Product Details
Jumpers

Jumpers
From Grove Press

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Product Description

Murder, marriage and metaphysics—the three elements that link the bizarre series of events in Tom Stoppard’s high-spirited comedy, Jumpers. The protagonists include George Moore, an aging professor of moral philosophy whose quest to compose a lecture on ‘Man—Good, Bad or Indifferent’ is put on hold while he ponders the existence of his sock; his youthful wife Dotty, a former musical star on a downward spiral whose charm may explain the corpse in the next room; George’s specially trained hare, Thumper; and a chorus of poorly-trained gymnasts whose exploits set the stage for this topsy-turvy world.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #404743 in Books
  • Published on: 1994-01-12
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 96 pages

Customer Reviews

Witty, Intelligent, and Fun4
As with so many of Stoppard's plays, this one seems to operate on multiple levels of reality. On the one hand we have a network of philosphers looking for the essence of morality, divinity, and community. On the other, a failed actress has comitted murder and is trying to escape the consequences of her actions while committing adultery at the same time. All of this takes place in a reality that is not our own, but isn't far from it. Stoppard treats these subjects as he treats most of the subjects of his plays: with humor, cleverness, and irony. Stoppard creates a philospher who is so wrapped up in preparing a speech on morality that he is completely unaware of the murder and infidelity that are so obviously happening within his own home. A police officer manages to overlook these same problems due to his obsession with the murderer's past career as an actress. Throughout the play these kind of juxtapositions take place as each character seeks to ignore the reality around him/her as he/she seeks desperately to create his/her own reality. Stopard presents all of this with his usual blend of wit and charm, making Jumpers another solid addition to his body of work.

a tongue in cheek look at philosophy today5
Stoppard brilliantly illuminates the absurdity of philosophy's retreat from the real world into the world of academia. His lampooning of the Logical Positivists is relentless and sometimes subtle. Throughout most of the play George is preparing to defend the existence of Morality and Good, all the while ignoring the dead body rotting in his bedroom. This is a must read for anyone caught up in, or disenchanted by, philosophy's detachment from real world application.

Moral philosophy: pros and cons. Brilliant5
I first read this ten years ago when I sided with George Moore and thought it was brilliant. Now I reread it and find myself discovering Richard Rorty in the character of Archie, and not so sure where my sympathies lie. I guess that's what's best about Stoppard: he argues convincingly on both sides. As for the play, it starts out as a whodunnit but by about page 20 you know you're never going to find out and that it doesn't matter. The jokes are great, the philosophy first class, and the coda is even moving. If you like Sophie's World, or any of those joke-intro-philosophy books then this is one better.