The Samaritan Act 1 Scene 1: Summary and Analysis -->

The Samaritan Act 1 Scene 1: Summary and Analysis

Act One, Scene One: The Failed Award 

At roughly 10 a.m., the scene is set in the Sagrada secondary school hall. This school is located on a hill in the municipality of Maracas. Mr. Carmona, the school's vice principal, strides in and immediately takes his place on the platform. There is complete silence. He greets everyone, to which the pupils react in unison. He informs them that the Samaritan, the winning idea in the national innovation competition for secondary schools this year, will be officially launched in the municipality. His worship, Hon. Mossi, the Mayor, will preside over the event. 
A thumbnail containing front cover page of The Samaritan by John Lara.


The mayor, a few notable municipal leaders, and members of the local school board have arrived and will soon enter the hall. The pupils were instructed to remain upright and silent until the principal led the guests into the hall. Mr. Carmona instructs the children to take their seats after the guests have been seated. 
Shortly after, the Mayor walks in with the school's principal, Ms. Narine, and is followed by the deputy Mayor, Hon. Ramdaye; the municipality's political opposition leader, Hon. Basdeo; the Maracas municipality's chief executive officer, Mr. Harvester; and the members of the local school board. Two journalists quickly enter the hall, fully armed with their equipment. The vice principal requests that the children take their seats. He then invites the principal of the school to greet the guests and guide them through the rest of the program. 
The principal greets guests at the ceremony, where they will formally introduce the Samaritan and award a reward to Alvita and Montano, students from Sagrada Secondary School who devised the winning idea. The principal invites Nicole, the ethics and innovation teacher, to present the idea. 
Alvita and Montano transport us fifty years into the future. They help us grasp what is happening now while exaggerating what will happen in fifty years. We learn about climate change, the usage of technology, and The Samaritan, their innovative product. The mayor gets to his feet, puts on his hat, grabs his walking stick, and proceeds to the center of the stage. He claims that they will not launch the idea or award the prize today because they need time to consider the repercussions. He sends the instructors and children aside to debate the future of the invention with the principal and teacher, Nicole. He then warns them that they should not follow the Samaritan because it could become a platform for misinformation, lying, and witch hunting. 
The mayor informs the principal that she has the authority to discover a workaround. He instructs instructor Nicole to devise a solution, such as writing to the Ministry of Education and emphasizing that there are certain fundamental flaws that must be addressed. He tries to corrupt them so that they can get rid of the Samaritan. He yells at the instructor and threatens her with blackmail, reminding her that his decision surpasses any other education authority in the country (P. 17). Pirro tries to convince him that they cannot overturn the ministry, but the mayor proudly declares that he does not fight with the chairman of a local school board. Nicole tries to explain to him that the app has been online for a month and thus has been taken over by the national information and communications technology cooperation, but Mayor Mossi raises his voice at her and tells her to go write the letter and copy my office through your school principal. He needs to find a copy of the letter in his office within one hour.

Thematic Concerns and Issues 

1. Technology 

Alvita and Montano describe intelligent robots in their play within a play (P. 8). 

The two pupils also highlight air-cleaning technology and carbon emissions (P. 9). P. 10: Alvita and Montano analyze the role of digital pigeon holes. 

The Samaritan app has been available for a month. The national information and communication technology collaboration has already taken over (P. 18). 

Alvita describes people taking images and films of illicit acts that destroy the environment and then posting them on digital pigeonholes (P. 11). 

In a play within a play, Alvita says that medications are created to regenerate body cells and that no one can grow old, instead remaining young, attractive, and 250 years old (P. 8). She also mentions self-driving vehicles that transport robots to various locations to attend meetings and do business (P. 9). 

The robots will venture beyond the planet and spend a significant amount of time conquering new sections of the language (P. 8). Intelligent robots were created to replace judges and police officers in order to improve justice, and there will be no discrimination. Machines did all of our jobs; huge factories, hotels, and hospitals were run exclusively by intelligent machines and robots (P. 9). 

2. Optimism and Hope 

Alvita describes people taking images and films of illicit acts that destroy the environment and then posting them on digital pigeonholes (P. 11). 

In a play within a play, Alvita says that medications are created to regenerate body cells and that no one can grow old, instead remaining young, attractive, and 250 years old (P. 8). 

She also mentions self-driving vehicles that transport robots to various locations for meetings and business transactions. The robots will venture beyond the planet and spend a significant amount of time conquering new sections of the language (P. 8). Intelligent robots were created to replace judges and police officers in order to improve justice, and there will be no discrimination. Machines did all of our jobs; huge factories, hotels, and hospitals were run exclusively by intelligent machines and robots (P. 9). 

3. Bad Governance and Leadership Negligence 

According to Alvita, resources exist, but they must be properly utilized and directed to the appropriate channel and purpose (P. 10). 

