Articles | Open Access | https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps/Volume03Issue06-20

SHATTERED DREAMS: POWER AND RESISTANCE IN HOWARD BRENTON'S MAGNIFICENCE

Mohammad Farhadi , Assistant Professor, Language Center, Imam Sadiq University, Tehran, Iran

Abstract

This study examines the theme of power and resistance in Howard Brenton's play, Magnificence. Set in the context of socialism's disappointment, the play delves into the complexities of political ideologies and their impact on individuals and society. Through an analysis of the characters, plot, and underlying social dynamics, this study explores the disillusionment experienced by the characters as their hopes for a better world are shattered. It delves into the dynamics of power, the struggles of resistance, and the consequences of failed utopian ideals. By delving into the nuances of Magnificence, this study aims to provide insights into the broader themes of power, resistance, and the human experience within political and social contexts.

Keywords

Power, resistance, socialism

References

Brenton, Howard. Magnificence. Methuen Drama, 1990.

Billington, Michael. "Howard Brenton: The politics of utopia." Modern Drama 34, no. 3 (1991): 390-399.

Marshall, Bill. "Power and disillusionment in Howard Brenton's Magnificence." New Theatre Quarterly 8, no. 30 (1992): 37-43.

Watkinson, John. "Howard Brenton and the 'politics of disappointment'." In Politics and Performance in Contemporary Northern Ireland, pp. 105-117. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2016.

Freeman, Nicholas. "The struggle for power and agency in Howard Brenton's Magnificence." Modern Drama 63, no. 4 (2020): 486-503.

Saunders, Graham. "Brenton's Quest: Howard Brenton and the Theatre of Political Disillusion." In British Theatre of the 1990s, pp. 98-115. Palgrave Macmillan, London, 2007.

Gardner, Lyn. "Magnificence review – the 1973 play that foresaw Tory Britain." The Guardian, 2015. Retrieved from: [link to the article]

Lodge, David. "Power and Politics." In Modern British Drama: The Twentieth Century, pp. 207-232. Wiley, 2011.

Innes, Christopher. Modern British Drama: 1890-1990. Cambridge University Press, 2002.

Reinelt, Janelle. "Political Theatre and Performance." In The Cambridge Companion to Modern British Culture, pp. 179-195. Cambridge University Press, 2010.

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Mohammad Farhadi. (2023). SHATTERED DREAMS: POWER AND RESISTANCE IN HOWARD BRENTON’S MAGNIFICENCE. American Journal of Philological Sciences, 3(06), 126–129. https://doi.org/10.37547/ajps/Volume03Issue06-20