Arcadia: A Play

Arcadia: A Play
by Tom Stoppard

Arcadia: A Play
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Book Summary Information

Author: Tom Stoppard
Edition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1994-09-24
ISBN: 0571169341
Number of pages: 112
Publisher: Faber & Faber

Book Reviews of Arcadia: A Play

Book Review: Powerful play about philosophy, science and the human heart
Summary: 5 Stars

The urbane play `Arcadia' by the erudite dramatist Stoppard is wonderful on a multitude of levels, emotionally, philosophically, satirically and intellectually. I arrived at this conclusion partly because of the unique characterisation, partly because the colourful dialogue packed with innuendo, sarcasm, wit, intellectual discourse and repartee and partly because of the powerful philosophical issues which it addresses so elegantly. Stoppard sets the play partly in the 19th century where he brings together upper class aristocrats, middle class professionals and working class domestics and partly in the 20th Century where the stage is shared by a set of zealous authors, researchers and academics both occurring in the stately Croom estate.

In the 19th Century time period, Stoppard introduces us to the precocious, young aristocrat Thomasina Coverly and her cynical polymath tutor Septimus Hodge and uses their academically charged conversations to ask several vital questions that shape humanity and the universe, from chaos theory vs determinism, the fate of the universe according to the second law of thermodynamics, Romanticism vs. Classicism, the importance of discovery and the head vs. The heart to name a few. Stoppard does not short change the audience in comedy in doing this though, quite the contrary, he allows us to witness numerous farcical situations between the impossibly conceited mother of Thomasina, Lady Croom and the hapless Chater (whose harlot wife is Septimus's latest conquest) and their interrogation of the randy young tutor on his sexual liaisons with various women on the estate,which provides for highly compelling comic relief.

As the story progresses, Stoppard introduces the 20th Century characters, the candid, forthright author Hannah Jarvis who is researching the estate for her new book, the foppish, Machiavellian university don Bernard Nightingale who believes there is a connection between the death of Chater and Byron and Valentine who is Coverly progeny and a biological mathematician along with his impetuous, hormonal sister Chloe Coverly. In the modern day plot, Stoppard investigates the importance of truth, and discovery through the arguments between Hannah and Bernard on how Chater really died while he confers on the importance of Science and Literature through Bernard's mean spirited, petulant diatribes and sophomoric, obstreperous attacks on a docile Valentine. I found both of these highly engaging and interesting debates.

Stoppard also cleverly constructs certain characters such as Chloe and Valentine as legatees of Thomasina and Septimus to behave as vehicles to facilitate the audience to observe the change in social norms and mores through time, from the class conscious patriarchal society of the 19th Century where the brilliant Thomasina can't follow her dreams to become a scientist to the socially emancipated 20th century where Chloe engages in loose sexual relationships with the callous, pseudo-intelligent academic Bernard. Stoppard uses this to demonstrate class marginalization and ostracism in the 19th Century and its change to the 20th Century and the consequences of patriarchy on history which led unquestionably to the loss of real intellect due to superfluous social forces.

Stoppard incorporates stage props and costumes to complement the eclectic stage action seamlessly; he allows both plots to occur on the same stage enabling the central themes and motifs to always be evident to the vigilant audience member. But perhaps Stoppard's most remarkable innovation in Arcadia was allowing the 19th and 20th Century characters to appear on stage simultaneously with the same costumes during a waltz, the conversations mirror through the time periods and makes for spellbinding, enthralling entertainment. Arcadia is a truly unique experience and Stoppard introduces ideas and issues in cascading proliferation like no other play which culminates in an ending that will surely tug at one's heartstrings. It has everything a play should have, do everything you can to buy or watch this truly marvellous play.

Summary of Arcadia: A Play

Arcadia takes us back and forth between the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, ranging over the nature of truth and time, the difference between the Classical and the Romantic temperament, and the disruptive influence of sex on our orbits in life. Focusing on the mysteries?romantic, scientific, literary?that engage the minds and hearts of characters whose passions and lives intersect across scientific planes and centuries, it is ?Stoppard?s richest, most ravishing comedy to date, a play of wit, intellect, language, brio and . . . emotion. It?s like a dream of levitation: you?re instantaneously aloft, soaring, banking, doing loop-the-loops and then, when you think you?re about to plummet to earth, swooping to a gentle touchdown of not easily described sweetness and sorrow . . . Exhilarating? (Vincent Canby, The New York Times).

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