I AM STUCK AND CONFUSED ABOUT THIS QUESTION.
(1) CARMODY… (There is a noise from the stairs in the hall.) Whisht! It’s the doctor comin’ down from Eileen. What’ll he say, I wonder? (The door in the rear is opened and DOCTOR NORenters. He is a stout, bald, middle-aged man, forceful of speech, who in the case of patients of the Carmody’s class dictates rather than advises.CARMODY adopts a whining tone.) Aw, Doctor, and how’s Eileen now? Have you got her cured of the weakness?
(2) NOR (does not answer this but comes forward into the room holding out two slips of paper – dictatorially). Here are two prescriptions that’ll have to be filled immediately.
(3) CARMODY. (frowning). You take them, Billy, and run round to the drug store. (NORhands them toBILLY.)
(4) BILLY. Give me the money, then.
(5) CARMODY (reaches down into the trousers pocket with a sigh). How much will come to, Doctor?
(6) NOR. About a dollar, I guess.
(7) CARMODY (protestingly). A dollar! Sure it’s expensive medicines you’re givin’ her for a bit of a cold. (He meets the doctor’s cold glance of contempt and he wilts – grumblingly, as he peels a dollar bill off a small roll and gives it toBILLY.) Bring back the change – if there is any. And none of your tricks, for I’ll stop at the drug store myself tomorrow and ask the man how much it was.
(8) BILLY. Aw, what do you think I am? (He takes the money and goes out.)
(9) CARMODY (grudgingly). Take a chair, Doctor, and tell me what’s wrong with Eileen.
(10) NOR (seating himself by the table – gravely). Your daughter is very seriously ill.
(11) CARMODY (irritably). Aw, Doctor, didn’t I know you’d be sayin’ that, anyway!
(12) NOR (ignoring this remark – coldly). Your daughter has tuberculosis of the lungs.
(13) CARMODY (with puzzled awe). Too-ber-c’losis?
(14) NOR. Consumption, if that makes it plainer to you.(15) CARMODY (with dazed terror – after a pause) Consumption? Eileen? (With sudden anger.) What lie is it you’re telling me?
(16) NOR (icily.) Look here, Carmody I’m not here to stand for your insults!
(17) CARMODY (bewilderingly). Don’t be angry now, at what I said. Sure I’m out of my wits entirely. Eileen to have the consumption! Ah, Doctor, sure you must be mistaken!
(18) NOR. There’s no chance for mistake, I’m sorry to say. Her right lung is badly affected.
(19) CARMODY (desperately). It’s a bad cold only, maybe.(20) NOR (curtly). Don’t talk nonsense (CARMODY groans. NORcontinues authoritatively.) She will have to go to a sanatorium at once. She ought to have been sent to one months ago. The girl’s been keep up on her nerve when she should have been in bed, and it’s given the disease a change to develop. (Casts a look of indignant scorn at CARMODY, who is sitting staring at the floor with an expression of angry stupor on his face.) It’s a wonder to me you didn’t see the condition she was in and force her to take care of herself. Why, the girl’s nothing but skin and bone!
(21) CARMODY (with vague fury)…blast it.
(22) NOR. No, your kind never realizes things till the crash comes – usually when it’s too late. She kept on doing her work, I suppose – taking care of her brothers and sisters, washing, cooking, sweeping, looking after your comfort – worn out – when she should have been in bed – and – (He gets to his feet with a harsh laugh.) But what’s the use of talking? The damage is done. We’ve got to set to work to repair it at once. I’ll write tonight to Dr. Stanton of the Hill Farm Sanatorium and find out if he has a vacancy. And if luck is with us we can send her there at once. The sooner the better.
(23) CARMODY (his face growing red with rage). Is it sendin’ Eileen away to a hospital you’d be? (Exploding.) Then you’ll not! You’ll get that notion out of your head…quick. It’s all nonsense you’re stuffin’ me with with, and lies, makin’ things out to be the worst in the world. I’ll not believe a word of Eileen having the consumption at all. It’s doctors’ notions to be always lookin’ for a sickness that’d kill you. She’ll not move a step out of here, and I say so, and I’m her father!
