Jerusalem: sub-text

Sub-text in Jerusalem

Understanding the Sub-text: Sub-text refers to the underlying meaning or theme in a story, not directly mentioned but inferred through dialogue, actions, symbols, etc. Understanding the sub-text in Jerusalem helps to grasp the depth of the narrative and its implications.

Character Implications

Johnny Byron: Revered and despised in equal measure, Johnny’s character is loaded with sub-text. His description as a modern-day Robin Hood implies the sub-text of defiance against system.

Phaedra: The character of Phaedra, though minor, carries an important sub-text. Her mythical name suggests a primal, tragic fate - signifying alienation and victimhood.

Ginger: The character of Ginger, repeatedly mocked for his failed ambitions, points towards a sub-text about misplaced aspirations and denial of reality.

Theme Implications

Rural Vs Urban: The tension between rural and urban lifestyles in Jerusalem signifies a sub-text pertaining to the resistance to change and the erosion of tradition.

Myth Vs Reality: Frequent intersections of myth and reality in the narrative come with a sub-text about divergent perceptions and the ambiguity of truth.

Rejection of Authority: The characters’ disregard for rules and authority translates to a sub-text about nonconformity and countercultural attitudes.

Symbolism

The Trailer: Johnny’s trailer carries a sub-text of his rootedness in tradition and his opposition to contemporary society’s norms.

The Fair: The annual Fair encapsulates the sense of community, ritual, and repetition that underline many of the play’s core themes.

Drumming: Tied to English folklore and myth, the drumming serves as a subtextual reference to revolt and agency, punctuating the play’s confrontations.

By recognising and analysing the sub-text implications of characters, themes, and symbols, the nuanced layers of Jerusalem can be comprehensibly understood and appreciated.