Question

What is the theme of “The Show Must Go On”? How do specific details shape the theme and affect Tessa’s attitude as the story progresses? Use evidence from the text to support your response. Your response should be at least three complete paragraphs.

Answer 1

Answer :

The story "The Show Must Go On" is named after a popular phrase in show business  which means that no matter what the circumstances the show or film that has been put together should be played or filmed for the waiting audience. The story aims to teach us that even though certain people and situations may initially appear as problems when they enter our lives, we should be optimistic and treat them as opportunities to better ourselves and our work. In the end, we may not get exactly what we wanted in the first go but we will understand that all persons and situations enter our life for a specific reason.

In "The Show Must Go On" Tessa is initially upset on being paired with Varick who is neither similar to her nor related to someone famous as she had desired but is instead a Midwestern boy who has never left his home in Ohio. However, as the story progresses Varick turns out to be a blessing in disguise for Tessa. He teaches her that we should make the most of every opportunity that comes our way. She was aghast to discover that he had an open-ended design for his script that he wanted to develop spontaneously as he filmed for the program. She considered his ideas as a waste of a golden opportunity. As the story progresses, Tessa begins to appreciate her partner's viewpoint when things do not exactly go as she had planned them.

In the fourth week, Tessa reviews her footage to discover that her film is a complete opposite of what she had thought. She is filled with envy when she discovers that Varick's film which she had greatly underestimated was looking way better than her own work. Varick had utilized the obstacle of the storm and captured the thunder laden sky in a breathtaking way. Moreover, instead of rushing through the special effects like Tessa he had made it a point to minimize the side effects and made the best of every situation. After this incident, Tessa realized the importance of being spontaneous and going with the flow as the same methods that she had disapproved of had produced far better results than her own. She becomes friends with Varick and shares and discusses her work with him. In the end, her film is saved when she learns to turn the obstacle of refusal from the museum into an opportunity to film the runners as they pass the museum. The judges appreciate her film and she learns that  "The Show Must Go On".