Table of Contents
Tomorrow's People: Scene 3
The scene takes place in the schoolyard, highlighting the relationship between the teachers and the students. Despite the headmaster walking around "with a stick in his hand, symbolising authority and discipline, there are instances of student misbehaviour as some students can be heard "shouting and playing" during lessons. The chaotic setting indicates the headmasters's ineffective leadership, as his strict methods fail to control the students. The scene thus mocks the education system by presenting the head of the school as failure.
As the plot develops, the headmaster asserts his authority through shouting and hurling vitriol at the students. The semantic field used by the headmaster such as "fool" and "lecherous bastard" suggests that the school is not a safe environment as it exposes children to verbal, psychological and emotional abuse.
Why is the Scene Brief?
The whole scene is short. Its length reflects the headmaster's lack of engagement with Miss Jubane. He quickly dismisses her, indicating his unwillingness to communicate effectively.
Why is the Conversation Choppy?
The conversation between the headmaster and Miss Jubane is tense and disjointed. Miss Jubane feels "not comfortable in front of the head." This suggests that the headmaster is hostile and unapproachable. This choppiness reveals the strained relationship between the staff and leadership.
Themes
Freedom vs. Oppression
The contrast between the students playing and the headmaster's strict discipline highlights the theme of freedom versus oppression. The students' playful behaviour contrasts with the headmaster's attempt to impose order and control.
Education and Authority
The headmaster's refusal to listen to students and his rigid belief that "students don't tell us what to do" exposes the flaws in the education system, which is teacher-centred and oppressive, limiting the students' freedom and voice. It is this authority that motivates the students to improvise their own play instead of focusing on the prescribed one.
Ineffectiveness of Traditional Discipline
The use of corporal punishment and violence, symbolised by the stick, critiques traditional disciplinary methods, which fail to bring about real change in the behaviour of the students.
Characterisation
The Headmaster
He is portrayed as rigid, authoritarian and unapproachable. He carries a stick, symbolising violence and a lack of empathy. His belief in traditional, oppressive discipline methods suggest that he is closed-minded, as seen in his statement that "Shakespeare is the best thing." His actions create tension among students and staff alike.
Miss Jubane
She is uncomfortable around the headmaster, indicating her vulnerability in the face of his authoritarian style. Her unease reflects the broader fear and intimidation the headmaster's leadership instills.
Mis Jubane's generic stage name "Teacher," is symbolic. It speaks volumes about the teachers in general. Teacher is a retrogressive character who stifles creativity and innovation. It is ironic that Teacher (Miss Jubane) is a drama teacher, a discipline typically associated with fostering creativity, yet she discourages students from coming up with their own play based on their ingenuity. Teacher, thus stands as a stumbling block to education instead of being its advocate and champion. She feels threatened by the creativity of the students as she states "trouble, sir."Also, Miss Jubane is a frivolous character. She prioritises international trips at the expense of developing students' talent.
Atmosphere
The atmosphere is tense and oppressive. While the students create a chaotic, lively environment by playing and shouting, the headmaster's presence looms over the scene, symbolising authority and control. The environment underscores the theme of the clash between freedom and oppression within the school.
Props (The Stick)
The stick is an important prop in the scene as it symbolises violence, authority, and discipline, representing the headmaster's reliance on fear and punishment to control the students. It serves as a prolepsis to the later violent clashes in the play, suggesting the escalating consequences of oppressive leadership.
Symbolism
The Stick
The stick symbolises violence and authoritarian control. It highlights the headmaster's reliance on corporal punishment and foreshadows the violence that will escalate later in the play.
The Playing Students
The playing students symbolise the innate freedom and joy of children. They stand in stark contrast to the oppressive nature of the education system and the headmaster's strict discipline. The clash between these two forces symbolises the broader theme of freedom versus oppression.
Comments