Chp. 23 Dramatism

Chapter 23, Dramatism, is explained by Kenneth Burke as "what he saw going on when people open their mouths to communicate" (329). Although I was sick the day we discussed this Chapter in class, I feel like I have grasped the overall meaning of it. After reading this Chapter, I began thinking of the most recent movie I have seen, "300." In this movie, King Leonitis brings his 300 soldiers to battle the Persians, who were under the rule of the god Zerkses. Zerkses, a selfish and materialistic god, tries to persuade Leonitis to hand over Sparta, and give up their battle. He offers King Leonitis much wealth and power, and tells his he will give him anything he has ever wanted, as long as he hands over his power. Leonitis, a very determined and bright king, uses "dramatistic pentad" to analyze how Zerkses is trying to trick him. He analyzes his "act, scene, agent, agency and purpose" (331). Zerkses' purpose and motivation was to get Leonitis to bow down to him, and offer up his power. In this situation, Zerkses was the act, Leonitis was the agent, the form of agency used was by Zerkses, trying to persuade Leonitis by telling him all of the positive results that would come from his bowing down, and the purpose was for Zerkses to gain as much power as he possibly could. Although Zerkses could not persuade King Leonitis, his use of persuasion and digging deep into the person's mind, is how he did succeed in luring in so many others who succumbed to his vicious rule.