People cannot afford medicine or nutritious food and are malnourished (P. 7). People are being killed like chickens in terms of crime (P. 7). 

People lack an avenue for protection and justice because law enforcers and courts serve those who grease their palms, so they seek a private one or take the law into their own hands (P. 7). 

4. Corruption, Impunity, and Extortion 

People lack an avenue for safety and justice since law enforcement and judges serve those who grease their palms (P. 7). 

Mossi informs the principal that she has the ability to develop a workaround (P. 17). 

He claims that his judgment surpasses all other education officials in the country (P. 17). 

5. Degradation of the Environment and Climate Change 

Alvita describes people taking images and films of illicit acts that destroy the environment and then posting them on digital pigeonholes (P. 11). 

Montano envisions a future world in which cities stink because clean water is scarce due to climate change (P. 6). Montano agrees that the weather is unpredictable and that it rarely rains (P. 6). 

According to Montano, mankind began to eat weird things such as insects, crawling creatures, rats, and sea creatures (P. 6). When weather patterns change, life expectancy plummets (P. 7). 

6. Despair and Hopelessness 

People cannot afford medicine or nutritious food and are malnourished (P. 7). According to Montano, millions of young people were lingering idly in the streets and towns, unable to find work. They were all impoverished, hungry, and angry (P. 5). Montano, too, believes that crime is too prevalent, with people being butchered like chickens (P. 7). 

She goes on to say that law enforcement and judges serve those who grease their palms, so when people lack an outlet for protection and justice, they turn to private lawyers or take the law into their own hands (P. 7). 

7. Poverty and Unemployment 

According to Montano, millions of young people were lingering idly in the streets and towns, unable to find work. They were all impoverished, hungry, and angry (P. 5). Montano informs Alvita that their country produces more graduates each year than it is capable of creating work (P. 5). 

8. Education

Sagrada Secondary School is a school that provides education. It has students who are creative and innovative, such as Alvita and Montano. Nicole is their mentor. 

Carmona, the deputy, and Narine, the principal, both endorse their program. Montano informs Alvita that their country produces more graduates each year than it is capable of creating work (P. 5). 

Language use and Stylistic Devices

1. Imagery

a. Hyperbole/ Exaggeration/ Overstatement

Montano too tells Alvita what she sees in future, “the way your nose was running as though you had a drum of fluids in the middle of your head (P. 6).”

Montano tells Alvita “you had a fertile imagination (P. 8).”

Nicole tells the students “What an overheated imagination (P. 9).”

Mossi says, “I would especially be delighted if the medicine for regenerating my body cells was discovered today. That would enable me live for four hundred and twenty-two more years (P. 14 and 15).”

Mossi shares, “I accidentally swallowed a whole toothpick (P.16).”

Nicole’s movement is exaggerated with, “Her sharp footsteps can be heard reverberating in the corridor like castanets (P. 18)”.

b. Vivid Description

The scene is introduced with an in-depth description of the setting. We are told Chairs and tables are arranged in three rows with two passageways, one on either side of the middle row (P. 1).”
Narine is described as, “She is motherly ,tall plump lady in her late fifties (P. 3)”.
Nicole is portrayed as , “She is dressed in her trade mark style comprising flowery banarasi silk sari and a headscarf (P. 3)”
Further description shows her as , “She is a young, tall, light skinned lady of medium build, a renowned beauty and an uncompromising moralist (P. 3).”
Mayor is a tall heavy man, called mossi (P. 2).
Nicole is described as “She is spotting a wavy side pony-tail hairstyle and is smartly dressed in a black skirt and a white blouse (P. 3-4)”.

c. Personification

Montano tells Alvita, “Your nose was running (P. 6).”
Montano informs Alvita, “You hard a fertile imagination (P. 8).”
Basdeo says “It will be a delicious new dawn in our islands (P. 19).”
d. Simile
You just send a text message on the App and it spreads like a wild bushfire (P. 16).
Her sharp footsteps can be heard reverberating in the corridor like castanets (P. 18).
People slaughtered like chicken (P. 7).

e. Metaphor

Montano tells Alvita, “You hard a fertile imagination (P. 8).”

f. Symbolism

Montano says we better discuss which side of the fence that bird will fly- when it eventually decides to fly (P. 9).The bird represents the Municipal leaders who have to made the decision for the state and citizens.

2. Euphemism

Montano tells Alvita, “Your nose was running (P. 6).”

