Give is the address where the majority of the plays action takes place. From the acting, the design and the direction of the play were. With his ninth play, gem of the ocean, august wilson is one play away from completing his decadebydecade chronicle of the african american experience in the twentieth century. Themes all themes culture and assimilation language and storytelling gender and inequality family, love, and marriage. Gem of the ocean characters breakdowns including full descriptions with standard casting requirements and expert analysis. Gem of the ocean, set in pittsburgh in 1904, is the production that tells the story of that first generation of african americans to emerge after the end of the civil war and the death knell. Sparknotes are the most helpful study guides around to literature, math, science, and more. Through humor, drama, gem of the ocean gem of the ocean is set in 1904 in the hill district of pittsburgh, pennsylvania at 1839 wylie avenue. Gem of the ocean reminds us why august wilson is considered by some to be the shakespeare of our time. Ester has become known as a wise woman who can cleanse souls. Gem of the ocean is a play centered on individual characters dealing with the tribulations of being africanamerican and underprivileged and their strive to overcome. Set in 1904 pittsburgh, gem of the ocean is also imbued with the memories of the forced.
The play gem of the ocean overall was a great production, although this paper is not suppose to be about what i liked or disliked about the play. Daniel gives us an unvarnished and yet otherworldly view of life for the men and women who once were slaves and. In the play, caesar is a policeman, baker, and landowner. Phylicia rashad in gem of the ocean photo carol rosegg waiting for gem of the ocean to begin and taking in david gallos notyet. Bell engl 1102 8 february 20 symbolism at its finest many authors through time and through this day and age have used symbolism in their works. A journey to the city of bones in gem of the ocean at mtc. A few more hours and the deep, mysterious ocean will drown the symbol you have made to burn on her bosom. Just a little longer, and she will be beyond your reach. Critics may say there is too much symbolism in some works. Discovering aunt ester in gem of the ocean by august wilson. Vin shambry and brenda phillips in gem of the oceancourtesy portland playhouse. Eli prepares to head to bed when there is a violent knock at the door.
It is the first installment of his decadebydecade, tenplay chronicle, the pittsburgh cycle. Earlier in 2005, on the completion of the final work of his ten play cyclesurely the most ambitious american dramatic project undertaken in our historyaugust wilson disclosed his bout with cancer, an illness of unusual ferocity that would. August wilsons gem of the ocean a dramaturgical case study. A scene from august wilsons gem of the ocean featuring jacqueline williams as aunt ester and jerod haynes as citizen. Gem of the ocean probes the limits of freedom indy week. In gem of the ocean, wilson depicts a young black man citizen barlows journey of redemption through the help of a spiritual adviser aunt ester. Gem of the ocean recently played across the country and on broadway, with phylicia rashad as aunt esther. The plot of the play is set in the year 1904 and the main characters are aunt tyler, citizen barlow, solly two kings, black mary, caesar eli and selig. Find sample tests, essay help, and translations of shakespeare. This tender, spiritual allegory mixes the first adult generation of freeborn blacks free legally, if not in.
Aunt esterin gem of the ocean, she is a very old, yet vital spiritual advisor for the community wilson, p. Gem of the ocean plot summary, character breakdowns, context and analysis, and performance video clips. Alices story does not begin on a boat, she says, but on the streets of footscray, a suburb of melbourne, where the streetlights stop traffic. In fact, the center of gem of the ocean is a seance of sorts, conducted by the ageless aunt esther, that involves the middle passage and the slave ships ferrying africans to the americas. And yes, how we as humans understand our own freedom is an important part of it. Gem of the ocean is in production at a noise within, where director gregg t. Gem of the ocean original, play, broadway opened in new york city dec 6, 2004 and played through feb 6, 2005. Spirituality in gem of the ocean breaking character. World trade in the atlantic basin used to involve rum, sugar, cotton, tobacco and slaves. Set in 1904, august wilsons gem of the ocean begins on the eve of aunt esthers 287th birthday.
Set in 1904 pittsburgh, it is chronologically the first work in august wilsons decadebydecade cycle dramatizing the african american experience during the 20th centuryan unprecedented series that includes the pulitzer prizewinning plays fences and the piano lesson. Gem of the ocean is the ninth work in wilsons tenplay cycle that has recorded the american black experience and helped to define generations. And as of last month it still was uncertain as to whether gem of the ocean, which found itself. At the start of august wilsons gem of the ocean, only 40 years have passed since the end of slavery its 1904 in pittsburgh. In gem of the ocean, black mary wilks is aunt ester tylers housekeeper. There is much music with a chorus of beautiful girls dancing in lush art deco settings. Citizen barlow arrives at aunt esters house seeking her help and a safe place from caesar, the local constable. Set in 1904 pittsburgh, gem of the ocean, is the first play chronologically in wilsons ten play pittsburgh cycle, that charts the african. Like most though not all of the plays in the cycle, gem is set in pittsburgh. Gem of the ocean themes of trauma, healing and community. August wilsons gem of the ocean examines freedom, self. With his ninth play, gem of the ocean, august wilson is one play away from completing. Gem of the ocean premiered at the goodman theare in chicago. It is a young man named citizen barlow, demanding to see aunt ester, an old woman with a magical reputation for washing peoples souls.
