SOCIAL CULTURAL HISTORICAL of Road by Jim Cartwright
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SOCIAL / CULTURAL / HISTORICAL
Within the early 1980's the United Kingdom was experiencing a dip in economic status. A series of epidemics broke out leading to riots, with miners fighting police over strikes against pit closures, the Falklands war and the biggest slumps in British stock markets in the account of Britain.
All these events acted as a background for Jim Cartwright to write his play Road. Road captures the essence of real life in the 1880's under the power of Maggie Thatcher.
Below I have written about the major events/happening that could have influenced Jim Cartwright in his writing of Road.
To an audience in 1986 (when the play was first performed) Road would have been incredibly significant to their every day lives. Most people in 1986 had or were experiencing extreme poverty and had or were experiencing the same problems faced by the community of Road.
The main themes of the play are, 'unemployment' 'poverty' 'drink,' 'escape' and 'hope' People in 1986 would have without doubt been able to relate to this play as these themes had touched most of them before.
For a younger audience nowhere days (such as my self,) it all comes as quite of a shock as it seems almost 'unreal' the extremities these inhabitants of Road are experiencing, however for older generations Road is a play in which they can unlock a door and look back in to the past familiarizing them selves again with the pain once brought upon them some 20 years ago.
'It's not his fault there's no work' Valerie says this in her monologue and the theme 'unemployment' is touched upon by so many of the inhabitants of road as the only main character who we can defiantly assume is bringing in money, be it any at all, is the professor...