Blackrock Difference Essay Essay

The expectations, standards and treatment an individual receives are affected by their differences. The play ‘Blackrock’ composed by Nick Enright thoroughly explores the impact that difference of gender has on individuals and groups. The composer examines the common social ideas of gender and the differences in expectations, standards and treatment of males and females by creating a focus on the reaction by people to the rape and murder of the young girl. This is similar to the cartoon on homosexuality composed by Ficher. Ficher also examines the common social ideas differences in expectations by creating a focus on the response by people towards homosexuals being open about their sexuality in society. Both texts explore the way society views a person’s difference. The expectations, standard and treatment an individual receives are affected by their differences. The play â€Å"Blackrock† demonstrates how an individual’s gender forms the expectations others have on them. The typical expectation of girls is that they should be subservient and be used as an object. Cherie is an example of the rejection of these expectations. The behaviour Cherie portrays is different from other girls in the play as she interacts regularly with her female friends and portrays no interest in sexual behaviour. Cherie represents dignity and independence. As a result, she is exposed to isolation and abuse by others. This is demonstrated in the scene where Cherie protects Tracy’s reputation by saying to the boys â€Å"She was beautiful, you dickheads†. She is ridiculed by Scott, who in reply utilises slang in saying â€Å"Couple of lezzos are you? . The use of slang in â€Å"lezzos† reveals the aggressive response towards Cherie for protecting the reputation of the girl as well as abuse and isolation towards any person who breaks the conventional gender roles. The use of the word â€Å"lezzos† is a pejorative term used to ridicule females who have an interest in the same gender. In Cherie’s case, she is protecting a female and she is berated and ridiculed by Scott for protecting a female friend. The statement also reveals how Cherie is expected to be submissive to the boys. In Cherie’s circumstance, gender forms the expectations others have of her, and in breaching them she suffers isolation and abuse. In Enright’s â€Å"Blackrock† it is clear that an individual’s gender can form the way an individual is treated. In the play, gender connects the boys together and a mutual trust is formed. This mutual trust creates the belief that mates should protect and treat each other with respect. This however is different for the females. The boys portray a general disrespect towards the females in the play. They sexualise them and expect them to ‘give into’ there sexualisation. Once the female rejects to be submissive to their sexualisation, they are abused and isolated. This is portrayed through Scott who utilises dialogue in saying â€Å"you just pashed me off you slag†. The use of the word â€Å"slag† demonstrates the aggressive response Scott upholds towards females who refuse to be submissive. This statement also reveals the mistreatment females suffer as the word â€Å"slag† is used as an insulting term to describe females who engage in sex and in promiscuous behaviour. The males criticize the ones who reject their sexualisation as well. This is portrayed in the statement by Scott â€Å"I know enough†¦to show you a good time† . The slang in this statement suggests how forceful and berating Scott is towards females who reject to be submissive to his sexualisation. This demonstrates how despite the continuous rejection, Scott will continue to enforce his male dominance and mistreat the females. This mistreatment is continually related to gender and is evident throughout the play. Enright portrays the way difference determines how a person is treated. The cartoon composed by Ficher shows how an individual’s sexual status forms the expectations others have on them. The cartoon composed by Ficher demonstrates the difficulty faced by homosexuals who are trying to be open up about their sexuality. Society’s response to such beliefs and opinions are forceful and violent as they immediately reject and refuse to accept them. The composer utilizes symbolism to demonstrate the expectations formed by difference. The two figures on the left symbolise two major, powerful groups in society – law and religion. These figures represent society as a whole. The two figures on the right symbolise the homosexuals, the different group in society. The two powerful groups are forcefully sending the two homosexuals back to the ‘metaphorical closet’ as the closet is used as a symbol to represent a person being open up about their sexuality. The expectation’s formed by society to the homosexuals is that they should not be open about their sexuality and that they should keep their sexuality hidden from society. Fischer makes it portray the way difference decides how society forms expectations people have on them. The expectations formed on the two homosexuals are similar to the expectations formed on Cherrie in the play. The two homosexuals are expected and forced to keep quiet about their sexuality. They are also expected to be submissive to society. Similarly, Cherrie is expected and forced to be submissive to the boys. Both characters represent society’s mistreatment of people who are different. This portrays how the expectations and treatment an individual receives are affected by their differences. In â€Å"Blackrock†, the view of what is acceptable behaviour for each gender is demonstrated throughout the entire play. A double-standard is strongly reflected through the characters gender difference. In the play, allowing males to have sexual intercourse with females whenever possible is acceptable. Ricko demonstrates this at the party by utilising dialogue in saying â€Å"the mobs hot†¦go for it†. The use of dialogue reveals the peer-pressure encouragement element in the statement. The statement also reveals how they encourage each other and try to pick up different girls in different settings such as the party. This also portrays how openly sexual males are accepted and their behaviour and attitudes are encouraged. In contrast, openly sexual girls are disrespected, abused and labelled as ‘slag’ and ‘slut;.. This is portrayed by Scott, who utilises slang in saying â€Å"She’s been through Ricko already. Now its Gary. Now she’s a fucken band moll†. This reveals how girls who are openly sexual are disrespected and verbally abused. This shows Scott’s aggressive response towards females who are openly sexual. The word â€Å"moll† is an insulting term used to describe woman with openly sexual morals and is used to describe females in the play. This statement also reveals the non-acceptant views on females with openly sexual morals. These statements both portray a clear double-standard as the males in the play are allowed to be openly and freely sexual where the females are berated and abused if they are openly sexual. Enright portrays how gender difference reflects a double standard through showing what acceptable and non-acceptable behaviour for each gender is. In conclusion, expectations, standards and treatment an individual receives are affected by their differences. The play ‘Blackrock’ composed by Nick Enright explores the impact that difference of gender has on individuals and groups. Enright examines this through the common social ideas of gender and the differences in expectations, standards and treatment of males and females by creating a focus on the reaction by people to the rape and murder of the young girl. This is similar to the cartoon on homosexuality composed by Ficher. Ficher also examines the common social ideas differences in expectations by creating a focus on the response by people towards homosexuals being open about their sexuality in society. The expectations, standards and treatment an individual receives are affected by their differences.