Language Use and Stylistic Devices in The Samaritan
.jpeg "Stylistic Devices in The Samaritan Act 2 Scene 1")
1. Imagery
a. Vivid Description
The stage directions at the beginning of the scene are quite detailed. They indicate Nicole as sitting in her spacious room that contained an oak table. The table has three drawers on each side of her seat. The table has two office chairs that face each other on the front of it. The table is arranged quite neatly and books are on the left-hand side whereas the left-hand side has a pen and a note book. In the middle, is alaptop (P. 49).
b. Simile
Nicole says the Municipality is like the Jewish man in many ways (P.51).
The leaders are also like the Priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan (P. 51).
c. Personification
This App must not be killed (P. 53).
d. Symbolism
The shepherd have turned against the sheep in which the shepherd are the leaders
at the Marcas Municipality whereas the sheep and citizens (P.51)
2. Foreshadowing
Montano thinks that the Samaritan might get Nicole in trouble and later in the play, it breeds trouble for her (P. 49). He still emphasizes on the impending danger that Nicole may face and that is what we witness later in the play (P.52).
3. Flashback
Montano recalls the ultimatum the Mayor gave to her during the previous year onclosing day at school while warning her of the impending danger (P.49).
4. Irony
Montano finds it ironical that the leaders would reject The Samaritan when it is something good for the people (P. 50).
It is also ironical that the leaders whom citizens entrust power and expect would help them fail to come to their aid. Nicole tells Montano the irony in their leaders who talk about public interest and they miss to act (P. 51).
Nicole finds irony in the life of the leaders. Even though the salaries their leaders are paid cannot afford quite a flashy life, the leaders have flaunty lifestyle, they own big vehicles, huge houses and have plenty of money (P.53).
It is ironical that the religious priest and the Levite who hold same Christian ideologies with the Jewish man did not help him, yet The Samaritan man with a different religious background helped him and took him to a safe place (P. 50-51).
5. Biblical Allusion
Nicole explains why people reject The Samaritan by referring to the Luke 10:25-37 in the biblical story of the Good Samaritan who saved a Jew despite the hostility that existed amongst them and treated a robbed man compassionately, dressed his wounds and took him to a safe place. She reveals that a priest and a Levite had seen the injured man who lay helplessly, but they had ignored him and gone their way (P. 50-51).
Nicole also brings the aspect of being one another’s keeper who takes care of one another as indicated in the bible Genesis 4:1-3 (P. 51).
6. A story within a story
The story of the Good Samaritan is a story within a story aimed to bring out the irony in the society and show that leaders are negligent of the duties endowed to them by the citizens (P.50-51).
7. Idiomatic expression
Nicole uses the word chicken out- fear (P.52).
Alvita says we smell trouble- we suspect issues (P. 50).
8. Rhetorical questions
Montano asks “Why would the leaders reject what is good for the people? (P.50)”
the question invites the audience to see the satirical nature of leadership in this play.
Alvita asks “Could they transfer you from our school? (P.52)” This is to show the concern they have about their teacher.
Nicole asks “So where do they get money? (P. 53)” This shows the corrupt nature of
the leaders.