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.