Further than the Furthest Thing

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Zinnie Harris’s second play ‘Further than the Furthest Thing’ isn’t necessarily amasterpiece. But there’s much about it that is still compelling, and once it gets going Jennifer Tang’s Young Vic revival feels intensely worthwhile.

When you use “further” as a verb, you will define it as moving something forward or making progress. However, “furthest” cannot be a verb. And once again, you cannot use “farther” as a verb, making this distinction a simpler one. During the next scene, Bill's funeral, it is revealed that Mr Hansen had admitted to the islanders that he had lied to them about the extent of the damage, and that they intended to return to the island. Mr Hansen apologises to Mill, and promises that he will ensure the supply ships come to the island annually in future. In the last scene, the islanders, including Rebecca, leave Southampton, with the exception of Francis, who tries to persuade Rebecca to convince him to return but ultimately chooses to remain. Second, when referring to something improving or making progress, then “farther” and “farthest” are not applicable.Adverb : both words mean “more distance,” but only further can also mean, “additionally” (short for furthermore ). Further” and “farther” are both comparative forms, so when you use each, there should be some comparison made using the word “than.” a b c Harris, Zinnie (2000). Further than the Furthest Thing. London: Faber & Faber. ISBN 0-571-20544-5. Drawing on the memories of her own mother, Zinnie Harris based her play on the experience of the inhabitants of Tristan da Cunha, the British overseas territory in the South Atlantic, who in 1961 escaped a volcanic eruption, moving first to Cape Town and then to England. The islanders were discouraged from returning home by being told, wrongly, that their homes had been utterly destroyed. The ploy did not work. Mill finds herself puzzling out “puddings” as if the very meaning of that British mainstay were somehow alien to her sense of self. The self-appointed chaplain of the island from which he has been evacuated, Bill gets tested in his own way — subsumed by grief and guilt as he and his wife discover a land of umbrellas and royalty, not seaweed seeping over one’s shoes.

There’s a rambling quality to the first half, which sets the play up as a showdown between salt-of-the-earth islanders and the sharp-suited representative of Big Jar.Figurative distance — it refers to the progress of South Africa’s human rights laws compared to all other countries on the continent. As an adjective or adverb, “further” refers to distance. “Farther” also refers to distance, but the distinction comes within the type of distance you are describing. Remember that “farther,” spelled with an a, refers to physical distance, while “further” refers to figurative or metaphorical distance ( source). Over the next few scenes, Bill, who has been employed in the factory's boiler room, becomes increasingly obsessed with discovering the source of the water in the factory's pipes and in his own garden. Mill, meanwhile, becomes the organiser of a plan devised by the islanders to send a few men to the island to take photographs, in hope that it would give them closure; both Mr Hansen and Francis discourage the plan. Francis has become distant from the other islanders and from Rebecca, who is now actively trying to win his love.

Ultimately it feels a little sophomoric. There are two subplots about terrible buried secrets that must eventually come to light. The play would bebrisker and strongerif you cut the younger characters (Francis and Kirsty Rider’s Rebecca) out entirely, as they’re not really given a huge amount to do. As far as I can tell, Harris has maybe sexed up real historical events in a way that maybe feels a bit lurid.Further” functions as both an adjective and a verb. It has several definitions that you can learn to help you in knowing which is the correct form. Zinnie Harris’s Further than the Furthest Thing play follows an island community who face up to their past. They’ve lived peacefully for centuries, avoiding modern developments and a way of life that could corrupt their existence. But in 1961, a native outsider disrupts all ties to the land. What could happen when the “H’outside world” take over? However, when in doubt, “further” and “furthest” are most likely to be correct since you can use “farther” and “farthest” only in very specific situations. You can usually replace “farther” with “further” without anyone questioning your grammar knowledge. “Furthest” Meaning Irregular adjectives are one of those exceptions, but even more solid rules are open for interpretation. To find out more about comparative and superlative adjectives, read “ Clearer or More Clear: Understanding Proper Usage” to know which rules apply when.