What is Oleanna ? Is it a perfect world, or is it a world… The play Olenna by David Mamet gives us a real perspective on our modern education system and society. John the white male college professor is the victim in this play. And Carol the female student is the fascist. John is an exceptional teacher that love to teach and refuse to let the fascist takeover the academic freedom of our education. Early in the play, both John and Carol are distracted by their personal interests. John is buying a new house to go with his tenure announcement. However, the house has not gone through, and the tenure committee has not Signed. Therefore, John is rushed, and unable to focus his attention on his student Carol. On the other hand, Carol is distracted by her grades, job as a student, and future. She could not understand any thing in John’s class. In addition, she is confused of her self-identity. Carol believes she is stupid, and the fact that she comes from a different economic background; therefore cannot learn! John feels responsible to her failure. Moreover, to John teaching is more imperative than his other problems. John tries to give Carol his personal experiences to relate to her difficulties. He talks about how he was raised to think himself stupid, how much he hated school, teachers, and education. He says: “ Why was I born to be the laughingstock of a world in which everyone is better than I? In which I am entitled to nothing. Where I can not learn.” At that point, John feels he has problems that are similar to Carols. John believes in order to help Carol, he must get personal, and brake down the Artificial Stricture, of “Teacher,” and “Student.” John explains to Carol how education process is hazing. The test people encounter in school, and in life were designed by idiots for idiots. “ They are a test of your ability to retain and spout back misinfo...
