The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf: A Dysfunctional Family Saga with Humor and Tragedy
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf: A Classic American Drama by Sam Shepard
Sam Shepard was one of the most influential and acclaimed playwrights of the 20th century, who explored the themes of identity, family, violence, and the American dream in his works. One of his most famous plays is The Curse Of The Starving Class, which was first performed in 1978 and won the Obie Award for Best New American Play. The play tells the story of the Tate family, a dysfunctional and impoverished rural clan that is trapped in a cycle of despair and destruction. The play is a dark comedy that mixes realism and absurdism, and exposes the harsh realities of life in a decaying society.
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf
What is The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf?
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf is a digital file that contains the complete text of the play, formatted for easy reading and printing. The script pdf can be downloaded from various online sources, such as Scribd, Weebly, or Yumpu. The script pdf can be useful for anyone who wants to read, study, or perform the play, as it provides all the necessary information about the characters, dialogue, stage directions, and settings. The script pdf can also be used as a reference for writing essays, reviews, or analyses of the play.
Why Should You Read The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf?
There are many reasons why you should read The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf, such as:
It is a masterpiece of American drama that showcases Sam Shepard's unique style and vision.
It is a powerful and provocative play that explores the themes of family, identity, violence, and the American dream.
It is a relevant and timely play that reflects the social and economic issues of contemporary society.
It is a humorous and tragic play that blends realism and absurdism, and creates memorable characters and situations.
It is an engaging and entertaining play that keeps you hooked from start to finish.
How to Download The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf?
Downloading The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf is very easy and fast. You just need to follow these steps:
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Search for The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf using the search bar or browse through the categories.
Select the script pdf from the list of results and click on the download button.
Wait for the download to complete and save the file on your computer or device.
Open the file using a PDF reader or viewer and enjoy reading or printing the script pdf.
Conclusion
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf is a digital file that contains the complete text of Sam Shepard's classic American drama. The play tells the story of the Tate family, a dysfunctional and impoverished rural clan that is trapped in a cycle of despair and destruction. The play is a dark comedy that mixes realism and absurdism, and exposes the harsh realities of life in a decaying society. The script pdf can be downloaded from various online sources, such as Scribd, Weebly, or Yumpu. The script pdf can be useful for anyone who wants to read, study, or perform the play, as it provides all the necessary information about the characters, dialogue, stage directions, and settings. The script pdf can also be used as a reference for writing essays, reviews, or analyses of the play.
The Characters of The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf features a cast of seven characters, who are the members of the Tate family and their associates. The characters are:
Wesley: The eldest son of the Tate family, who is 22 years old. He is a sensitive and intelligent young man, who tries to take care of his family and their farm. He is disillusioned with his father's alcoholism and his mother's infidelity, and he dreams of escaping to Alaska. He has a close bond with his sister Emma, whom he tries to protect from harm.
Ella: The mother of the Tate family, who is 40 years old. She is a frustrated and unhappy woman, who feels trapped in her marriage and her life. She is having an affair with Taylor, a real estate agent, whom she hopes will help her sell the farm and start a new life in Europe. She is neglectful of her children and often argues with her husband.
Emma: The youngest child of the Tate family, who is 16 years old. She is a rebellious and adventurous teenager, who hates her family and their farm. She is involved in various activities, such as raising a lamb for a 4-H project, joining a motorcycle gang, and robbing a bar. She is impulsive and violent, and she meets a tragic fate at the end of the play.
Taylor: A real estate agent, who is 45 years old. He is Ella's lover and business partner, who wants to buy the Tate farm and turn it into a housing development. He is a smooth-talker and a manipulator, who pretends to care for Ella but only wants to exploit her. He is also involved in shady dealings with Ellis, a loan shark.
Weston: The father of the Tate family, who is 45 years old. He is a drunkard and a dreamer, who has wasted his life and his money on alcohol and gambling. He is abusive and violent towards his family and their farm, which he has mortgaged to Ellis. He has moments of lucidity and remorse, but he is unable to change his ways.
Ellis: A loan shark, who is 50 years old. He is Weston's creditor and Taylor's associate, who wants to take over the Tate farm as collateral for Weston's debt. He is a ruthless and greedy man, who threatens and intimidates Weston and his family. He also has a sexual interest in Emma, whom he tries to seduce.
Slater: A sergeant in the highway patrol, who is 35 years old. He is Emma's lover and accomplice, who helps her rob a bar. He is a violent and corrupt cop, who abuses his authority and power. He also betrays Emma and leaves her to die.
The Themes of The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf explores various themes that relate to the American society and culture, such as:
Family: The play depicts the breakdown of the nuclear family as a result of internal and external conflicts. The Tate family is dysfunctional and unhappy, as they suffer from alcoholism, infidelity, violence, neglect, and betrayal. They are unable to communicate or support each other, and they are driven by their individual desires and dreams. They are also threatened by outside forces, such as Taylor, Ellis, Slater, who want to take away their home and their identity.
Class: The play examines the effects of class inequality and oppression on the lives of the characters. The Tate family belongs to the lower class of rural America, who are poor and marginalized by the dominant society. They are exploited by the upper class of urban America, who are rich and powerful. They are also alienated from their own class of farmers and workers, who have abandoned their traditional values and lifestyles.
Dream: The play explores the concept of the American dream as an illusion and a curse for the characters. The Tate family has different dreams that they hope will bring them happiness and freedom. Wesley dreams of going to Alaska, Ella dreams of going to Europe, Emma dreams of becoming famous, Weston dreams of becoming rich. However, their dreams are unrealistic and unattainable, as they are based on false promises and expectations. Their dreams also prevent them from facing their reality and solving their problems.
