Question

Answer these questions based on the play, "The Different Ones" by Rod Serling.

1. Write the theme of the play: In the play “The Different Ones,” playwright Rod Serling suggests that…

2. How does the title relate to the theme? Restate the theme and discuss how the title connects to the theme.

3. How does the author use the plot to demonstrate the theme? What happens in the plot that delivers the message of the theme? Provide a quotation to prove this?

4. How does the setting relate to the theme? Does the setting affect the lesson that is learned? Could the play have been set somewhere else and the lesson been the same? Provide examples from the play to prove this.

Answer 1

1. The theme of Rod Serling's play "The Different Ones" suggests that prejudice and discrimination lead to violence and fear.
2. The title "The Different Ones" relates to the theme as it symbolizes the discrimination and prejudice that people with differences often face in society. The play highlights the negative consequences of being "different" and how it affects one's life.
3. The author uses the plot to demonstrate the theme through the characters' interactions and actions. In the play, the different characters are portrayed as outsiders and treated with suspicion and fear by the townspeople. When the townspeople discover that one of the different ones has a weapon, they react with violence, leading to the death of an innocent child. This event emphasizes the dangerous consequences of prejudice and discrimination. As stated in the play, "Fear of the unfamiliar and the alien, fear of the unknown, is the most irrational of all fears."
4. The play's setting is crucial to the theme as it shows how townspeople's fear and prejudice are rooted in their community's norms and beliefs. The play's message would not have been as effective if it was set in another location. Due to their differences, the setting impacts the lesson learned by emphasizing how different people are treated as outsiders. Due to the town's deeply ingrained prejudice towards the different types, the play could not have been set anywhere else. For instance, the townspeople's reaction to the different ones is evident when they say, "They're different from us. They must be destroyed." In conclusion, "The Different Ones" is a thought-provoking play that addresses the negative consequences of prejudice and discrimination. The play's themes of violence and fear are delivered through a compelling plot and well-defined characters. The play effectively illustrates how fear and ignorance can lead to the destruction of innocent lives.