At first, I was confused. I was unaware of the reason why RUDY was being interrogated and why all these dates were being shouted out. I was also confused at the shredding of the newspapers. Towards the end of the scene, though, it all made sense. These were the dates leading up to the end of the war, so it made sense that RUDY, a Marine, would be the one to shout them out. The shredding of the newspapers has more to do with one quote I flagged as significant. "FREEDOM!!! (Music bursts forth as the joyous crowd tosses the shredded newspaper into the air like confetti.)" This quote is both a line and a stage direction found on page 87. While the people yell the infamous word after the appeal has won, they throw the pieces of newspapers like "confetti". If you really analyze this, I think this was Valdez's way of saying "screw the media"! The newspaper, which is a big part of the media, is being thrown around. It doesn't matter what they say anymore. They have won the appeal, the war, and have proved every headline wrong. I think this was the message Valdez was trying to convey. Also, by including that the PEOPLE, not just one person, yell out "FREEDOM", Valdez shows this case has freed every other person that has been "pushed around", like ALICE. :)
QUESTION: What could have caused RUDY's sudden change of heart from dissing the U.S. government to joining the Marines?
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Great interpretation! At first i didnt understand this scene as well but now reading yours it all makes sense. Every Headline that is read is to show the events goin on in this time. I like the way you interpret this scen really makes the reader see what its truly about.
ReplyDeleteI agree with angle great interpretation of the scene. With the newspaper I thought of some what the same thing kind of. As for your question I don't think that it was a change of heart from his part but the emotion of fear that made him join the marines. They way he felt that Henry had let them do that to him because he was not there to protect him. When the Military men striped him they robbed him of his pride and dignity.
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