English History Boys

How does Bennet use dramatic japery to plead criticism of contemporary placements to precept in The History Boys? In this analyze I am going to explain how Alan Bennet uses dramatic comedy to criticise the contemporary attitudes towards command in the History Boys. The contemporary attitudes that ar criticised are utilitarianism, humanism and Pragmatism. He does this by using a order of satirical devices. Satire is the use of humour, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and knock nations stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary administration and separate topical issues.It is usually used to comment on union by observing their way of thinking and they way they behave. The History Boys is a satire because throughout the book each attitude is being criticised through the calibres The Headmaster, bully, Irwin and The Boys. All attitudes are shown to be in disagreement with each other as they all have a opposite view on reading. The first at titude towards education Bennet presents us with is the Utilitarian attitude. This is where you completely consider what exit be best for a group of people and not just the individual.At the lay out of the novel Bennet introduces us to the fiber of the Headmaster who criticises the utilitarian attitude towards education in Thatchers Britain. This is shown to us in the uncovereding scene of the play which was set in the ply room and he headmaster was discussing the boys A take results with their history teacher, Mrs Lintott (Dorothy). Their A Levels are rattling good. The fact that very good is in italics and is emphasised upon by the headmaster suggests to the readers that he is taking pleasure for himself from what the boys have deliver the goodsd.By showing this Bennet has led the audience to have it off that the headmaster takes pleasure in others success even though he appears utilitarian. As we continue into the scene with Mrs Lintott and the Headmaster, we are shown that the headmaster praises her for her part in helping the boys to pass however it could be argued that he is patronising her at the same time by talking down to her. This is shown when he says convey to you Dorothy.Mrs Lintott suggests that they should continue with the way they are article of faith in order to get to better results however the Headmaster interrupts her by dictum yes yes and continues to listing what he would like to happen. This is shown when he says I am thinking league tables, open scholarships and reports to the Governors. The fact that the headmaster lists what he sine qua nons portrays him, to the audience, as being a self-serving character, he does not deprivation whats good for the boys save he wants things that will make him look good. The constant use of I want also backs up the idea of him being selfish.However he also talks about the boys doing themselves justice, this could make us as readers question whether he does really care about the bo ys future or whether it is an act. This is shown when he says I want them to do themselves justice I want them to do you justice. boilers suit the audience could argue that in this scene, because there are differences between twain the headmaster and Mrs Lintott there is a form of juxtaposition between them as the headmaster mocks Mrs Lintotts attitude towards education which shows us that he does not care about what the boys achieve as individuals, he cares about what they achieve as a group.This therefore represents how Bennet has shown the Headmaster to criticise the Utilitarian view towards education. The second attitude towards education Bennet presents us with is the Humanism attitude. This is system of thought that centres on humans and their values, capacities, and worth. Bennet introduces us to the character of bullyrag. Within the very first page, ballyrags impression of education is set, where he refers to his subject as useless knowledge and A glom of time.This imme diately suggests to the reader Hectors general stoicism towards the subject, and, being to mock Houseman goes on to quote, all knowledge is utilizable whether or not it serves the slightest human use. However, as we learn that Hector is a man of studied eccentricity, and Bennett later goes on to compose in the stage directions, an elaborate pantomime, all this it could be assumed that Hectors views of education differ from those he presents within the first scene.It is soon revealed that Hectors idea of education is the pursuit of knowledge for its own involvement showing that he is not opposed to teaching he kind of wishes to, as Timms puts it, make the boys more rounded human beings. This, then, gives context to Hectors referring to General studies as bread eaten in secret his teachings are not to help the boys progressive school careers (forget about Oxford and Cambridge), tho to provide the boys with something more personal and lifelong.For instance, when Timms tells Hect or that he doesnt visualisepoetry, Hector calms him by saying that he, himself, doesnt always understand poetry, but to know it now and understand it whenever, going on to say, Were make your deathbeds here, boys. Hectors approach is a clear substitute and antidote to Irwins direct and driven approach. The third and final attitude towards education Bennet presents us with is the Pragmatism attitude. This is basically where things are dealt with realistically sooner than theoretically. Irwin first arrives at the school as the boys are about to start studying for their entrance exams to Oxford and Cambridge University.He is immediately give the important job of teaching the boys just because he says he went to Oxford University. This is shown when the Headmaster says to Irwin Well you were at Cambridge and Irwin replies saying Oxford, Jesus. At this point it could be argued that this is Bennetts way of demonstrating how where you learn fire sometimes be worth more than what you l earn, which supports the Pragmatic view towards education it The History Boys. The first time we see Irwin it is in the future when he is acting as a spin doctor for the Government, he is in a wheelchair which acts as a narrative hook to the end of the play.He is cogent the members of government how to act and what their attitude should be like and he is severe to convince them to agree with the idea of getting rid of the system of ladder by jury. This leads on to Bennet showing us that Irwin has a different style of teaching to hectors, he does not educate the boys, but he teaches them how to write essays and how to pass their exams. This is how Bennett shows that the education system has change so that small people are not being educated as fountainhead as they should be, theyre just being taught how to pass and nothing the mogul find useful later on in life.You can write down, Rudge that I must not write down every condition that teacher says. This quotation is said by Irw in and it shows us that Irwin is saying to the boys until they get dressedt write down what they have learnt in their own words then they wont understand anything and they wont be able to be independent and do as well when it comes to doing their exams. This distinctly shows that Irwins method of educating the boys is clearly different to the other teachers.However other characters such as Hector seem to feel that Irwin is trying to replace his as the boys favourite teacher as they become fonder of Irwin they dont seem to be as fond of Hector as they were before Irwin arrived. In contradiction to Hector, the Headmaster is fond of Irwin as he seems to think that Irwin will be the best thing for the boys and the schools position on the League Tables. This is shown when the headmaster says Get me scholarships, Irwin, pull us up the table. The boys as a group show a suitably irrelevant attitude towards education.