Habeas Corpus Free Essays

Habeas Corpus. The name of this play is quite strange, it made me think of death (corpse), maybe a hideous corpse. My first impressions when I heard that we were going to see the play were very confused. We will write a custom essay sample on Habeas Corpus or any similar topic only for you Order Now Written by Alan Bennett, Habeas Corpus was a play written by a playwright I had never heard of before, so I had no real expectations. The impressions I did have were completely different from the play I was presented with at the Theatre by the Lake. The theatre is in an idealistic setting in the heart of the Lake District, which is a main tourist area in the U.K., so this means that the majority of audiences will be mainly tourists on holiday and so will be from a wide range of backgrounds and a lot of different age groups. The venue was useful in the setting of the play. The set used a holiday theme and this was very effective and fitted in well with the plot of the play too. I didn’t know anything about the director, so I couldn’t think what sort of drama forms he might use. The performance spanned April to November, so I don’t think that the time of year it was presented in is important, as it would be for example a pantomime at Christmas, but it just so happened to be on in the busiest time of the tourist season, so the holiday theme was appropriate here too. The play was performed on an end-on stage, of average size with a proscenium arch and a large apron, which was used effectively throughout the performance to help the actors communicate directly to the audience. The set was arranged around an acting area painted in white upon the stage, this was so the entire audience could see the whole play without missing any action on the extremities of the stage. However this meant that when an actor made his/her entrance they had to reach the area before they could deliver their line and move on and off with speed. In the middle of the area, there was the main piece of furniture, a white psychiatrists’ chair that doubled up as a bench, bed, sofa and part of the pier. This was achieved by painting the bottom with a wood planking design, same as the stage to create an easily adaptable but bland stage not to detract from the actors’ performance. The backcloth was a board surrounded with different colored lights, the purpose of which I will explain later. The main reason was to make a postcard/cartoon effect in the middle was a picture of the sea with stuffed seagulls mounted on the front, to add to the surrealist feel. To portray the doctors house, there were three cartoon pictures came down from the ceiling one a skeleton, to remind the characters that death is always looming, a typical old man to remind them that we are all getting older and closer to death and a busty young woman with an hourglass figure to remind them to seize the moment. The plot was very complicated and I feel the best way to explain it briefly is to name the main characters and their role in ‘life’. Dennis- a confused, sexually deprived, geeky young man who is a typical hypochondriac and thinks he is going to die, but is desperate for love (mainly sex) before he does. He falls in love with the voluptuously beautiful Felicity a rich young woman whom wants to use Dennis by marriage before he dies to annoy her mother, also sex mad. Dr Wicksteed is Dennis’ father and a perverted doctor who likes nothing more than slyly touching up young rich paying patients, namely Felicity and is desperate for love before he dies. His wife Mrs. Wicksteed is in love with the head doctor Sir Percy Shorter, who doesn’t love her any more but finds lust in Felicity who turns out to be his daughter. There are also extra characters like Connie Dennis’s Aunt who is very pathetic (until she gets her wonderbra). She is engaged to The Perverted Vicar who preferred her when she looked like a boy. He also stared up the skirt of Felicity’s Mother on the train, she had a war time affai r with Sir Percy. Connie falls in love with the Wonderbra salesperson that is chased by Mrs. Wicksteed. Finally, there is the Suicide fanatic, a non-paying patient who is always trying to end his life via hanging throughout the play but finds no sympathy. The narrator is the Wicksteeds’ family cleaner Mrs. Swabb, who guides us through this otherwise confusing play with humour. Not surprisingly, the main theme in this play was sex and relationships. There were also: – marriage – love – death – promiscuity as main themes. The play was set in the early 1970’s when the promiscuous society was just becoming accepted. It was also very obviously a farce and a comedy even though it touched upon serious themes. The costumes reflected the characters that wore them. For example Dennis wore orange checked flares and a jumper too small for him, this symbolizes his inexperience and how he is still very much a youth, underneath he wore a dull red flowery shirt that went well with a purple jacket he used for the wedding. His make up was just spots all over his face and gel in his hair to make him appear greasy and unclean. All the characters wore colorful clothes, which stood out against the bland background apart from Connie who in the beginning wore brown unexciting clothes. This made her appear the same age as Dennis even though she was meant to be his Aunt. In the end though, she appeared in a spangled mini dress with fur and high heels, this showed that since she found love with the salesperson she had ‘come out of her shell’. Lighting was a main feature of the performance. For most of the time, there was just a main spotlight focusing on the acting area. . For special effects the lights I mentioned earlier, surrounding the backdrop were very important. In love scenes (e.g.