Crossing Boundaries in Oleanna

1313 Words6 Pages
There will always be that one teacher/professor that will be like a friend to us; however, in Oleanna things were different between the professor John and Carol the student. In the play, Carol visits John in the office to discuss some problems she’s having in the course. Carol states how she doesn’t comprehend the material in the course; in contrast, John is having his problems as well. He’s constantly on the phone dealing with a deposit for a house he’s about to buy. Carol starts to call herself “stupid” and she wants to understand the class but John just discusses about his own philosophies and doesn’t help her out. Overall, things become quite turbulent throughout the play when Carol pressed charges against John for sexual assault and then battery and attempted rape. By the end when Carol is about to leave his office and turns around and tells John “Don’t call your wife baby. You heard what I said” (1211) it causes him to snap and brutally beat her. John suddenly puts the chair down, realizing he’s already crossed the line too far and Carol finishes saying "Yes. That's right" (1212). After reading the play, it leaves many unanswered questions, but there’s one important one that should be understood: where should the boundaries between teachers and students be? Sometimes teachers and students may become fairly close with each other and there’s no problem with that; in the meantime, there are certain boundaries to be set. In Oleanna act one John tries makes a deal with Carol. He states “Your grade for the whole term is an "A". If you will come back and meet with me a few more times. Forget about the paper. You didn't like it, you didn't like writing it. It's not important. What's important is that I awake your interest, and that I answer your questions. Let's start over.” (1193) Open meetings between teachers and students should be one of the boundaries here. If
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