In which she blathers on about ancient Troy

[wellstar]

I saw The Trojan Women last night. The director's note (and much of the promotion) focused on its role as an anti-war play, which of course was true, both script-wise and stage-wise, but not how I read it. I read it very much as a commentary on what it means to be a woman. Particularly, how much it sucks to be a woman. In a different world, granted

Comments

[desireearmfeldt]

Some of us are still here!

I was very struck by the amount of the script that was people ranting about their situation, versus actual action taken place. Or rather, what struck me about it was thinking about the idea that drama was supposed to be about catharsis for the audience, i.e., purging their emotions via vicarious experience of intense emotions of the characters. (I'm mangling that, I'm sure.) I'm used to think of plot/action and character being tightly coupled and drama springing out of the cycle of goal/conflict -- and there certainly were scenes like that in Trojan Women -- but there was also a lot of poetry and/or essay, which was emotionally moving but did not move the narrative along.

[lillibet]

Thanks for the shout-out. I'm glad the show was thought-provoking (and, even better for me, entry-provoking) for you!

[muffyjo]

I wasn't sure that they didn't like one another, although I did get the feeling of jealousy between them. I feel like they are both 'in charge" women who feel like the other has something to learn and they are both leaning on the same other person for support and he's gone. Mothers and sons and the women their sons marry...always a hard relationship.

I am so glad you liked it. I was so proud of the work they did.

[dpolicar]

Some of us are still here.

Yeah, the fact that they were objecting to being slaves, but were happy to be masters, kept nagging at my egalitarian soul throughout... I kept being reminded of the wave of modern-day homophobes whose "thinking evolves" when they realize they have queer relatives.

[osirusbrisbane]

'Twas ever thus, I fear. Everyone's against injustice to their people, but once they're in charge the collateral damage they may do to other people just doesn't seem as relevant. My biggest disappointment in any rebellion to overthrow a callous uncaring empire is that the rebels inevitably found one of their own. I'm sure there's an appropriate famous quote that pithily encapsulates this, but all I can think of is that scene in the Woody Allen movie "Bananas" where the rebels take over for freedom and democracy and their leader immediately becomes a dictator.

Anyway, Wellstar, I'm quite glad to see you posting again on LJ, because I think this is precisely the kind of post (thoughtful, nuanced, &c) that often doesn't work as well for Facebook conversation.