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Essay / Generation gap and diversity of cultures between two countries in “The Dining Room”
Table of contentsSummaryThe points changed in the bookConclusionReferenceSummarySome episodes of this play have changed points when comparing the present, it is a generation gap . In addition, it has different points compared to other countries. The point of this essay is difference and diversity. To express the difference, it shows the conflicts between characters who live in the same house.- what is the right or wrong decision between mother and daughter, the spirit of the grandfather for a grandchild who does not seek to become a self-made man, a couple has different ideas about how to use the dining room. Diversity is comparing the purpose, culture, and dining room etiquette of Americans with Koreans. Based on the lines of the characters in this play, it analyzes what the American dining room is, how people should behave in the room and what they should not do at the dining table. Besides, it shows Korean cultures, rules and etiquette in dining room with some quotes. In the essay, these countries are compared for their diversity. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”?Get the original essayModified points from the book “The Dining Room” is made up of 18 scenes from different American homes and the play shows different ideas about the dining room through the lines of characters. The author, Gurney, of this play calls for casting different actors of different gender, height, race and age, without focusing on a single character. There are different humans, cultures and traditions in the American country. Through the episodes that usually occur in the dining room, it can be compared to the generational chatter in the same country and at different points between the two countries. Almost humans have gradually changed their way of thinking about the meaning of something due to time. For example, there are many traditional rules in the dining room, such as not leaning back in your chair and not working on the dining table. The central conflict in several episodes of this play is between the old and the new, these characters inheriting a tradition and breaking it. Additionally, dining goals may be different from those in Korea. The two countries have differences such as etiquette, traditional rules and goals. Depending on the environment and geography, the cultures of a country are decided and the rules are naturally decided by the cultures. Even a family living in the same house, they may have different ideas about something as the environment changes and technology develops over time. This is called “the generation gap” and there is a lot of conflict. On pages 18-21, Grace and Carolyn are in conflict over her decision in the dining room. Carolyn wants to meet her aunt instead of going to dance school. But Grace, her mother, wants her to go to a dance school because she thinks going there helps her be able to have a good time on Saturday nights. She imposes the dance school quite well every time Carolyn chooses the theater with her aunt. She thinks Carolyn doing something, not dance school, is a waste of time. “You’re obviously not old enough to make an intelligent decision,” the mother said. "I knew you wouldn't let me decide" she replied. Even if the mother recommends the best decision she thinks, her daughter decides what she really wants. The mother thinks that if you don't follow the path that everyone else follows, your life will be ruined. However, thegirl is a challenging character because she knows exactly what she likes or doesn't like, she wants to go the path she really likes. Also, on pages 33-37 there is a conversation with Nick and Grandpa. He went to the club to meet his grandfather and asked for a salary for his studies and boarding school. The grandfather asks Nick many questions. Where is the university, why does he want to go there, is he not interested here. His question is whether Nick has confidence in his choices. He also criticizes Nick's reason for trying to become a self-made man. “Although no man is an island, it is not outside help or special connections that make the crucial difference in the rise of the self-made man.” In his grandfather's time, he had to work it himself, without any help, to succeed. But nowadays, children want financial support from their parents or grandparents. It’s also the generation gap. Furthermore, from pages 15 to 18, Howard does not understand why Elie, his wife, is banging on the dining table. He thinks the dining table is used for eating a meal and chatting, so he said it wasn't designed for that. But Elie doesn't understand why she can't work on it on the dining table. Although this episode does not signify the generation gap since they were born at the same time, they have two differences regarding the dining room. The play “The Dining Room” has many episodes and all the characters appear in the dining room. The common purpose of the dining room is to have a meal and take it in detail with family or friends. A family sits around the dining table, having a meal and chatting at the same time. These goals are the same in all countries, but they have other, completely different goals regarding the dining room. In the book "The Dining Room", a character states that the dining room is a place for eating and talking, so it is impossible to do anything else on the dining table. “I’ll tell you one thing. If there is war, no one has any cream. If there is a war, we will have to settle for the top of the bottle.” This quote shows why Americans think significantly about the dining room: about war. In the dining room, they talked with the children about education, good table manners and religion. If war were to break out, it would be difficult to have a quiet meal and chat with family. On the other hand, Koreans believe that it is possible to work on something in the dining room. The Joseon Dynasty (14th century until 1910) history of Korean dining presents two different points when comparing Americans. First, almost people lived their lives eating, sleeping, talking, and studying all in one room. During the Joseon Dynasty, the structure of the house, especially the dining room, was decided by domestic economics. Almost houses in Korea had a kitchen, one or two rooms, an extra outdoor room, a bathroom and a small garden. The outer room was usually reserved for guests, but often there was no extra room. They had no particular purpose regarding the dining room, unlike the Americans. But the bourgeois house was totally different from bourgeois houses as was the dining room. They were eating alone in their room when a servant brought food to the small table. The room is like a dining room for them, they chat and eat dessert. Second, Korean citizens attach more special meaning to the living room than to the dining room, because the image of the living room is for them a place of discussion like the/.