Language as Textual Analysis in Drama

Language:

Language seems to be the most essential technique in the analysis of any dramatic text. It is through language that the playwright communicates his ideas; so he manipulates it to suit his intention. Language could be in form of speech, gestures or other bodily signs/symbols. Dramatic language is not just an ordinary language because the playwright is compelled to incorporate descriptions about setting, character and the overall presentation of the story through the characters. The language must therefore be very economical, vivid and expressive. In Oedipus Rex, for example, the language is concise but loaded with meaning. Let us look at the following exchange in which Teiresias sums up the misfortunes of King Oedipus.

Oedipus: Man, must We wrap up Wer words in riddles?      .

Teiresias: Where We not framed for skill for solving riddles?

Oedipus: We taunt m§ with the gift that is my greater

Teiresias: Wer great misfortune and Wer ruin.

In the last line of this exchange, the Blind Seer states that by solving the riddles and becoming the king of Thebes, Oedipus paved the way for his misfortune, which is marrying his mother after having killed his father. Consequently, there is a plague in Thebes and this leads to the search for a solution. In the course of this search, Oedipus discovers his true identity and this leads to his ruin. Another good example of condensed language in Hamlet is Polonius’ advice to his son, Laertes: “Neither a borrower nor a lender be I for loan often loses itself and friend and borrowing dull that edge of husbandry”. So, in dramatic language, the dramatist must think in terms of the characteristics of the characters, their speeches, their actions and the environment in which they operate .and incorporate them in language.

This is important because unlike in prose, where the novelist has enough time and space to describe everything and this includes probing into the inner beings of the character, the dramatist relies only on dialogue to explore characters, describe incident, and create environment, atmosphere and mood. This is the reason why he pays attention to the diction. Diction is the choice or selection of the words which forms the dialogue through which the playwright communicates his ideas to his audience. The diction could be simple or difficult A play that has very simple diction invariably will have a simple and direct language so is said tp be accessible to a wider audience. This is because more people will read and understand it. Also, when it is presented on stage, people will understand the story and absorb the message with ease. In a play with simple diction, the playwright uses familiar and simple words. On the other hand, some plays are difficult to understand. They are usually filled with unfamiliar words, terms, and symbols. Such plays are said to be obscure and the playwright is said to be writing for a select audience. This is because many people will find it difficult to understand and appreciate the play. The problem here is that if we do not understand a play, we would not enjoy it or be entertained by it.