Please read Aeschylus' Agamemnon (pp. 37-76 of Levi Lind's Ten Greek Plays in Contemporary Translation). If this is the first time you have read this play, I would recommend skipping over the long choral passages. Great writing, but not essential to what we'll be talking about Thursday.Directors sometimes encourage their actors to choose one special line and to center their whole performance on building to and building off that line. Assume you are asked to play one of the characters in Agamemnon or to be a member of the chorus. What line would you choose for your "special" line? How would you build up to or build off that line? Why would you choose that particular line?
Herald: "Day of good news should not be fouled by tongue that tells ill news. To each God his season. When despair in his face a messenger brings to a town that hated news of a fallen army—One general wound to the city and many men outcast, outcursed, from many homes by the double whip which War is fond of, Doom with a bloody spear in either hand, one caring such a pack of grief could well recite this hymn of the Furies at your asking. But when our cause is saved and a messenger of good comes to a city glad with festivity, how am I to mix good news with bad, recounting the storm that meant God's anger on the Greeks?"
ReplyDeleteThis was one of my favorite parts. Leader is pressing Herald for information regarding Agamemnon's condition and whereabouts. Herald doesn't give into inquiries, wanting to stick to the good news--the taking of Troy. I picture Herald coming into the palace out of breath, but excited to proclaim their victory. I think of the information that Herald already knows he has to withhold and when he is met by Leader, he doesn't want to repeat himself too much. Leader, rightly tells Herald to let the kings wife, Clytemnestra, know right away. After Clytemnestra exits, Leader presses for that elusive info regarding Agamemnon. Herald isn't enticed, but instead holds his tongue not wanting to sour the already good news. I chose this line because I've often found myself being a bearer of good and bad news. I can identify with Herald not wanting to spoil the moment with information that may take a away attention from the Greek's victory. Because humanity has a tendency to focus on the negative, I think Herald uses wisdom here and in a way protects the listener. Plus, the news of victory is also Herald's victory. News of loss could leave Herald reeling from negative information, almost making him the bad guy. As they say, "Don't shoot the messenger." Smart move Herald.
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ReplyDeleteCassandra: "And for me also, for me, chance ill-destined!
My own now I lament, pour into my cup my own.
Where is this you have brought me in my misery?
Unless to die as well. What else is meant?"
If I had to play Cassandra in the play, I would base my acting off of this line. I feel that this line actively shows her misery in being a captive and concubine and her despair in this whole ordeal. She never wanted this and, yet, she is to die for being in relation to someone and being a part of something that she never asked for. On top of the emotion that this line carries with it, it also displays her prophetic abilities since she is lamenting over her fated, upcoming death. If I had to play her, I would definitely milk the feeling of despair and her resignment to her fate. I would also likely make her shift from despair to resignment abrupt, but continue to echo back to that clinging despair every now and again until she is dead.
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ReplyDeleteAegisthus: “Result of this-you see this man lie here.
I stitched this murder together; it was my title.
Me the third son he left, an unweaned infant,
To share the bitterness of my father’s exile.
But I grew up and Justice brought me back,
I grappled this man while still beyond his door,
Having pieced together the programme of his ruin.
So now would even death be beautiful to me
Having seen Agamemnon in the nets of Justice.
If I had to play Aegisthus in this play, I would use these lines as the base for my performance. With Aegisthus having such a short amount of time on stage in the play, his motives need to be clearly understood for the actor as well as the audience. I would use these lines in particular because they give the clearest picture for Aegisthus’ motives. He explains here that he was the mastermind behind Agamemnon’s death, and that it was for Justice, not revenge for his brothers and his father, that he plotted his end. I feel that this, especially that it was for Justice, is something that I would need to understand if I were to portray this character, as it really serves as the core of his character. Fully understanding this, and being able to impart it effectively to the audience, I think would be key in understanding Aegisthus’s character and help to bolster the performance of his character within the limited time given to develop him.
-Sam Tucker
Ancient self-glory is accustomed
ReplyDeleteTo bear to light in the evil sort of men
A new self-glory and madness,
Which sometime or sometime finds
The appointed hour for its birth,
And born therewith is the Spirit, intractable, unholy, irresistible.
The reckless lust that brings black Doom upon the house,
A child that is like its parents.
After mentioning this line, I would show a toddler being throwing a fit. I chose this line because it reminded me of people throughout history. The beginning shows the deadly sins of mankind and the later part of the line shows how it affects our children. This line of the play could imply to the audience who are parents to not treat their children like slaves. I like it when certain lines or sense in movies that show symbolism. Pg. 55
Mitchell Buller
Line 855 Clytaemenstra."Citizens of Argos, you Elders present here, I shall not be ashamed to confess in your presence my fondness for my husband -- with time diffidence dies away in humans."
ReplyDeleteI like this line for many reasons and would choose to build off of it. This line shows a lot of confidence for not only her, but also with what she has for her husband. She is saying that with time humans become more confident. I couldn't agree more as you grow older you learn things and the more you have learned the more confident a person becomes. This is a great line to build off of.
"The young are weakly as the old,
ReplyDeleteAnd each alike unmeet to hold
The vantage post of war!"
I would choose these lines from the choir because I think these lines really gives you the emotion aspect of the play. I would definitely play these up to be very dramatic and make sure that these lines were heard. These lines are in the middle of the song, so easily missed. I would make sure the audience heard and understood these lines.
By Tabitha Sonne
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