Assess the relevance of Pages 58 – 63 in the History Boys to the rest of the play

When we meet Irwin a acquire at the beginning of Act two he is a man at once well into his forties and has moved on from teaching account in a school to filming a television history platform on location. We learn that he is five years older and tho there is a certain irony in the fact that he withal recites the same mantra that he used with the history boys when c everyed in to direct them for Oxbridge entryIf you require to learn about Stalin study Henry VIII.If you want to learn about Mrs Thatcher study Henry VIIIIf you want to admit about Hollywood study Henry VIIIIt was all history. It seems that although older and promptly in a wheelchair his basic attitude and approach have changed little. He is now a personality presenting a programme upon Rievaulx Abbey and life in secluded orders which he brings down to the level of toilet arrangements stating that he supposes this to be the look to bring history to life and the Director reflects upon how he sounds a wraith school masterly.Irwin, for all his changed position, having been transported from a life in the classroom to in expect of a television photographic camera, is still focussed upon viewing things from an unusual post and using language to effect as when he reflects upon the different materials existence used in place of toilet paper, in effect axiom that it is these artefacts which people now sum up to view saying of them, there is an emergence in excrement, so sanitised by the years and sanitised too so he introduces a no(prenominal) of humour. Indeed he says of what he sees as modern day pilgrims. We are differently credulous and our cults are non the same but saner, wiser, much rationalHe stumbles as if deeply absorbed in reflection of how peoples attitudes have changed, yet he passel use the same approach. We see that Irwins approach to teaching and to history has not really changed from that which he expressed when first called in to prepare the boys for Oxbridge entry, For Irwin history is not a matter of conviction and he encourages the boys to be calm and so distance themselves. It was perhaps evident from Irwins first meeting with the boys that he was prepared to advocate whatever was required in order to gain the described objective. Irwin, the television presenter, has retained this belief in looking at these aspects of history which offer a more controversial approach to the subject. initially describing the boys work as Abysmally dull he recognised to be triple-crown they had to attract attention by using unorthodox methods. His dictum, which was evident as a teacher, was evident when he said,The wrong end of the stick is the unspoilt one. A question has a front door and a acantha door. Go in the back or better still the side. consume also History QuizzesTo shock or surprise was his intent. He indeed proceeded to express his opinion that history was a performance, For Irwin, unlike Hector, presentation was everything and he has interest in moral truth viewing things as world entertainment, so the first glimpse of Irwin the television presenter was evident horizontal as a teacher. When referring to Stalin, whilst agreeing that he was a monster, he was still abruptly willing to say something in his self-abnegation. Thus, to him, the end justifies the means and he revels in being perverse. Irwin sums up the object of his approach, to the man who turns out to be none other than Posner, by describing it as meretricious and when called upon to define the word he describes it as Eye-catching, showy, false. This last word almost appears as a damning indictment of his whole approach to teaching. When Posner replies by saying, But you were a good teacher Irwin just now says The meretricious often are on television particularly. He whence backs this up by reflectin thatThe wheelchair helps of course.Disability brings with it an assumption of sincerity.We see that he was still prepared to use whatever vehicle to give him t he edge and garment favour and sympathy. It was a means to an end, a prop but reveals him to be morally shallow.So it is that we are reminded of our initial meeting with Irwin when, still in a wheelchair, he was addressing three or four unidentified mononuclear phagocyte system upon the best way of presenting a bill before Parliament, the effects of which would, if examined, would record to be very contentious concerned, as it was, with the effective ending of discharge by jury in at least half of the cases which come before the courts abolishing with it the assumption of innocence. Sadly Irwins views have become even more morally corrupted, perhaps the person we see before the television camera and addressing MPs is just the logical projection of the teacher who advocated taking a completely opposite or controversial view to attain a desired outcome.It is now just the case that his horizons are greatly grow and he is able to suppress any moral feelings. He has plainly reached a stage where he is happy to twist debatable aspects to insure in with what he wishes to achieve. His views are well illustrated when he says in defence of a law change, Paradox works well and mists up the windows which is handy We because come to appreciate how Irwin the television presenter views what he does by saying, School. Thats all it is. In my case anyway. Back to school. He really had come to believe that history was a performance. Its entertainment. And if it isnt make it so. Perhaps this last statement is so telling of his willingness to subvert the facts and in so doing taking an argument and endeavouring to promote its opposite as he had first done as a teacher who was willing to relegate moral truth for effect.