Toward the Future

1. At first, I had difficulties coming up with a good idea for my play. I had certain story plots in mind, but I found that many of them would work much better in the form of a novel. This is because they required explanations about the characters' feelings and backgrounds, which does not really work when writing a play. When I finally decided on a plot to use, I realized that it was very similar to the movie Legally Blonde. From there, my challenge was to make the plot and the characters my own and drift away from those in the movie. I found writing a play challenging, perhaps because I had never done it before. I am so familiar with writing short stories where the author can describe things that can't be done in a play, so I found that to be a huge challenge. Yet, when I had the finished product in my hand, I felt proud of what I had written. I may be interested in writing screenplays, but I'm not sure yet.

2. Growing up with little siblings, I often find myself in situations where I have to help my eight year old sister struggles that she endures. I am always happy to help her and give her advice because I have been through many of the same situations as she. For instance, when she was having some problems with one of her good friends, I gave her advice on how to deal with those problems based on what I had learned growing up. I definitely give others suggestions and advice based on my own experieneces, but also based on what my close friends or family members have gone through.

3. When I took the AP World Literature class during the first semester of senior year, part of our curriculum was to read Jane Austen's novel Pride and Prejudice. What I loved about her novel was that her writing style was so light and witty. Though the novel involved some complex plots and characters, everything came together because of the way she wrote. What I also liked was that the themes she wrote about were so universal; they could relate to almost anyone during any time period. That is why I think her literature has lasted such a long time, and I think the same proves for any other writer. I'm not sure if I have the skill or dedication to write a piece of literature that is so timeless and influential as Jane Austen's writing, but I would be very honored if someone thought I did.

Themes and Conflicts

I believe that any good piece of literature requires a theme, even if it is not extremely obvious to the reader. The theme of a story or play is the central message; it portrays the meaning of the work that was created. It's the idea that is supposed to make the audience think about their lives from a new angle. Without a central message, the piece of literature in fact holds no importance or substance. Last semester, I read the play Waiting for Godot and had a very difficult time understanding what it was actually about because I felt it did not portray a focal point. After a couple days of discussing the book in class, I finally realized what the author was trying to say by writing the odd play and I gained more respect for the work.

In my play, I would most likely communicate a theme to the audience that portrays the importance of knowing your true self. I think that many people would be able to relate and understand this theme because almost everyone goes through a phase in life where they question who they are, what they want to be, how they want to become that person, etc. I have had a couple friends throughout the years that have struggled to discover who they are underneath their appearance. This topic is very important to me because not only have I experienced the journey myself, but I have witnessed those close to me discover who they truly are as well.

In order to come up with some conflict ideas, I will first say that my main character's name is Gemma and the central theme involved is the same as the one listed above. Depending on the direction I choose to take in the play, I could write about several conflicts Gemma would be forced to undergo. Whether it be a conflict between Gemma and her best friend Lucy because her personality has changed dramatically while trying to discover her true self. Or, perhaps there could be an internal conflict within Gemma while she goes through the emotional struggle to figure out who she is, who she wants to be, and what she wants to do with her life.