Water by a Spoonful
docx
keyboard_arrow_up
School
University of Nairobi *
*We aren’t endorsed by this school
Course
PHYSIOLOGI
Subject
English
Date
Nov 24, 2024
Type
docx
Pages
6
Uploaded by nickhande
1
Student’s Name
Instructor’s Name
Course
Date
Effects of Addiction on
Play Water by a Spoonful
by Quiara Hudes
Introduction
The essay aims at addressing the effects of addiction portrayed by Elliot and Odessa in
the
Play Water by a Spoonful.
Nonetheless, the effects of addiction by the characters are issues
that will be addressed throughout the paper while showing how it builds the theme of addiction
and hate. Studies show that the second drama trilogy depicts daily struggles noticed by several
people showing close family ties whereas other characters were tied through addiction. In current
settings, issues of addiction are noticed among youths worldwide thus a dire need of addressing
such matters in in-depth.
Effects of Addiction
Moreover, the effects brought about by addiction exist as a key element of the story
showing recovery of a character through successful website administration by a character named
Odessa Ortiz. The author begins people’s everyday world that involves working and close family
relationships. Elliot Ortiz was the protagonist of the play who was terminally ill after being
deployed to the Iraq wars (Bradford). On the contrary, Elliot was dealing with depression shown
by getting a nowhere job. Instances of addiction are recurring in Elliot’s vision after returning
2
from the Iran wars showing ghost-like hallucinations of a man whom he killed during a battle.
On the other hand, the second storyline occurs through internet-based avenues that were used to
recover drug and substance abuse through reliable internet forums created by Odessa (Bradford).
Elliot Ortiz is Odessa’s mother and the audience learns of her identity in the latter chapters of the
play. Odessa’s online user name is HaikuMom who failed as a mother in real life but becomes a
source of inspiration to ex-veteran survivors hoping for changing their lives.
Nonetheless, the two parallel storylines that occur throughout the play include that
involving real word relationships and online relationships. The irony was that both worlds were
addictive in a way thus a dire need of addressing such matters. Similarly, unifying aspects that
bind both worlds were symbolized like magnet attraction (Bradford). Nonetheless, the online
inhabitants include Fountainhead, Orangutan, Chutes, and Ladders. The audience learns that
Orangutan was a drug junkie who showed improved recovery thus leading her to find her birth
parents whereas Fountainhead was a new member to join the forum. Nonetheless, Fountainhead
was arrogant and naïve during his first days shown through his repulse in the online community.
The author confirms that each character in the play is addicted to something to one
degree or the other thus a dire need to address such matters. Similarly, the divergence happens
within polarities of distinguishing negative from positive (Bradford). The audience learns that all
characters gathering for the online forum were suffering from adverse outcomes linked with
negative characteristics of addiction. Yaz and Aunt Ginny take on the other side. Nonetheless, the
author confirms that Yaz was addicted to pursuing financial success and pursuing a well-paying
career whereas Aunt Ginny was addicted to benevolent charity acts (Bradford). Aunt Ginny was
addicted to offering cultural support and communal protests. While occasions occur in "this
present reality," there is a likelihood an online talk room where individuals recuperating from
3
illicit drug use meet up for solace and backing. Orangutan, Chutes and Ladders, and Haikumom
are the usernames for these characters, and from multiple points of view, they are comparably
close as a family reality. Orangutan is more current to moderation, and Haikumom and Chutes
and Ladders control her. Another part of the talk room, Fountainhead, signs on requesting help to
stop utilizing break (Bradford). Orangutan and Chutes and Ladders question his truthfulness and
challenge him, however, Haikumom attempts to empower him and even proposes to meet him
face to face since they live in a similar city.
Moreover, the audience learns that each character was deeply flawed whereas confirming
that the urge of learning lurked with each tormented soul. During the quiet moment reflections
with the ghost, the audience learns that Elliot Ortiz performance the art of killing as an activity
for his country. Nonetheless, Elliot discovered that the man he shot was demanding his passport
while suggested that he might have killed an unarmed and innocent man (Bradford). The
audience learns that Elliot was suffering from mental hardships thus resulting in his grapple with
the physical outcomes of wars. Apart from Elliot suffering from mental hardships, it was evident
that he was injured physically thus the occurrence of his limping nature (Bradford).
