Oleanna and the Use of Power as a Tool

  Dialogues in a play are the most significant mean by which one can understand and interpret afterward the intention of the author.
  During the whole time in this play, dialogues are full of starts, stops and backtracks that, bit by bit, build to an explosive climax. The discourse structure in this play is as same as prototypical drama discourse structure: 1. author- audience level 2. character- character level. It will be clearer by taking a look at an example:


JOHN (on phone): And what about the land.   (Pause)   The land.   And what about the land?   (Pause)   What about it? (Pause)   No.   I don’t understand.   Well, yes, I’m I’m … no, I’m sure it’s signif … I’m sure it’s significant.   (Pause)   Because it’s significant to mmmmmm … did you call Jerry?   (Pause)   Because … no, no, no, no, no.   What did they say…?   Did you speak to the real estate … where is she…?   Well, well, all right.   Where are her notes?   Where are the notes we took with her.   (Pause)   I thought you were?   No.   No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean that, I just thought that I saw you, when we were there … what…?   I thought I saw you with a pencil.   WHY NOW? Is what I’m say … well, that’s why I say “call Jerry.”   Well, I can’t right now, be … no, I didn’t schedule any … Grace: I didn’t … I’m well aware … Look: Look.   Did you call Jerry?   Will you call Jerry…?   Because I can’t now.   I’ll be there, I’m sure I’ll be there in fifteen, in twenty.   I intend to.   No, we aren’t going to lose the, we aren’t going to lose the house.   Look: look, I’m not minimizing it.   The “easement.”   Did she say “easement”? (Pause)   What did she say; is it a “term of art,” are we bound by it … I’m sorry … (Pause) are: we: yes.   Bound by … Look: (He checks his watch.) before the other side goes home, all right?   “a term of art.”   Because: that’s right (Pause)   The yard for the boy.   Well, that’s the whole … Look: I’m going to meet you there … (He checks his watch.)   Is the realtor there?   All right, tell her to show you the... [continues]

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