Video Analysis Essay on The Mystery of Storytelling

Introduction

According to Julian (2012), plot theme and character play a major role in determining how the audience will perceive a story. The characters in a story determine how the audience's emotions will be evoked. Identity determines how the character will be presented in the story. For example, in a story that aims at presenting the idea of racial or gender discrimination the author or the narrator needs to involve a character that fits the idea of discrimination presented. The character in a story determines the tale will flow and the idea presented will be perceived by the intended parties. While a story may be based on many things, identity issues such as gender, race, social class, and culture determine how the story will go and the effect it will have on the audience.

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Elizabeth the Mulatto

In ancient German, during the reign of Adolf Hitler, the Jews were considered to be inferior to the white Germans and the blacks even worse. There lived a woman named Olivia in a village called Ahrenshoop. Olivia had two children Elizabeth and mark. Elizabeth knew very little of her father. As a young child, she always wondered why her skin color was different from that of her mates. Her peers used to avoid playing with her due to the strange complexion of her skin.

During the Second World War, the French soldiers attacked German. In the battalion, there were soldiers from both African and France origin. Olivia found herself in the midst of an attack when the patrols raided her village killing almost everyone. Was it not for Mark, A black France sergeant who found her hiding in a bush near her house and led the troop away from her she would have breathed her last. Mark came back later in the middle of the night to bring food and a warm blanket for Olivia to shield her from the cold night. Amid the war Mark always sneaked from the camp to meet Olivia. A strong love developed between them. A love forbade by both the French and the German due to the enmity that existed between them. It was from that love that Elizabeth was born.

Elizabeth always asked her mother why she was different from all the children including her brother mark. She felt neglected and unloved by the community around her. Her mother used to cover her hair whenever they were walking on the streets of German to prevent attracting attention. Elizabeth knew very little of her family background because when she was born her grandparents who were deeply rooted in the Soviet nation culture ordered her mother to kill and bury her. She was considered a disgrace to the community and her family could not bear the shame of having their only daughter with a black child.

When Elizabeth attained the age of attending school, her mother took her to the neighboring school. The teachers were hesitant to accept her due to the community policy which prohibited the German children from interacting with Jews and Africans. Being the only student with mixed origin in the school, Elizabeth always found her taking fault for crimes committed by her peers. However, despite the challenges, she was very bright which resulted in winning many accolades in school.

It was on a bright Monday morning during the school assembly when all hell broke loose. Elizabeth was summoned to the office by the school principal. The community had voted against her being part of the school. Elizabeth was told to pick her books and leave the school immediately because the German parents were planning a revolt if she is not expelled. With eyes filled with tears, she went back to the classroom to pick her bag. Her classmates cheered as she walked slowly towards the door. A 30 minutes walk towards home felt like an eternity. She wept deeply as she explained to her mother what befell in school.

Life after Elizabeth's expulsion from school became more unbearable to Olivia and her children. The local authorities visited their home demanding to see documents that proved Elizabeth was of German origin. However, her birth certificate was tone in front of her eyes with claims from the chief and the policemen that a mulatto had no right to claim she was a German citizen. The life after losing her documents became more miserable for Elizabeth. She had to run whenever she saw a police officer due to the fear of deportation.

One evening as Elizabeth and her mother were walking back home from the market. The police officer stopped them and asked her to provide her documents. She was scared of what would happen if they realize that she had no documents. Her mother wept bitterly as she watched the officers throw Elizabeth into the police cruiser together with other people of mixed origin. Olivia and mark were devastated as they watched her being driven away. The officers rebuked her for crying over a mulatto who according to them was a disgrace to the German community. Elizabeth was sold as a slave to France merchants, however, her darkest moments turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it was in France that she met her biological father.

Concepts of Aristotle

According to Julian (2012), Aristotle's story concepts explain that a story has to be based on pity fear and catharsis. When creating the story Elizabeth the Mulatto the concepts were critical in ensuring that the emotions of the audience are evoked. The life that the main character went through as a person of mixed origin which was never her fault stimulates the feelings of sympathy from the audience as they anticipate knowing how her life will end up. The plot, theme, and character also facilitated the flow of the story. The plot which is the setting of the story presents the idea of how the characters life begins and all the troubles that she undergoes in her life. The theme of the story which is racial discrimination in ancient Germany has been supported with evidence of how Elizabeth who is the main character is mistreated for being half African. The concepts of Aristotle were essential in ensuring that the story is chronological and captures the attention of the audience.

Reference

Julian, F. (2012). The Mystery of Storytelling. Retrieved from https://www.presspage.com/news/lessons-from-ancient-greece-aristotle-on-storytelling/