As Katniss
turns out to be more mainstream, Mockingjay symbolism turns out to be more common. On the
other hand, the Mockingjay starts to spring up all over the place. It's on the saltine that Bonnie
and Twill hold and it turns into an image of hostile to Capitol insurgency across the locale.
Regardless of the hardships suffered by Elliot, the audience confirms that he was dealing
with the death of his Aunt Ginny. His aunt’s death also affected Elliot’s mental state leading to
him being frustrated and became bitter with the world (Hudes, 23). Throughout the last chapter
of the play, Elliot questions why his Aunt Ginny died whereas Odessa was reckless and a
neglectful mother remained alive (Bradford). On the other hand, Elliot depicted his strengths
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help
4
after the second half of the play and comes to terms with the sudden loss of his friends but
eventually finds the capacity to forgive and recover. Apart from Odessa being a neglectful
mother, the audience learns that she appeared to be saintly in her online forum. Unlike being a
reckless and untrustworthy mother to Elliot, her online reputation was full of patience and
empathy by training to help each member deal with their previous addictions (Hudes, 28).
Nevertheless, Odessa frequently filtered hateful and profane comments uttered in her online
forum (Román, 54). Odessa never judged newcomers who were willing to join the online forum.
For instance, Fountainhead was welcomed in the forum but was always not welcomed because
she aimed at inviting all her internet community.
The antagonist was clean for more than five years but the audience learns that Elliot’s
hatred and aggression confronted her and demanded floral payments during the funeral.
Nevertheless, the audience confirms that Odessa survived her addiction that ended up ravaging
Elliot’s life and messing up hers in the process (Hudes, 31). Elliot has gotten awful news about
the abrupt destruction of his Mami Ginny. He imparts the pitiful news to his cousin Yaz while
taking breakfast. Elliot is an injured conflict veteran while Yaz is a teacher. During the hour of
discussion, a partner of Yaz shows up and Elliot demands him to decipher an Arabic expression
that has frequented him for quite a long time (Bradford). At the point when Elliot and Yaz are
battling to grapple with the melancholy, Odessa, Elliot's mom gets into an online discussion that
supports rocks addicts. Since he left the conflict in Iraq, Elliot has been pained by an apparition
that appears to him consistently.
In the internet-based discussion, another part called Fountainhead signs in and begins
boasting about his abundance. Origin is additionally someone who is addicted. Be that as it may,
he is ridiculed by Orangutan and Chutes and Ladders driving him away from the gathering.
5
Orangutan has moved to her nation of origin Japan where she educates English. Chutes and
Ladders fly to Japan to meet her. Many of the characters in the play are addicts. Odessa and
Fountainhead are addicts and plan for a gathering to address the issue of enslavement and
recuperation (Bradford).
The play depends on most of the characters who are battling with the
different addiction types. The greater part of these characters knows each other through an online
chatroom made to help drug addicts. Also, these characters are spooky by horrendous past
encounters. The creator is attempting to show how habit is criticizing. Habit is exorbitant and can
deliver one poor.
Conclusion
In essence, it was evident that honest personal self-reflection was mandatory before the
recovery process notices improved outcomes. It was evident that Elliot Ortiz was depressed due
to increased posttraumatic stress levels that arose from past war experiences showing the urgent
need for medical attention and fast recovery. On the contrary, the audience learns that Odessa
Ortiz bonded with multiple addicts who were longing to recover from addiction seen through her
Narcotics Anonymous chat rooms that help survivors cope with addiction. Critics consider the
play as an imaginative play that aimed at helping people search for meaning after the arrival of
an Iran-war veteran.
Works Cited
Bradford, Wade. "Characters and Themes in the Play 'Water by the Spoonful'." ThoughtCo, Aug.
27, 2020,
https://thoughtco.com/water-by-the-spoonful-overview-2713542
.
Hudes, Quiara Alegría. Water by the Spoonful. Dramatists Play Service Inc, 2013.
6
Román, David. "The Happiest Song Plays Last by Quiara Alegría Hudes, directed by Edward
Torres, and: Water by the Spoonful by Quiara Alegría Hudes, directed by Davis McCallum."
Theatre Journal 66.1 (2014): 145-149.
Your preview ends here
Eager to read complete document? Join bartleby learn and gain access to the full version
- Access to all documents
- Unlimited textbook solutions
- 24/7 expert homework help