(24) NOR (who has been staring at him with contempt – coldly angry). You refuse to let your daughter go to a sanatorium?
(25) CARMODY. I do.
(26) NOR (threateningly). Then I’ll have to report her case to the Society for the Prevention of Tuberculosis of this county, and tell them of your refusal to help her.
(27) CARMODY (wavering a bit). Report all you like…!
(28) NOR (ignoring the interruption – impressively). A majority of the most influential men of this city are behind the Society. Do you know that? (Grimly.) We’ll find a way to move you, Carmody, if you try to be stubborn.
(29) CARMODY (thoroughly frightened, but still protesting). Ara, Doctor, you don’t see the way of it at all. If Eileen goes to the hospital, who’s to be takin’ care of the others, and mindin’ the house when I’m off to work?
(30) NOR. You can easily hire some woman.
(31) CARMODY (at once furious again). Hire? D’you think I’m a millionaire itself?
(32) NOR (contemptuously). That’s where the shoe pinches, eh? (In a rage.) I’m not going to waste any more words on you, Carmody, but I’m…going to see this thing through! You might as well give in first as last.
(33) CARMODY (wailing). But where’s the money comin’ from?
(34) NOR (brutally). That’s your concern. Don’t lie about your poverty. You’ve a steady well-paid job, and plenty of money to throw away…The weekly fee at the Hill Farm is only seven dollars. You can easily afford that…
(35) CARMODY. Seven dollars! And I’ll have to pay a woman to come in – and the four of the children eatin’ their heads off! Glory be…, I’ll not have a penny saved for me old age – and then it’s the poor-house!
(36) NOR (curtly). Don’t talk nonsense!
(37) CARMODY. Ah, Doctor, it’s the truth I’m tellin’ you!
(38) NOR. Well, perhaps I can get the Society to pay half for your daughter – if you’re really as hard up as you pretend. They’re willing to do that where it seems necessary.
(39) CARMODY (brightening). Ah, Doctor, thank you.
(40) NOR (abruptly). Then it’s all settled?
(41) CARMODY (grudgingly – trying to make the best of it). I’ll do my best for Eileen, if it’s needful – and you’ll not be tellin’ them people about it at all, Doctor?
(42) NOR. Not unless you force me to.
(43) CARMODY. And they’ll pay the half, surely?
(44) NOR. I’ll see what I can do – for your daughter’s sake, not yours, understand!
(45) CARMODY. God bless you, Doctor! (Grumblingly.) It’s the whole of it they ought to be payin’, I’m thinkin’, and them with bags of money. ‘Tis them builds the hospitals and why should they be wantin’ the poor like me to support them?
Reread the introduction to the play.
The Straw, a play by Eugene O'Neill, is set in a factory town in Connecticut around the year 1910. At the opening of the play, Bill Carmody is waiting for Doctor nor to finish examining
Carmody's daughter Eileen. Carmody, a widower, called the doctor in earlier, when Eileen fainted.
Using what you know from reading the play, revise the introduction to add dramatic irony. Then, explain in one or two sentences how your revision added dramatic irony.
dO yOu kNoW wHaT iR0nY iS?
WHY CANT ANYONE GIVE US AN EXAMPLE JEEZ
No but seriously, I need help, too.
miss sue we need you
I also need help.
Reread the introduction to the play.
In the opening scene of Eugene O'Neill's play, The Straw, Bill Carmody anxiously awaits Doctor nor's verdict on his daughter Eileen's health. Little does Carmody know that nor has already diagnosed Eileen with a serious illness – tuberculosis. This knowledge creates dramatic irony, as the audience is aware of Eileen's condition while Carmody remains completely unaware.
Do you know what irony is?
http://www.bing.com/search?q=irony+def&form=EDGNTC&qs=DA&cvid=2e7b2083616e479f8b5cb63a5b7384f4&pq=irony+def&cc=US&setlang=en-US