Nature: The play contrasts the natural world with the artificial world that the characters inhabit. The natural world is represented by the lamb that Emma raises for her 4-H project, which symbolizes innocence, purity, and hope. The artificial world is represented by the refrigerator that Wesley fills with artichokes that he steals from Taylor's truck, which symbolizes corruption, decay, and despair. The play shows how the natural world is destroyed by the artificial world, as the lamb is killed by Weston and the artichokes rot in the refrigerator.
The Plot of The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf follows the events that take place in the Tate family's farm over a few days. The plot can be summarized as follows:
The play begins with Wesley cleaning up the broken door that his father Weston smashed the night before. His mother Ella tells him to leave it for Weston to fix, and reveals that she plans to sell the farm to Taylor, her lover and a real estate agent.
Emma, Wesley's sister, enters with a lamb that she is raising for her 4-H project. She tells Wesley that she hates their family and their farm, and that she wants to join a motorcycle gang. She also shows him a poster of her as a missing person, which she claims was made by her boyfriend Slater, a sergeant in the highway patrol.
Weston returns to the farm, drunk and carrying a paper bag with a dead chicken inside. He tells Wesley that he has sold the farm to Ellis, a loan shark who lent him money for gambling. He also says that he has bought an old map of Mexico from Ellis, which he believes will lead him to a fortune.
Ella comes back from meeting Taylor, who has offered her a deal to buy the farm and take her to Europe. She argues with Weston about their marriage and their future, and tells him that she has already signed a contract with Taylor. Weston denies that he has sold the farm to Ellis, and accuses Ella of cheating on him.
Emma leaves the farm with Slater, who promises to take her to Hollywood and make her a star. They stop at a bar on the way, where they rob the customers and shoot the bartender. Slater then abandons Emma in the desert, where she is attacked by a coyote.
Weston goes to Ellis's office to get his money back and cancel the deal. He finds out that Ellis has already sold the farm to Taylor, and that he has no legal rights to it. He also discovers that Ellis has been sexually harassing Emma, whom he calls his "little lamb". Weston attacks Ellis and steals his money.
Wesley goes to Taylor's office to confront him about the sale of the farm. He finds out that Taylor has been lying to Ella about his intentions, and that he plans to bulldoze the farm and build a housing development. He also learns that Taylor has been stealing artichokes from other farmers and selling them as his own. Wesley takes revenge by filling Taylor's truck with artichokes and driving it to the farm.
Ella returns to the farm with her suitcase, ready to leave with Taylor. She finds Weston there, who tells her that he has killed Ellis and taken his money. He also tells her that he has bought a new refrigerator for the farm, which he fills with artichokes from Taylor's truck.
Emma comes back to the farm, wounded and delirious from the coyote attack. She tells Wesley that Slater betrayed her and left her to die. She also tells him that she killed the lamb because it was too weak to survive.
The play ends with Weston setting fire to his map of Mexico and burning down the house. Wesley tries to save him, but fails. Ella runs away with Taylor, leaving behind her suitcase. Emma collapses on the ground, clutching her lamb's skin.
The Analysis of The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf is a complex and rich play that can be analyzed from different perspectives, such as:
Genre: The play can be classified as a tragicomedy, as it combines elements of tragedy and comedy in its plot, characters, and tone. The play depicts the downfall of the Tate family as they face various misfortunes and calamities, but it also uses humor and irony to highlight their absurdity and folly. The play also blends realism and absurdism in its style and structure, as it portrays realistic situations and issues in an exaggerated and surreal manner.
Symbolism: The play uses various symbols to convey its themes and messages. Some of the main symbols are:
The lamb: It represents innocence, purity, and hope for Emma, who tries to nurture it as her 4-H project. It also represents vulnerability, weakness, and sacrifice for Weston, who kills it as an offering for Ellis. It also represents exploitation, corruption, and violence for Ellis, who abuses it as his sexual object.
The refrigerator: It represents prosperity, comfort, and security for Weston, who buys it as a sign of his wealth and success. It also represents decay, waste, and despair for Wesley, who fills it with rotten artichokes as a sign of his anger and frustration.
The map: It represents adventure, freedom, and escape for Weston, who believes it will lead him to a treasure in Mexico. It also represents illusion, delusion, and destruction for Weston, who burns it as a sign of his madness and despair.
Language: The play uses various forms of language to create its effects and meanings. Some of the main forms are:
Dialogue: The play uses naturalistic dialogue to convey the characters' personalities, emotions, and relationships. The dialogue is often fragmented, interrupted, or overlapping, reflecting the lack of communication or understanding among the characters.
Monologue: The play uses monologue to reveal the characters' thoughts, feelings, and motivations. The monologue is often poetic or lyrical, contrasting with the realistic dialogue.
Silence: The play uses silence to create tension or suspense in certain scenes or moments. The silence is often broken by sudden noises or actions that shock or surprise the audience.
Conclusion
The Curse Of The Starving Class Script Pdf is a digital file that contains the complete text of Sam Shepard's classic American drama. The play tells the story of the Tate family, a dysfunctional and impoverished rural clan that is trapped in a cycle of despair and destruction. The play is a tragicomedy that blends realism and absurdism, and exposes the harsh realities of life in a decaying society. The script pdf can be downloaded from various online sources, such as Scribd, Weebly, or Yumpu. The script pdf can be useful for anyone who wants to read, study, or perform the play, as it provides all the necessary information about the characters, dialogue, stage directions, and settings. The script pdf can also be used as a reference for writing essays, reviews, or analyses of the play. ca3e7ad8fd