotion and movements this character would have used in this era. This will hopefully allow me to create a strong and well developed piece of acting.