3. Sarcasm

Mossi sarcastically says he would especially be delighted by the medicine for regenerating his body cells if it was discovered today. That would enable him to live for four hundred and twenty two more years (P. 14).
Mossi sarcastically refers to the Samaritan App as an incredible innovation that they have to discuss the way forward of it after students leave, only to tell them that he will not continue with this ‘Thing.’(P. 15).
Ramdaye says they might spread another rumor on the platform and Mossi may swallow another toothpick (P.16).
With a sarcastic grin, Mossi comments on Basdeo’s delicious smell of the new dawn as, “It is the smell most likely of berries or corn on cobs, they are delicacies for occupants (P. 19).”

4.Biblical  Allusion

Alvita says they named The Samaritan after the parable of the Good Samaritan narrated in the good book (P. 13).

5. Rhetorical Questions

Montano asks Alvita the possibility of better change, “What with all these criminal gangs in the Municipality? (P. 8).
Alvita asks Montano, “Haven’t you read about decision-making algorithm (P. 8).”
Alvita asks, “What is so special about developing an artificial police officer or judge (P. 8).

6. Play within a play

Alvita and Montano showcase the future and they imagine of a world of despair with a degraded environment, malnourishment, crime, and poverty contrasted with a world where technology brings hope in the judicial sector and human life span too (P. 4- 13).

7. Satire

The Mayor and his leaders reject the best incredible project of The Samaritan aimed to change the Municipality and the situation of the citizens. Within few minutes Mossi releases students and tells the principal and students that they will not proceed with the rewarding.
The play within a play is a satire of what may happen in future.
Montano tells Alvita that their country has been producing graduates every year that the jobs it is able to create (P. 5).

8. Irony

It is ironical that Mossi, the Mayor says he had an express mandate given to him by the people of Maracas to protect their public interest, yet he has an intention of blocking the advancement of the Samaritan App innovation that could save them (P. 18).

9. Ellipsis

Pirro says, “Pardon me your worship, but they cannot overrule the minster …(P.18).
Mossi stammers when talking to Nicole that she should figure a way…. And further says that in it that you need to attend to … get when I mean?(P. 17).

Character Portrayal and Characterisation

1. The Principal-Narine

She is the principal,Sagrada Secondary School.

a. Firm

The principal is said to have a very strong personality (P. 3).

b.Authoritative and Motherly

She is described as  motherly... with an aura of authority about her. pag 3

Role the principal

In this act, she is more of a stock character.

2. Mossi

He is the Mayor ,Maracas Municipality.

a. Opulent and flashy/pompous

Mossi has more phones. He puts his three phones….(P. 2).

b. Temperamental/Hot Tempered

He raised his voice while addressing Nicole (P. 17).

c. Arrogant or Proud

He says that he cannot argue with a simple chairman of a local board (P. 18).

d. Dictatorial/Authoritative

He dictates what the school should do, when and how. He commands Mossi, “Go now and write that letter and copy my office through your school principal…..(P. 18).”
e. Cautious Mossi thinks the innovation might hurt his reputation and tells the principal and Nicole, “I declined to do so when I figured out the innovation might be a problem for us (P. )”.

e. Rude

Just keep your mouth shut if you have nothing useful to say. Pg 19

f.Malicious,Evil,Self Serving

He refuse to launch the innovation nor present the prize because he is worried about the effect of the app to his position. Pg 15

g. Hypocritical

He refuses to launch the innovation can not even recall what it called even after praising it. '..I am afraid we may...already forgotten what you calling it.' Pg 15

h. Skeptical,doubtful

Good people ? Are there any good people around here? How do you know people will not write lies? pg 13

Role of the Mossi

He builds themes of bad governance and technology as she talks about it.
He also brings out language use such as irony , satire and ellipsis.
He enables us see how firm and realistic Nicole is.
He also develops the plot as an inciting action of stopping the rewarding of the app commences.

3. Nicole

She is the teacher of Ethics and Innovation at Sagrada Secondary school.

a. Realistic

She tells Mossi that she may not be able to say anything about the App. She says “The App has been online for a months now and it has been taken over by The National Information and Communications Technology Corporation and there is little they can do now (P. 18).”

b. Firm,Adamant

After getting instructed with the mayor to write a letter she says,'I will do what is right.' page 18

c.Moralist

Narine says after Nicole had just left that,' Nicole doesn't usually comprise on what she thinks is right.' pg 19.

d.Inquisitive

And why were they dying so early? pg 7

Role of Nicole

We come to realize how insecure Mossi is because of her innovation with the students.
We also meet styles like satire because of her conflicting view with Mossi.
We expect the play as she resists Mossi’s suggestion of doing away with The Samaritan

4. Alvita and Montano

a. Innovative and creative

The conflicting aspect of a bright future and a dark future results from their strained imagination

b. Courageous

They confidently stand before the rest of the learners and the Mayors team to present their play and App.

Role of the Montano and Alvita

They show how focused Nicole is and how selfish the Mayor is.
They set the plot in motion with their play and innovation.
They build the play within a play.

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