Making Connections: Two Can Play

The characters in a play always relate to its setting and time. In any story or play that has a conflict, the characters configure the setting as well the setting configures the character. In this case, the setting is in Kingston, Jamaica in the late 1970’s. This time period in Jamaica had bad economic, political and social issues. There was a lot of violence and wars because of the bad decisions the government made and because the different political views. This type of setting can configure the characters to be desperate, sad, unsecured, depressed and scared. The characters can configure the setting by moving to another one or making the original setting to a better one. In a play, the setting can be a great modifier. The way the setting is managed can have a great impact on the play. In this case, if the author uses detailed information of the setting in the play, the audience would feel what the characters felt. This makes the play more realistic and interesting.

Bob Marley's "One Love"

Bob Marley was a recognized singer in the 1970’s as well. One of his popular songs: “One Love” relates to the characters in Trevor Rhome’s play: “Two Can Play”. For example, the verse: “One love, one heart. Let's get together and feel all right,” relates to the characters as they feel desperate, lonely and sad around all the bad economical, political and social situations happening around them but they know they need to get together and be strong with each other so they both can finally be happy. Bob Marley’s message is having one love and allowing for the unification of humanity. It is through the lyrics Marley acts out of note as a political activist, expressing his feelings for the stolen Africans forced to come to and fight for the United States. Marley’s songs bring people together with a simple message of peace. This goal is, and will continue to be, peace on Earth as it is in heaven.