In Overtones, Alice Gerstenberg specifies that Harriet never
actually sees Hattie (though she hears her) and that Margaret never
actually sees Maggie (though, again she hears her). Things are slightly
more complicated, however, in terms of if/when/where/how Hattie and
Maggie see or hear each other.
Here's your core question to spark your first post: do the "inner selves" see/hear each other? If so, when? Is there some pattern to if/when the "inner selves" hear, see, and/or speak to each other? What part of this question can you answer/defend absolutely from the script? What part of this question is technically un-answerable judging by the script alone (in other words, what does Gerstenberg leave unspecified?)
On a larger level, I'm
asking a Fuchs-esque question about the "rules" or conventions for this play's theatrical
world. That is, what determines if, when, where, and by whom a character
can be seen/heard? How do you know what these conventions are? How
would an audience (who doesn't get to read Gerstenberg's stage
directions) know this? Are these rules consistent throughout the play?
Or are there moments in the play that bend or break these rules? If so,
where? How do you know? What effect do these choices (consistency,
non-consistency, etc.) have? Note--the questions in this paragraph are just "getting you to think" questions; don't feel like you have to answer each one. Let them inspire you to write--nor not.
Post your response on your own blog in about 300 words by the evening of Tuesday, September 3. Be ready for a quiz on Overtones in class on Wednesday, September 4.
As always, contact me and/or Jenny if you have questions or concerns.
Best,
JF
ReplyDeleteWhen examining Overtones by Alice Gerstenburg, I believe the inner selves do see each other as seen on page 211 of the script Maggie speaks directly to Hetty and Hetty addresses Maggie as well as seen on page 213. Whether or not the inner selves can hear each other is up for interpretation. When the inner selves talk to each other they often do not answer what is being told by the other inner self, this only changes towards the near end of the play. You can defend the fact that they see each other by looking at the script and noticing the directional notes that are in parenthesis telling the actor who to address when speaking. You cannot however defend them actually hearing what the other is saying by the script alone because we are not specifically told so by the reacting of characters or the responses of what they say.
To fully immerse yourself in the play you have to accept the rules of their world, in order to know some rules of the world one could look to director’s notes, character descriptions, setting descriptions, and stage directions. Directional notes would give hints as to whether a character is seen/heard in the world of the particular play. We know this because stage directions are instructions for the actor to follow that are written into the script so we know when that character moves or who he/she is addresses specifically. A person in the audience would know if a character is not seen because you would have to have Harriet never look directly at Hetty or notice her when she moves about and the same with Margaret and Maggie. The rules are quite consistent throughout the play that the inner selves are not seen by the other women ;however, again as to if they hear each other is unclear. The effect of consistency throughout the play makes it clearer for us to understand what is occuring in this particular world. I believe that the inner selves reveal what our true mind is thinking, we can hear our true mind and we listen to it ,but we cannot see this voice in our head as an actual being. We know that everyone has an unconsious (id) that is constantly thinking and taking in the world around us, telling us to do something and not to do something, controlling our actions or at least swaying them in some way. However, no one can read your mind, people cannot communicate with the voice within our head which is why I believe that the inner selves cannot hear each other. I think they talk to each other as if we talk inside our head but still directed at a person. For example, If I am looking at someone and saying “you look nice” but in my head I am thinking “thats an awful top your wearing,” then I would still be looking at this person without saying it aloud so they could not hear me.
-Caila
Hi, Caila--
ReplyDeleteJust an FYI--when you make a post in response to a blog prompt, you don't need to post it as a comment here on the main course blog. You just need to post it as a regular post on your own blog.
Good post, though!
Best,
JF