Take your last look at the scarlet letter and its wearer. Perhaps the most memorable moments in the play are when the. In gem spectators are provided with more insight into the history of african americans than is usually learned from history books. In this piece, aunt esther, a fiery 285yearold matriarch, welcomes into her hill district home solly two kings, who was born into slavery and scouted for the union army, and citizen barlow, a young man from alabama. Phylicia rashad performs scene from august wilsons gem of. A journey to the city of bones in gem of the ocean at mtc marin theatre company continues its 49th season with august wilsons gem of the ocean. Gem of the ocean by august wilson 1,014 ratings, 4. The characters that grace the home include eli, aunt esters protector. The names of the characters in gem of the ocean reflect the practice of choosing names with biblical or historical origins, or that specifically represented a persons newfound promise of freedom. Set in 1904 pittsburgh, gem of the ocean is the play that begins august wilsons tenplay cycle dramatizing the african american experience during the twentieth century a series that includes the plays fences and the piano lesson.
Gem of the ocean the ninth of august wilsons 10 plays about africanamerican life in the 20th century is a work of gripping theatricality, with a plot that snaps into place like puzzle. Complete summary of august wilsons gem of the ocean. Living memory in gem of the ocean south coast repertory. Response paper on august wilsons gem of the ocean essay. August wilsons gem of the ocean concord theatricals. Gem of the ocean, set in 1904, will certainly be ranked among his highest peaks. Terms in this set 18 in what year does this play take place. Themes for discussion guilt, innocence, and absolution in august wilsons gem of the ocean, citizen barlow arrives at 1839 wylie avenue in. Gem of the ocean is a play by american playwright august wilson. Gem of the ocean by august wilson is a play that takes place in 1904 in the home of aunt ester, a 285yearold african american woman. Set in 1904, august wilsons gem of the ocean is the ninth work in his century cycle, which has recorded the american black experience and helped to define generations.
Unpolished gem summary from litcharts the creators of. If one considers the cultural signifiers, historical allusions, and cast of characters that richly texturize wilsons most renowned works, then gem of the ocean definitely distinguishes itself as an august wilson play. Set in 1904, pittsburgh, gem marks the beginning of wilsons 10play centurycycle dramatizing the africanamerican experience during the 20th century. Join stageagent today and unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. Seven years later, the university of central floridas production of gem of the ocean went against what most consider traditional staging. It is the first installment of his decadebydecade, tenplay chronicle, the pittsburgh cycle, dramatizing the africanamerican experience in the twentieth century.
Gem of the ocean is a part of a ten play chronicle written by august wilson where slavery has ended but, we can still see that it still exist. Phylicia rashad was nominated for a tony award for her portrayal of ester in gem of the ocean. Gem of the ocean quotes by august wilson goodreads. The recent history of broadway, of course, has not boded well for the future of thoughtful theater. Here in a dramatic reading created for august wilson. Gem of the ocean the ninth of august wilsons 10 plays about africanamerican life in the 20th century is a work of gripping theatricality, with a plot that snaps into place like puzzle pieces and language thats an angry cry from the mind and heart and informing and deepening our understanding. Download file to see previous pages gem of the ocean is a play written by eminent american playwright august wilson. The gem of the ocean 1934 out of 4 tworeeler from warnervitaphone has a french woman jeanne aubert being blackmailed on board an ocean liner by a man sheldon leonard who wants a valuable jewel that she owns. Gem of the ocean takes place about 40 years after the abolition of slavery, which is not nearly enough time for people to move on and evolve from such a detrimental occurrence in history. The broadway run starred tony award winner phylicia rashad as aunt esther.
Gem of the ocean unfolds in the home of aunt ester, a well known 285yearold wise woman of the town whose home has become a sanctuary for the troubled and lost. The play was written by africanamerican playwright august wilson famous for his plays depicting lives of people who were relating to the black experience. Abstract in 2004, august wilson completed gem of the ocean, the first play in his pittsburgh cycle. August wilsons gem of the ocean plumbs the real meaning. But the occasion for this discussion isnt an abstract selfanalysis or a measurement of degrees. Beautifully mounted at arena stage, it is nothing short of an epic. Onto the scene walks citizen barlow, a man who has fled from alabama after indirectly causing another. When citizen barlow comes to her pittsburghs hill district home seeking asylum. Eli, the gatekeeper, looks after aunt ester and her protg, black mary. More than half of the characters on stage vividly recall captivity. For the simple fact that i dont regularly go and watch plays.
Freedom is at the core of august wilsons gem of the ocean, too, which portland playhouse opened last saturday at the world trade center. Gem of the ocean is the first in august wilsons ten play cycle that chronicles the africanamerican experience in the twentieth century. The man plans to get the jewel away from the woman because her brother is in trouble with the law but also on the ride she finds love. Analysis of the book gem of the ocean 1189 words cram. Gem of the ocean opens late at night at 1839 wylie avenue in 1904.
432 721 419 1129 1037 767 1319 247 924 645 1383 1535 559 1059 42 316 752 1255 637 1487 612 1490 201 582 786 1042 739 226 100 1104 349 540 1307 296 1231 133 142 1118 215 496 314 826 1306 1452 1134 862 1030 264