""What is drama but life with the dull bits cut out?" I think this statement is true, that theatre focuses on the exciting moments of a story. Of course, this does not count in fantasy plays or little kid plays in magical lands, but any realistic play is only going to have scenes that move the plot along. If every moment of a a story had to be included in a play, it would be way too long, and would not keep the audience's attention.
It applies to "Oedipus the King", not in a literal sense, although I guess this could have happened, it is unlikely. The situation though applies. Of a person's struggle to find out the truth, and everyone is holding back information, only to find out some extreme twist on what they thought. The religious aspect also applies. Oedipus and Jocasta indirectly said there are no gods when they dismissed the oracle, which is the word of Apollo. In the end, both were severely punished. Many religions also have punishment awaiting those who do not believe in them.
So it is very much real life, and as for the dull bits cut out, that is also true. Oedipus spent no time waiting for people to be summoned, and things happened at the most convenient times. The plot never stops moving, and he never stops finding out information. This play ignores the waiting and the puzzling and focuses on the conflict.
"The Wild Duck" kind of defies this quote, but it is for a reason, not just to bore the audience. Ibsen included rather dull boring conversation in his plays to let the audience know the characters and their situations. Also, the information the audience learns comes back later. For example when Gina and Hedvig are talking about the rented room, it seems trivial at first, but then is important to the story. So although he does include some of the dull bits in life, it is for the purpose of moving the story along, and so must be included. Ibsen made these parts dull on purpose, as well. He wants to show the family dynamic of the Ekdals.
Isabel! Your journal entry has good insights! Your connection of "Oedipus the King" to religion is interesting and I hadn't thought about it that way.
ReplyDeleteWhen you say in Oedipus the play doesn't focus on the waiting parts I do agree to an extent, there were several times that Oedipus had to wait for something he wished to be brought like the Shepherd he did wait for him to come however to keep the action up he had conversed with the Messenger while he was waiting. I don't understand what you mean by the puzzling part Sophocles leaves out of Oedipus. Maybe clarify a little
I agree with your analysis of the "Wild Duck" there does seem to be everyday conversation mixed in with the play.