-Where Connie and Sir Percy dance the Tango) the lights illuminated the stage in a soft red glow and when there was a game show section in the performance where they flashed on and off in different colors like a fairground. I found this very effective and it added variety to the performance. Sound was used very little in the production. One very effective use of sound and motion was when Connie opened her Wonderbra. Because it was made from the same material as the Apollo space crafts the music came on as the Apollo Mission Theme Tune and the actors ‘swooped’ down to see the content of the box in very slow motion. This was both comical and made it interesting. The only other music was to dance to and a heartbeat in the quiz. Also there were bombing sounds to resemble the blitz when Felicity’s mother was telling the story of how her and Sir Percy met. It gave the impression that you were there in the action as it was happening like when you were a child watching a good film. The rest of the actors were very still so they did not detract any attention from the story. Some of the drama forms used were subtle but worked well. Here is my favorite: -Still imaging- they made photographic poses around the centre of attention to focus our attention to the person and so we could see everyone in a way that was pleasing to the eye, colorful and interesting also this is related to the postcard theme of the set design. All the actors were very believable but not in a normal way. You know that they were too stereotypical to be true and that it was a farce but they still came through as real people. All the characters stood out to me in their own special way, and you could relate to all of them in some way so this made them interesting to watch. If you think about it, the farce comes out of laughing at your own faults and how stereotypical we are as much as we want to think we aren’t. This was the most important thing in the play, the way they looked at society was original. I really enjoyed Habeas Corpus, it was thought provoking and made you look at yourself in a different light. It made me laugh and delivered a serious message at the same time- don’t waste your life and seize every opportunity you get. How to cite Habeas Corpus, Papers Habeas Corpus Free Essays The attacks on American on September 11, 2001 was so horrible it left citizens in shock fear and despair. President Bush and his administration had no choice but to respond to ensure that Americans felt safe. It was very important for these terrorist to be brought to justice and pay for all the lives that were take on September 11, 2001. We will write a custom essay sample on Habeas Corpus or any similar topic only for you Order Now Bush’s administration proceeded to use extreme methods to find and punish whomever was involved in attacking innocent people, Rights were taken away and Habeas Corpus did not apply to anyone suspected of terrorism. Why is Habeas Corpus significant? Should anyone be denied due process? Habeas Corpus known as the Great Writ of Liberty. Fundamental of English law. Not in Bill of Rights, but is of such importance of all other rights. Without Habeas Corpus other rights are useless. Farmers knew what it was like to be attacked, labeled, and thrown away without their day in court. It’s a legal action or writ for unlawful imprisonment seeks relief. A. ) English Tradition- â€Å"Appears to be predominately of Anglo-Saxon common law origin. † Dates back to the Magna Carta of 1215 created to compel the appearance of the person in custody or have a day in court. Habeas Corpus was â€Å"originally the prerogative writ of the King and his courts. † Also prevents one from being locked up before trail. B. ) American Traditions- taking parts of all English practices and laws during the Revolutionary War; the Writ of Habeas Corpus was a part of colonies in New England. Its purpose was a â€Å"fundamental protection guaranteed by law to each citizen. † Constitution Article 1 Section 9 states â€Å"The privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended unless in Case of Rebellion or Invasion the public safety may require it.† The Writ of The Habeas Corpus according to the constitution gives all citizens the right to their day in court as well prevents citizens from being locked up at police or military discretion. The Writ of Habeas Corpus is to protect all citizens’ rights. Habeas Corpus is the â€Å"King† to all other rights and liberties as an American citizen. If one right to question imprisonment is questioned that all other rights fade away. Because if a President and Congress is allowed to take ones freedom without cause what else are they allowed to take. Habeas Corpus plays an important role in Supreme Court. It allows the president to make a decision that normally is not legal. The president is allowed to hold individuals he feels is a threat to the United States. Prior to Bush’s administration there’s only two cases of suspension of Habeas Corpus. President Lincoln suspended the Writ after Maryland tried to withdraw from the union which lead to chaos and violence. To protect the Union and the rest of the United States the Writ of suspension was legal because people was rebellion as well as jeopardizing public safety. Dividing the 1870’s under Presidents Ulysses Grant’s watch members of the Ku Klux Klan were violating rights of citizens therefore it was invading safety of people of color’s civil rights and liberties. The suspension of Habeas Corpus is relevant in today’s society for people that have intentions of destroying thousands of lives , but as well as important national monuments and millions and billions of dollars. Most importantly suspension of Habeas Corpus is and utilitarian. Some basic rights and liberties may be taken from thousands of citizen, aliens, and terrorist, but the suspension of Habeas Corpus is the best for the most people. According to the Anti-terrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) anyone arrested and accused of terrorizing the country is allowed a year to claim Habeas Corpus. AEDPA also put the federal judicial system in between a rock and a hard place. Justices were only allowed to debate on what state and federal decisions not the rights of the accused. Individuals that have access to or a part of a group of a known terrorist organization are considered to be enemy combatants. This is worse when it’s during war time. They wanted to keep them out of the war. In the constituent it clearly states the right to due process. The Habeas corpus is a guideline for those with intentions of bringing harm to the citizens of the United States. During the war on terror â€Å"enemy combatants† are basically