Rewrite part 3 'The Homecoming'

Speech Presentation Edited Student’s Name Institutional Affiliation Course Name and Number Instructor’s Name Date Speech Presentation Edited Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining me today in our journey towards exploration of the social transformation that has disrupted our traditional identities and thrown us into a state of disillusionment, leaving us struggling to redefine ourselves. World War II brought about significant changes in societal roles and expectations, leading to a degree of interchangeability between men and women in various aspects of life. Its conclusion marked the beginning of the transformation that has changed the social dynamics in terms of gender roles and overall identity. These changes have been captured in different forms of literature, which have revealed the confusion that individuals face as they strive to find themselves. Prominent in this list of literature materials are plays, where authors have used their characters to paint the reality in modern societies. Arthur Miller, Tennessee Williams, and Harold Pinter are some notable authors who came up with three unique dramas that critique contemporary society and its disillusionment. Miller’s “The Death of a Salesman,” Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and Pinter’s “The Homecoming” reveal the inner struggles and anxieties that Americans experience in their family relations. Through their respective themes, the plays utilize various dramatic devices to critique societal changes, highlighting the need to adapt to and redefine oneself in a world where traditional roles and beliefs have become obsolete.  Death of a Salesman Arthur Miller portrays the disillusionment of the post-war era in modern society through his main character, Willy Loman, in the play "Death of a Salesman." The play's exposition sets the stage for exploring themes such as the American Dream, identity, and family relationships, affirming the state of disillusionment and the struggle for identity among the members. Loman and his family grapple with the American Dream and its elusive promises of success and happiness, reflecting the typical American's daily experiences (Pokrivčák, 2020). At the beginning of the play, Willy is a salesman approaching retirement age. He lives in surrealism by deluding himself into thinking that popularity and personality matter more than competence. Nevertheless, a life full of failures and the loss of his job are signs of his future mental collapse. Willy desperately tries to hold on to his memories of his past glory days on the road, where he felt "vital" and "well-liked" in his sales position. Nevertheless, Willy's obsolete shoe sales skills are not appreciated in the contemporary corporate scene. He can no longer reconcile his fading past successes with his disappointing present and begins to dissociate (Miller et al., Act 1, 1949). Willy’s state depicts naturalism, whereby in the modern dynamic world, people must constantly update their skills to survive. Those who fail to do so, like Willy, end up disoriented.  Miller employs the alienation effect through Willy's several flashbacks to reveal the gap between the American Dream and the reality of the characters' lives. Willy's flashbacks help the viewer to juxtapose the past and the present and judge whether Willy is close to achieving his dreams (Berman, 2023). For instance, when Linda is busy with Willy's birthday party preparations, he mentally travels back to a childhood memory where his deceased father appears to give him fatherly advice. Willy is also obsessed with the unrealized success of his sons, Biff and Happy. After failing to meet Willy's standards of manhood, Biff dropped out of college and became a drifter, doing different kinds of jobs. On the other hand, Happy is depicted as shallow and dependent, working poorly at a New York firm. He could not face the fact that he was getting older; thus, his skills were deteriorating, and his position in the business world was becoming less critical. Willy starts to pin all his dashed dreams and ambitions on his sons, which serves as an exposition of every American parent's desires, setting the stage for their disillusionment. Nevertheless, their failure to meet these expectations aggravates to mental breakdown.  Miller uses dialogue to unravel the internal conflicts that his main character, Willy, experiences, which is common among people as they age. Throughout the play, Willy's interactions with his sons provide a glimpse into his deteriorating grip on reality. As Biff and Happy come home before Christmas, it becomes evident that Willy is living in the past, especially during the flashback to Biff's glory days in high school. In Act 1, Willy monologues, reliving the past about Biff, and quips, "My God! Remember how they used to follow him around in high school? When he smiled at one of them, their faces lit up. When he walked down the street (Miller et al., Act 1, 1949), this highlighted his fading grasp of reality as he slowly engulfed himself in reminisces of past ideals. This deconstruction of the myth of the American Dream makes it impossible for Willy to reconcile his expectations with the failure and marginalization of the modern workforce. Therefore, the director's vision of representing reality comes to the fore through Willy's character and interactions with his family. Willy's inability to adjust and find his identity in the modern world drives him to commit suicide. A Streetcar Named Desire In Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," the author covers the disillusionment and identity crisis affecting modern society through the play's themes, which portray the characters struggling to reconcile their innermost desires with the harsh realities of life. The main character, Blanche DuBois' frequently engages in soliloquies throughout the play, which offer ins...