The History Boys is a play by British playwright Alan Bennett that premiered at the Royal National Theatre in London in 2004. It tells the story of a group of bright, young boys who are preparing for their Oxford and Cambridge entrance exams under the guidance of three eccentric teachers. The play is set in the 1980s and is a poignant and humorous exploration of the nature of education, the pursuit of knowledge, and the roles of history and memory in shaping our understanding of the world.
One of the most memorable and powerful moments in The History Boys is the monologue delivered by one of the main characters, Hector, a flamboyant and unconventional teacher who is deeply passionate about literature and the arts. In this monologue, Hector speaks to the boys about the importance of learning for its own sake, rather than simply as a means to achieve success.
Hector begins by telling the boys that he wants them to be "the best that they can be," but not in the narrow, utilitarian sense that is so often associated with education. Instead, he wants them to be "the best for the sake of being the best." He goes on to explain that this means "learning for learning's sake, learning for the love of it," rather than simply to get good grades or to impress others.
Hector's monologue is a powerful reminder that the pursuit of knowledge should not be limited by the demands of the world. It is a call to embrace a love of learning for its own sake, to follow our curiosity and interests wherever they may lead us. In this sense, Hector's monologue is a celebration of the boundless potential of the human mind, and a reminder of the joy and fulfillment that can be found in the pursuit of knowledge.
Ultimately, Hector's monologue is a testament to the enduring value of education and the power of the human spirit to seek out and embrace new ideas. It is a stirring tribute to the power of the mind to transform the world and to enrich our lives in ways that go far beyond the narrow confines of success or achievement.
The History Boys
Lintott, Hector, and Irwin giving the boys mock admissions interviews. Dakin I asked the Headmaster what the difference was between Hector touching us up on the bike and him trying to feel up Fiona. I mean, I love my mother but she leads such—a stupid life! Home of the Mighty Panthers. We then hear from the boys, in narrative asides, about their exams and admissions visits. So I clear my schedule for the next day. He like twice her size. It all just runs together, toward her blah, blah, blah, like wet gravy and cranberry sauce.
The History Boys Act Two: Scenes 5
He thinks that Irwin and the Headmaster have turned the boys into robots only capable of parroting responses that will help them succeed on their Oxbridge exams. More importantly, how can Alan Bennett, himself gay, perpetuate the predatory over-sexualised gay stereotype? Those involved in The History Boys are some incredibly famous names: James Cordon, Dominic Cooper, Frances de la Tour, Russell Tovey, Nicolas Hytner and Richard Griffiths. The benefit of the doubt is on his side. He tosses the script onto the floor where it lands with a BANG. Posner says that he didn't mean to upset anyone but his dad often gets curious about what his son is learning. Hector finally begins to understand that he is fighting a losing battle. At the beginning of the play, we see Hector, a beloved teacher in his 50s, leading his General Studies class.
The History Boys: Alan Bennett, Plays & Themes
In the second half of the play: Hector denies wrongdoing, he never admits in the play that it was assault. All three of these examples very directly propagate a stereotype about gay men that has proved to have dangerous consequences - by increasing violence - for real gay men. Spacebar is a story about HUMANITY. Hide beans in your blanket? Alan Bennett is but one product of the wider cultural acceptance of abuse within British institutions. Ciccotelli After finding a flyer for a poetry contest Dan Gardner, a would be poet from New York City, tries to reinvent himself as Ricardo Salome, a world class poet, and contemplates writing a poem for the contest. I always had access to your address but it was only when you started to come into the store less and less that I decided to come here.
I am currently a sophomore at Harold Ferguson Senior High School just outside Fort Collins, Colorado. Retrieved 4 September 2019. The boys behave awkwardly during and after her speech; they are taken aback by her uncharacteristic monologue. And I hereby wish my máma was here to see this because she would be really proud of me and also let it hereby be known that although the repercussions and enormity of this discovery are yet unbeknownst to my conscious mind, deep in the eaves of my brain I know, oh bambino do I ever know that I have found something here on these virginish shores which will prove even more alluring than, indeed, all the perfumes and spices of Araby. Every day the earth is dying.
