THE 5TH AVENUE THEATRE – RESOURCES FOR TEACHERS
HOWTO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLYTRYING
Musical theater, like so many other art forms, relies on symbolism to communicate ideas and to help tell a story.
Every element of a musical has the potential to be symbolic: words that are spoken, colors, set elements, props,
melodies, costumes, lighting, sound effects. Every aspect of a musical is designed to help tell the story and
communicate specific ideas.
Theater artists strive to make every instance of symbolism intentional—regardless of whether or not every symbol
will be consciously noticed by an audience. Often, symbols are layered on top of one another:
SYMBOLS OF SUCCESS
In the musical
How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying
, the protagonist, Finch,
is “anxious to rise quickly and easily to the top of the business world.” In some ways, he
represents American ambition—a trait that many consider to have helped build our
country. Many will say that the character of Finch (like many protagonists) is symbolic.
But Finch is just one of many symbols that are carefully placed on stage.
SYMBOL
– an object, animate or inanimate, that represents or stands for something else.
SYMBOLISM, SYMBOLIZE
– the use of symbols to represent an idea or meaning.
PUTTING IT TOGETHER
Throughout a play or musical, we frequently see an increase in what is at stake for a character.
For Finch, it becomes more and more crucial that he succeeds as the story progresses.
How are symbols and symbolism used to reinforce what is at stake in Finch’s story?
What dangers are associated with high-rises and elevators?
CONNECTION TO
SOCIAL SCIENCE
“You’ve been an outstanding mailroom
head and we want you to choose your
successor. And we want you to choose
him on merit. On merit alone.”
-Twimble, Act 1, Scene 4
When we analyze
How to Succeed in
Business
, there are two key concepts
from social science that we should
also understand:
SOCIAL MOBILITY
– The ability of
individuals or groups to move upward
or downward in status based on wealth,
occupation, education, or some other
social variable.
In American society, there is a
prevailing belief in upward social
mobility as a reward for one’s personal
achievements.This belief is the basis
for the concept of…
MERITOCRACY
– A government or
society in which citizens who display
superior achievement are rewarded
with positions of leadership. In a
meritocracy, all citizens have the
opportunity to succeed based on their
abilities and accomplishments.
IN YOUR OWN WORDS...
What are examples of social mobility
and meritocracy that you see in the
world?
Do you think that these concepts
accurately describe the world we live
in? Support your opinion with specific
examples.
How do the authors of
How to Succeed
treat these concepts? Does Finch’s
story support these two concepts?
Support your answer with specific
examples from the musical.
“social mobility” and“meritocracy.”The American Heritage
®
New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy,Third Edition.
Houghton Mifflin Company, 2005.
We see Finch and other characters use
elevators to move between floors. Describe
how an elevator represents aspects of Finch’s
story.What other things can an elevator
represent?
The script for
How to Succeed
describes a
high-rise office building as the story’s setting.
List examples of things that a high-rise
building can represent:
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 24, 2016 |
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