Art Before Everything: Analyzing The Pillowman and The Sun Also Rises Kristina Debsi 12th Grade

The expression of human thought and emotion, art, has been around as long as humanity itself. Its emotional power has shaped the contemplation of many, from ancient Greek philosophers to postmodern writers. Martin McDonagh’s “The Pillowman” and Ernest Hemingway’s ”The Sun Also Rises” proclaim their relevance as works that accent the importance of art when it comes to intellectual formation. Indeed, these literary merits, amongst others, explore the true influence of art on the human thought. To quote Plato “The arts are powerful shapers of character”.

The form of a play provided a significant form of expression, more clearly portraying the characters’ emotions and thoughts through their dialogue and actions. Martin McDonagh uses this advantage in his play “The Pillowman” where art’s value is hyperbolized. The playwright introduces the protagonist [ Act 1; Scene 1] as someone who values his works more than his life, not figuratively but to a literary extent. The protagonist, Katurian Katurian, a writer who is trapped in an interrogation room, hours away from his execution, chooses to spare his literary works instead of his and his brother’s life. However, there is an explanation for this behaviour, positioning a human life as...