Alice
Gerstenberg's Overtones is one of the earliest examples of a
play that exaggerates the unconscious on stage. Gerstenberg chose to use two
actresses for both Margaret and Harriet. Each embodies a desperate part of the
character's personality; or simply, one is the id and the other the ego.
In Overtones, Harriet and Margaret are the cultured and refined
selves, while Hetty and Maggie represent the wild, primitive desires of these
same women. Both women want something from one another and both feel as if their goal will be met.
All in all I liked the play a lot, but I also think the unconsciousness of both characters can reflect that of any human. Better just stick with the truth, because enteral dialogue can be a bit tricky- especially if they're stronger than you.
I like that you refer to Hetty and Maggie as the "id" to Harriet and Margaret's "ego". That's pretty much how I was thinking about it as I was reading. One is the instinctual want of the mind, whereas the other is the rational, realistic self.
ReplyDeleteI agree that this play could represent any human, as unfortunate as it is to admit that. But I'm glad that you're the kind of person that can recognize that because a lot of people don't, and I think the play wants us as the audience to recognize that.
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