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Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson

1288 Words6 Pages

The conflict between the Teacher and in the performers in Rich Orloff’s “Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson” is a direct result of a power struggle involving the class difference of those have power and those who must submit. Although Orloff presents this play a satire, under the veil it dives into a deeper case of the social class structure and what may result from the oppressive nature of those in power compared with the oppressed. In social settings such as a classroom teachers are held with respect, and authority allowing them to hold the power of his or her students. Historically those in a position of power have not always shown restraint when asserting dominance, or in the use of this “power”. The consequences of this abuse are that …show more content…

Orloff shows the stages of questioning the socioeconomic environment by the Good Samaritan as he or she is under stress due to the overuse of power shown by the Teacher. This abuse of power causes the Good Samaritan to become unruly, and to engage with the Teacher in a matter that contradicts their societal roles. The play illuminates the imbalance in power, that leads to one group in society having more control over others that are perceived as being less. The Good Samaritan conflict on the surface is merely about an actor being overly directed. The deeper meaning of this conflict is not only about the individual’s struggle with submitting to another’s control, but that of societies issues involving class. Uprisings have historical been the result of abuse of power, oppression, and grievances, all of which contribute to the central conflict of “Playwriting 101: The Rooftop Lesson”. The resolution of the overthrown who hold power is one that is superficial in the play as well in society. As only those who hold power are the same that truly have control in the

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