The rules of the "small world" created in Overtones by Alice Gerstenberg are fairly clear throughout. There is a put together, controlled version of the character (Margaret and Harriet) and then there is the wild, primitive strong, version (Hattie and Maggie). The distinction between the characters while first reading the script is a bit blurry, but becomes extremely clear as the play goes on.
Harriet only hears Hattie, but never sees her. Margaret hears Maggie, but never sees her. Margaret and Harriet see and speak to each other, making them the "real-life" versions of these characters. The fact that the well-mannered counterparts can not hear the other's primitive selves is shown multiple times throughout the play. However there are times when the veil between the two characters thins. For instance, there is a point before Margaret enters when Harriet calms Hattie and says she doesn't want Margaret to see her. Harriet also says that Hattie is stronger than her meaning Hattie voluntarily allows Harriet to control these situations.
A rule that was never clear to me however is whether or not the primitive halves speak to each other. There are instances when it seems they are responding to each other, but if that were the fact then Margaret and Harriet would know more about the other's primitive side. Perhaps the primitive selves are responding to the body language of the well-mannered selves and, being more instinctive and primal, they are able to pick up on real feelings rather then the facade that is put on.
I thought this was a thought provoking show and a good read because it has a huge commentary on how much of our own human nature we try to hide, and even though it was set in the past when manners, especially for women, were of a greater importance then they are now, we still tend to hide our more instinctive, dramatic sides in every day life.
I felt like as many times as I've read other responses to this play that somehow the way you said it made me go, "Oh yeah I see.." I think a lot of people were confused about the primitive selves interacted with one another, which I believe the rules stated they do not. I just thought overall it was confusing. Even if it was clearly understood which character had what role, it just became a mess to read because similar names caused a jumble.
ReplyDeleteI'm glad that you said that Hattie was letting Harriet take control even though she was the stronger one. I think it raises and interesting point about how people allow their controlled self to take charge even in situations when the more primitive self would be better. In other words, why do Hattie and Maggie choose to let Harriet and Margaret take control, when the situation clearly calls for a more direct form of action?
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