Jerusalem 6: Good, evil, dragons and dragonslayers. Saturday, 07 November Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS April 23rd St George killed the dragon Professor (mad but clear in mode.
Download ReportTranscript Jerusalem 6: Good, evil, dragons and dragonslayers. Saturday, 07 November Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS April 23rd St George killed the dragon Professor (mad but clear in mode.
Jerusalem 6: Good, evil, dragons and dragonslayers. Saturday, 07 November 2015 Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS April 23rd St George killed the dragon Professor (mad but clear in mode of Lear) tells the story at the close of Act 2 (p83) Knight from Cappadocia – NB not English – Romany Gypsies can be traced to this area from the 8th or 9th centuries The knight arrives at a city – “stagnant pond” whereby lives a dragon which has “envenomed all the country” Children are given as tribute to this beast The knight offers to kill it in return for Christianity being accepted It is followed by Phaedra’s terrified look into the forest. Is the “dragon” still out there? Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Readings Easy to assume Johnny is the dragon that needs to be killed. Surrounded by “onlookers” - children Drug dealer envenoming the surrounding area Wild and terrifying Seems to have some sort of extra-human power Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Reverse this Johnny is a Romany (proud speech to Marky About heritage and blood line) He has taken residence near the village Sees village and country as evil from birth “what is this dark place?” Children seek him out and are not given as sacrifice or tribute. He implies safety in some form The village lacks Christian values of charity, licence, temperance. Seems to be a hot bed of lust and abuse. Extend this to the county who are driving him out – greed has replaced charity and care. Johnny and Marky are the only characters in the play with “Christian” names. Wesley is names for the father of Methodism, but is clearly in crisis by Act 3 (p92) Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Confused? Good. TASK: Make a table to list the characteristics of Johnny and the Village in terms of George and the Dragon. Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Johnny as George If we accept that Johnny is designed to be a (very) flawed “Light” character, how might this work? Discuss. Remember to link the idea to a Pastoral longing for as “better-time-before” Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Johnny… Clearly wishes to be linked to the land and thus to nature and a pre-Christian environment The Wood is described by Lee as being “holy” and full of Ley Lines. Johnny lives at the epicentre of this He relates himself to “granite” and “heavy stone” in contrast to the softer elements of chalk and wood – he is seen chopping wood in Act 1 and establishing his mastery over it. Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Stone The description of the bodies of generations of Byrons being scattered over the landscape recalls Sarsen Stones, found all over northern Wiltshire. Sarsen ( from Saracen – links to Turkey again) stones are sandstone, rather than Granite, but the link is clear. They form the great standing stones of Stonehenge and Avebury. Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Links to a Pagan past. Curses at end of play redolent of PreChristian time Power in his eyes? Incantation and awakening of his forebears to defend him Set against the shallow “new paganism” of the Fair. Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS More sinned against than sinning? (sorry Shakespeare) Johnny Lust Village Happily indulges the women of the village – is this lust? Shows none for young girls Gluttony Drugs and alcohol Pride Possible tragic flaw that will not allow Johnny to lose face Greed Wishing to build. Kickbacks Lust Women fall for Johnny and invite him to “decorate”. Fawcett and Hands. Troy and abuse Wrath Anger directed towards Johnny Envy Possible envy of his freedom. “lovely spot” Gluttony Seeking endless drugs Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Both are dragons? Should not be clear-cut if Butterworth wants us to consider our society – the ending is deliberately left open to conjecture Professor speaks at end of Act 2. We are meant to consider this through the interval and use Act 3 to help reach a conclusion – if one is possible. To Christians, the pagan was terrifying and needed to be abolished or subsumed in Christian hagiography – ‘Obby ‘Oss becomes a George and Dragon story. Though how this knight from the depths of Infidel territory became Christian is not clear… Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Jerusalem? Was the Green and Pleasant Land blessed by holy footsteps before industrialisation and the birth of monetary greed and rural poverty? Is the older, Pagan, society still present beneath the more recent Religious constructs placed upon it? Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Replace and change In a play with some much change and transition, regret should be evident alongside hope for the future. TASK: Where do we see Lee showing either element as he prepares to leave? Will the development of the Wood be change for the better? Who is doing more harm, Johnny or the council? Consider this both as a villager and as an eco-critic. Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS NB under the 2002 laws of adverse possession, Johnny is the rightful owner of the land since he has used it for 12 years prior to 2002. Time line Setting 2009 Moved to wood 1982 Lost “cherry” in barn aged 12, possibly in 1969 Johnny is “about 50” Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Darkness or Light? Which version of “Englishness” would you prefer to follow? 1) The free and uncontrolled Wood life (which comes with drugs, alcohol, animalistic behaviour and a moral code which, if it exists, is based on the Darwinian model) 2) The restricted and nannified state of the council in which profit s placed above all else (which also comes with drugs, alcohol… but is ashamed and tries to hide the fact) Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS Debate This house believes Johnny (Rooster) Byron to be the victim of a miscarriage of Justice. Jonathan Peel 2015 JLS