Madea

1.      The nurse feels sorry for Madea’s anger and grief as she describes Madea’s behavior after being abandoned: “My poor Madea – dishonored … she’s deaf as a stone or a wave in the sea (Lines 20 – 29).”The nurse also worries about what Madea might do: “I am afraid some plan is already forming in her head (Lines 33 – 42).”

2.      The tutor sympathizes towards Madea, but shows an attitude as if the abandonment was an unsurprising outcome (Lines 80 – 88).

3.      The interaction between the Nurse and the Tutor shows that they feel obligated to be loyal, while they feel sorry for Madea. The Nurse shows a tendency to be more on Madea and the children’s side, especially the children (Lines 82 – 84). The tutor seems to be more indifferent, and does not judge the situation of how Madea and her children may be exported (Lines 75  - 76)

4.      I stand with what the Nurse is trying to say to the children. The children are innocent and should not be tied down to the conflict between their parents. As a child of divorced parents, I feel that children are sometimes excessively involved by their parents – especially as tools to hurt each other. It is unfair to involve the children in such complicated matters at a royal level, and for their own good, they should stay out – like the Nurse suggests.

5.      The Chorus is not actively involved in the plot. They simply react to the plot, and provide information for audience.

6.      Madea expresses her frustration, sense of alienation, and her contempt for gender inequalities. Madea speaks in a tone that suggests her indifference towards what people think about her, as she points out the unfairness between women and men, which is seen as cultural norms in the setting of the play. She speaks candidly and seems trustworthy, and I feel that she probably has view of her society that is ahead of her time.

7.      The Chorus changes its attitude because of Madea’s compelling soliloquy. It got to know all the reasons why Madea is angry and frustrated, and has an idea about Madea’s point of view.