This document provides information on various aspects of a radio script adaptation of Henry James' novel "The Golden Bowl". It discusses the aural style suited for radio, the plot overview covering Maggie's journey to protect her marriage, and the structure separating it into episodes with interconnected scenes. It identifies the genres as drama, introducing a stereotypical protagonist. Finally, it discusses the target audience of existing radio station listeners, fans of the original book, and those wanting accessible versions of Henry James' works.

1. Style
The style of thisscript isverymuch an aural one withphrases
like “LONDON SOUNDSCAPE”fillingthe backgroundwithnoise
for the listeners.Consideringitisfora radio show,thisscript
will needthislevel of detail astheywill be relyingonthe power
of soundtoconveythe plotline.
Content
A scriptdramatizedforradioin 6 episodesbyWilliamAsh.PlayedonRadio4, itfollowsMaggie’s
journeywiththe “flawed”GoldenBowl andherquesttoprotecther marriage “whateverthe cost”.
Structure
Thisnarrative features2of Propp’scharacter guides,The
Hero andThe Donor.Maggie,as the Heroseekstoprotect
hermarriage,withthe aidof the Doner,the GoldenBowl.
As thisscriptwill be separatedintoseparate episodes, the
plotwill needtobe structuredsothat it can be easily
rememberedatthe startof eachepisode.Thismeansthat
the startingsceneswill leadonfromthe endof the last,
the use soundbeingemployedtoconnectthe scenes
togetherinthe listener’s minds.Therefore there will be an
outerstructure of a beginning,middleandendwithinthe
6 episodes,butalsoaninteriorstructure of a similar
narrative foreach individual episodeinordertomaintain
interestfromthe listenersandkeepthe storyflowing.
Genre
The genre of thisradioshowisDrama andthiscan be
summarisedbyRyall’stheoryof conventiongrouping.He said
that the typesof conventionsfoundingenresmightbe
groupedwithincategories,one beingRepresentationsof
characters/stereotypes.Thisscriptimmediatelypresentsa
stereotype of the Dramagenre:a protagonistsearchingfor
something,thisbeingPrince.Inthe timesof post-industrial
revolutionsuccess, manywereattractedtoLondonon the
premisof work,thisstereotypical fortune finderrepresented
by Prince,an“Italianman”who has come to the cityand “sold
himself”inabidto strike financial success.Thisisapopular
figure withinthe Dramagenre,astheyare daringand risk-
taking,therefore normallyleadingasomewhatdramatic
lifestyle andprovidingsubstantial escapismforthe listeners.
Target Audience
The target audience forthisradioshowwill mostlikelybe
people whoare alreadylistenersof the radio4 as theywill be
aware of the showand potentiallystumble uponitby
accidentand thencarry on tuninginat that specifictime to
followthe story.Thisaudience will be susceptibletothe
genre andconventionsasitwill be targetedtowardstheir
age groupas the target audience forthatstation.Moreover,
as thisshowis a dramatizationof a novel originallywrittenby
HenryJamesin1904, I can imagine some of the target
audience beingcompiledof fansof the book,readersbeing
drawnto theirlove of the textinan age where sittingdown
to readis almostimpossible tofitintoyourdailyschedule.
Withthe showbeingaccessibleviaradio,itisthereby
possible forpeople tolistentoitwhilstcarryingouttheir
taskssuch as whilstdrivingorinthe backgroundat home
withouthavingtogive ittheirfull attention.Fansof Henry
Jamesmayalso beingdrawntothisshowas they may
recognise hisname andtherefore feel the needtolistento
hisworkrather than readit,the familiarityof hiswriting
comingacross inradio-wavesratherthanfromthe pagesof a
book.