Stage Directions In The Play Essay
The stage directions assist in the process of setting the mood or the tone of the play. Due to the constant intensity that occurs during the play, the stage directions are paramount in keeping the reader on their toes. Dorfman commonly utilizes these cues throughout Death and the Maiden to mirror the development of the protagonist, Paulina, the implication of tone and mood, and the understanding of the timeframe and setting of Death and the Maiden. The use of stage directions permits the reader to develop a bigger picture about Paulina’s personality through her actions. In the opening scene of Act I, Paulina is sitting on the porch at an isolated beach house when a car approaches. Hurriedly, Paulina rushes to retrieve the gun and acts impulsively.
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The brief pauses allow a realistic feeling of seriousness that Paulina radiates. The loosely constructed stage directions create an atmosphere of ambiguity to run throughout the play. It also makes the play more realistic, as conversation does not continually flow without pauses and interruptions in real life. This creation of ambiguity is in Act I, Scene III, which is entirely composed of stage directions. This scene is essential to contributing insight to the twisted and dark intentions that Paulina has planned for the remainder of the night. In this scene that lacks dialogue, Paulina restricts an unknown figure to a chair, and gags him. This scene ends with Paulina leaving the house in a car, with no description of her purpose. The final word of the scene is “Darkness,” foreshadowing evil in Paulina’s intent. In literature, darkness is often a foreshadowing indication of the presence of evil, and Dorfman is a strong advocate of this theme, as it amplifies the ambiguity he often utilizes. The unawareness of what Paulina’s intentions are creates a feeling of tension for the reader. The stage directions illustrate the setting, which indicates darkness, alluding to the presence of evil, and an insight to Paulina’s intentions. The reader is aware of the presence of a gun in the novel; uncertainty remains whether the gun will end Roberto’s life or
The brief pauses allow a realistic feeling of seriousness that Paulina radiates. The loosely constructed stage directions create an atmosphere of ambiguity to run throughout the play. It also makes the play more realistic, as conversation does not continually flow without pauses and interruptions in real life. This creation of ambiguity is in Act I, Scene III, which is entirely composed of stage directions. This scene is essential to contributing insight to the twisted and dark intentions that Paulina has planned for the remainder of the night. In this scene that lacks dialogue, Paulina restricts an unknown figure to a chair, and gags him. This scene ends with Paulina leaving the house in a car, with no description of her purpose. The final word of the scene is “Darkness,” foreshadowing evil in Paulina’s intent. In literature, darkness is often a foreshadowing indication of the presence of evil, and Dorfman is a strong advocate of this theme, as it amplifies the ambiguity he often utilizes. The unawareness of what Paulina’s intentions are creates a feeling of tension for the reader. The stage directions illustrate the setting, which indicates darkness, alluding to the presence of evil, and an insight to Paulina’s intentions. The reader is aware of the presence of a gun in the novel; uncertainty remains whether the gun will end Roberto’s life or