Essay - Eurydice the Purpose of This Paper is to Introduce, Discuss...

Eurydice

The purpose of this paper is to introduce, discuss, and analyze the play "Eurydice" by Jean Anouilh. Specifically, it will ***** the contrasting idealism and realism in two representative places ***** the s*****ry, ***** whether Eurydice is innocent or not. In Jean Anouilh's play "Eurydice," the themes ***** idealism, innocence, and realism all intertwine to f*****m the backdrop for a startling group of players. The innocent ***** yet worldly ***** is the pivot point of the play, and ***** the underlying meaning the author is attempting ***** get across to his audience. This tragic story shows how love can affect people, and bring out ***** best and worst in people.

The play contrasts ***** ***** realism quite effectively. Idealism s*****s itself from the start, when ***** two characters f***** ***** love with each other without knowing a thing about ***** other. Playwright Anouilh writes, "'I'll never leave you.' 'Will you swear that?'" (Anouilh 66). These ***** do not know each other, and yet they already are pledging themselves to each other. ***** is the ultimate in idealism. Here it is shown as young and innocent love that believes anything is possible. The two "children" have not lived enough to understand the difficulties and realism of life, and so, *****y believe their love is *****, which of course, ***** is not. Eurydice sees th***** dimly when she says, "'D'you think you'll make me very unhappy?'" (***** 66). She says it almost as if she *****es not believe it, and yet, ***** is ***** enough ***** ***** ***** the ideal*****m of youth is soon replaced ***** ***** reality of age, because she was ravaged *****, and has lived a h*****rd life. Orpheus embodies the innocence and ideal*****m ***** the couple, ***** he will do ***** to stay with *****, even abandon his fa*****r and consort with the devil. Orpheus is idealism personified, while Eurydice leans toward realism, because her ***** has actually been more difficult even than Orpheus' life.

The realism in the play is apparent from ***** first, when Orpheus sees h***** ***** stretc*****ing before him in the endless duty of protecting his fa*****r. Here, Orpheus is a realist, but he becomes an idealist the moment he falls in love. Throughout the play, ***** older characters all talk about the *****ies and realities of life, ***** *****ir pathetic lives illustrate the reality of the world. One of ***** ***** tells Orpheus, "You shouldn't believe too blindly in happiness. Particularly not when you belong to the good race. *****'re only laying up disappointments for **********" (Anouilh 96). This is truly the ultimate in *****, for it ***** true of so many lives. Happiness is elusive, and some people never find it. Sadly, Orpheus and Eurydice only find it after death, so *****y suffer, and yet they are able to spend eternity *****gether. That is ***** reality, that is ***** in its' purest form, and ***** is the ultimate message that the author seems to be sending to his audience. Humankind may