Fromstrangeinterludetostrangesnow:astudyoftheabsent characterindrama
Author(s):PaulRosefeldt
Source:JournalofEvolutionaryPsychology.(Aug. 2002):p117. FromLiteratureResourceCenter.
Ever sinceOedipus Rex, absentcharacters have played animportantpart in dramatic construction.Manydramasare built aroundthequestfor suchanabsentcharacter. For example,thedeadfathers inOedipus Rex,Hamlet,andGhostsarealldrivingforcesof dramatic action… An absentcharacter is acharacter who does not appear inthe play, butwhois thefocusof attentionfor theothercharactersandis central totheplay’s plot. Theabsentcharacterdoesnotappear in theplay’s plot,the actionthatunfoldsbefore theaudience,butis part oftheplay’s story,the overall narrativeofactions thattake place before the plotted action or inbetweenthescenes.Objectsand people
associatedwith thecharacter recreate thecharacter’s presence,a presencewhich influences theplay’s action.
…Theseplays openupa needtoinvestigatetherelationshipbetweentheabsent character,theconceptof mourning, andtheconflictual nature ofwar. According to SusanCole,”Mourningritual, liketragedy,isa performance of ambivalence onbehalfof anabsent presence”(1). There isaclear conncetion between tragic drama,theabsent one,andmourning.Tragic drama,notablyOedipusRex,focuseson “thewill to supplementor displacea dominant presenceeveninitsabsence”(McDonald155),a need toreplacean absentfather witha presentson.ForWilliamRidgeway,tragic
drama originatedinthefuneral dancesbeforethetombofadeadhero(61).Tragic dramasoftenfocusonmourningrituals andon thereappearanceofthedead.Suchis thecaseinthe three dramasinthis study.The dramasthemselves takeonafunereal tone;theydepictaworldinmourning.
Butin…thecasesofOedipus Rex andHamlet,mourning is connectedwithacrimeand aguiltysecret. Ineach oftheplays,therehasbeenan actualor impliedcrime
committed againstthehero,eitherdirectlyor indirectly, bya fatherfigure.War itselfis attachedtoviolence andimpurity.Also,itisprimarilyasacrifice ofthesons bytheir fathers althoughotherCharacters alsofeel theguilt andpartake ofthecrime.This guilt intensifiesthemourningprocess…
SourceCitation (MLA 7thEdition)
Rosefeldt,Paul.”Fromstrangeinterludetostrangesnow:astudyofthe absent characterindrama.”Journalof
EvolutionaryPsychology(2002): 117+.LiteratureResourceCenter.Web.23Sept.2014. DocumentURL
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE%7CA90682848&v=2.1&u=la32265&it=r&p=LitRC&sw=w&asid=c8b128fb6
8407f5c9547e2f8b75f8f34
Essay1: OedipusRex and Hamlet
In the article above, critic PaulRosefeldtdrawsa clearconnectionbetween the charactersof OedipusandHamlet, andbetween the motivatingforces behind the play. In youressay, you will use Rosefeldt’sideasasa springboard toyourown discussion of
these plays. Thisis whatis sometimes called the “they say, I say” essaymode.
They Say I Say
CriticJames Millhouse
believesthatAmerica’s obsessionwithcomics signals adangeroustrendtoward immaturity.
However,whatMillhouse fails
toconsideristhefactthat comicscan distill important truths intoavisual form that speaksdeeplyto theAmerican
sensibility.
Take one keyidea from Rosefeldt’sarticle. Then write a thesisinwhich youeither support orcontradictwhat Rosefeldthastosay(ie, agreeordisagree). Thensupport your thesis with examples(quotes)from the play(s) and explain how these examples demonstrate your thesis and reasons (analysis). *(Youcan choose towrite about one orboth.)Whateverideayouchoose, be sure torememberthe following:
•Your audiencefor thispaper is, first ofall, your classmates(secondly,your professor).It is safeto assumethattheyhavereadtheplayand thearticles– don’t summarize.
•Submission Guidelines: In order to receiveapassing grade, allessaysmust:
• Conformto MLA Submission Format.
• IncludeaWorksCited page.
• Be 850 – 1000 words long.
• Besubmitted on MyLearningbythedeadline. Late essays will be docked 10% (pre-grading) for each day late.