striped of all rights. Because they were held in Cuba President Bush’s administration created loop hole to hold these individuals. The entire process of interrogating enemy combatants is completely different from normal court proceedings. They are tortured and beaten until the government receives the information that are true. When these procedures were made I believe it was initially for the greater good, and should have followed the law over time it seemed to do more harm than good. False confessions, brutality, and wrongful convictions of the innocent open room for other attacks. If the government is allowed to manure the Constitution of the framer when they see fit. What happens to the rights accused of other crimes throughout the country? The Supreme Court’s interpretation of the right of Habeas Corpus. When it comes to enemy â€Å"combatants†. The interpretation on the case Boumedine vs. Bush the decision was 5 to 4 meaning they agreed with Bourmedine. The majority felt the decisions of Detainee Treatment Act is not enough reasons to alter the Habeas Corpus clause. They also feel that the Military Commission Act is not written in the Constitution so rights and liberties should not be violated The United States used foreign leased land to try and undermine the Constitution. Justices, Styens, Kennedys, Souter, Ginsburg, and Breyer did not fall for the trickery our President at the time nor was congress putting out there. These five men that made the majority defines why Habeas Corpus was created and why it’s important. The three branches of government all share power. NO one branch is more powerful that the others. Denying the judicial system to do what they were appointed to do showed how the President was over stepping his boundaries. The four justices that did not agree with the decisions are Justices: Roberts Jr. , Scalia, Thomas, and Alito. These men felt that letting enemy combatants utilize their legal rights will ultimately back fire on the United States. The majority feels that the Executive and Legislative branches was not allowing them to conduct their duty, but minorities felt as though they voted that way for power not the people. More lives will be lost due to this ruling according to Justice Scalia. All nice of these men have a complicated job. Win some and lose others but justice should continue to be served. In the United States our Commander in Chief is elected by the people. Being the president does not mean is above the law. The Presidents should be a leader for the country by abiding the laws of the land. He should also make laws according to the Bill of Rights as well as the Constitution. Make law and/or policies that is for the people not the government. The president does not have authority to arrest â€Å"enemy combatants† with no charge and hold them for eternity. His role is to appoint individuals that have the skills to track terrorists not to torture innocent people on a hope and wish. President Bush’s idea of Guantanamo did not prove to be positive. Almost three hundred if not more of American citizens or aliens have been tortured for years with no promise it will ever end. This is why the Supreme Court upheld Habeas Corpus for such individuals. The president’s role is to protect the lives and liberties of all American citizens but not deny right of those they chose by considering them enemy combatants. Congress never declared the war on terrorism but stood by the President because they felt something needed to be done to ensure the safety and lives of the people of the United States and around the world. If congress feels or have proof that individuals are invading or threating lives could possibly open a door to suspend a constitutional right. The suspension of Habeas Corpus states the privilege of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended unless when in cases of rebellion or invasion of public safety may require it. If someone is accused and charge with doing any of these things the congress holds the right to suspend them. Not just because they believe it will be the best to keep these â€Å"animals† locked up forever. When the majority of justices made their decisions five to four in the case Boumediene vs. Bush justice was preserved. Under no circumstances should the President or congress invade the role of judges. The courts should be aware of the laws, right, and liberties of all citizens. If it’s a part of the United States or on leased land the courts makes decisions on quilt and innocence. Protecting the people is the man role of the Supreme Court. Under the constitution everyone deserves due process. If suspension of Habeas Corpus is in order then prove the cases in court with professional lawyers and judges. Electing military personal to conduct trial is not a fair trial because soldiers are obligated to follow orders. The war on terrorism was sort of necessary because the United States will not allow terrorist to over throw us. I feel that it was out of order for anyone’s rights to be disregarded. If holding known terrorist or those hiding terrorist at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba is done in accordance to the law no issue be questioned. The President and Congress had no intentions of following the law when it came to these detainees. In my opinion it was the reason the used Gitmo was used to torture and kill suspected enemy combatants. The Supreme Court made the right decision holing on the law on Habeas Corpus. If it wasn’t for persistence of important people it would have never been overturned. Anyone arrested, charged or detained for any reason should have their rights. No matter how terrifying the crime may be. It’s a complicated job running a country and trying to do what is right for society. Bush’s administration wanted those responsible to pay. Breaking laws or created them to hurt people is unconstitutional. The rights and liberties of any human being is not negotiable. Having better intelligence will prevent other attacks not the concept of Gitmo. Forcing people to take leads to false information and put more lives at risk. Unless one invades or rebel against the United States he is guaranteed due process and/or Habeas Corpus. How to cite Habeas Corpus, Papers