Jerusalem
“Comic resolution is sometimes seen symbolically as an act of rebirth, renewal or reaffirmation,”
To what extent is this true of the final act of Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem?
Comic resolution is seen symbolically as an act of rebirth, renewal and affirmation in the final act of Jerusalem. Act 3 is the scene where all problems that have arisen in Act 1 and Act 2 are solved.
In the final act of Jerusalem the professor is saddened by Mary’s death and appears to be living in the past. “I went to a village fair. I had a pint of beer. Then the next thing I remember is waking alone.” The professor is remembering past events however there seems to be a haunting quality about Mary calling him “Crystal clear. It was Mary. I heard Mary calling me.” Its seems as if Mary is calling the professor to come join her, it’s as if she’s welcoming death to him. The professor faces a dilemma of “life and death” and appears to be considering each option carefully however he realises Mary is gone “she’s gone” so whoever was calling him was not Mary, this reaffirms his decision to live life. Imagery plays a huge part in the final act and also contributes to symbolism of the events “A million tiny fingers, the tips scorched by the sun.” The sun is known as the giver of life, it provides light, heat and energy, this shows how the earth is sustaining the professor’s renewal and affirming his life. The professor battles in his head with his own personal, dark, cold and bleak winter. He is distraught with the loss of his wife Mary and seems to think he has lost everyone he loves and everything he truly cares about. The end of winter draws a close to his misery and the smell of “wild garlic and may blossom” greets him. This is a sign of renewal as it shows the seasons change according to the earth’s cycle, instead of being in winter where nothing grows and days are cold, Butterworth switches the season to spring where flowers blossom and nectar fills the air changing the
To what extent is this true of the final act of Jez Butterworth’s Jerusalem?
Comic resolution is seen symbolically as an act of rebirth, renewal and affirmation in the final act of Jerusalem. Act 3 is the scene where all problems that have arisen in Act 1 and Act 2 are solved.
In the final act of Jerusalem the professor is saddened by Mary’s death and appears to be living in the past. “I went to a village fair. I had a pint of beer. Then the next thing I remember is waking alone.” The professor is remembering past events however there seems to be a haunting quality about Mary calling him “Crystal clear. It was Mary. I heard Mary calling me.” Its seems as if Mary is calling the professor to come join her, it’s as if she’s welcoming death to him. The professor faces a dilemma of “life and death” and appears to be considering each option carefully however he realises Mary is gone “she’s gone” so whoever was calling him was not Mary, this reaffirms his decision to live life. Imagery plays a huge part in the final act and also contributes to symbolism of the events “A million tiny fingers, the tips scorched by the sun.” The sun is known as the giver of life, it provides light, heat and energy, this shows how the earth is sustaining the professor’s renewal and affirming his life. The professor battles in his head with his own personal, dark, cold and bleak winter. He is distraught with the loss of his wife Mary and seems to think he has lost everyone he loves and everything he truly cares about. The end of winter draws a close to his misery and the smell of “wild garlic and may blossom” greets him. This is a sign of renewal as it shows the seasons change according to the earth’s cycle, instead of being in winter where nothing grows and days are cold, Butterworth switches the season to spring where flowers blossom and nectar fills the air changing the