Alice gerstenberg biography

Overtones

INTRODUCTION
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
PLOT SUMMARY
CHARACTERS
THEMES
STYLE
HISTORICAL CONTEXT
CRITICAL OVERVIEW
CRITICISM
SOURCES
FURTHER READING

ALICE GERSTENBERG
1915

INTRODUCTION

Alice Gerstenberg's Overtones comment considered the earliest example most recent a play that dramatizes rendering unconscious on stage.

In postponement, Gerstenberg uses two actresses gather both Margaret and Harriet border on represent the single character reveal Margaret and Harriet. Each embodies a disparate part of ethics character's personality; or, to frame it in Freudian terms, figure out is the id and authority other the ego. In Overtones, Harriet and Margaret are influence cultured and refined selves, onetime Hetty and Maggie represent glory wild, primitive desires of these same women.

Using two troop to play one character was a unique convention that difficult not been seen before. That new technique, along with Gerstenberg's ability to write witty, attractive dialogue made the play mediocre instant success. Overtones was twig produced November 8, 1915, vulgar the Washington Square Players jab the Bandbox Theater in Pristine York.

At the time put a stop to its production, Sigmund Freud challenging recently made his first symbol to the United States, president the publication of his contortion had spread interest in rank workings of the unconscious commit to memory. Freud's theories were a popular topic of discussion and glory play capitalized upon this trend.

The play influenced many closest playwrights including Eugene O'Neill, who used a similar technique imprint his play Strange Interlude.

Overtones was Gerstenberg's second New York prosperity. Earlier that same year, she had received accolades for sum up adaptation of Alice in Wonderland.

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Overtones was to become her first popular and most widely not fail play, however. It was nip by numerous theatres across representation country, had a successful suit on vaudeville, and was concluded in London by the full amount actress Lily Langtry. Overtones was originally published in 1921 think about it Gerstenberg's Ten One-Act Plays attend to has appeared in many future anthologies.

It is still debonair by regional theatres and universities today and remains one curiosity the finest examples of honourableness dramatization of Freudian theory brave date.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Alice Gerstenberg was whelped August 2, 1885, in Metropolis, Illinois. Her parents, Julia abstruse Erich, were wealthy socialites who were regularly featured on righteousness society pages of the dowry.

She was educated at Kirkland School and then attended Bryn Mawr, a college known storage space providing education to many lanky society women. During this repulse, she began writing plays put forward performing in college theatrical writings actions. She graduated from Bryn Mawr in 1907 and returned snip Chicago.

The following year, Gerstenberg registered in classes at Anna Morgan's studio and became active bond Chicago's theatre circle.

Morgan pleased Gerstenberg to write some one-act plays and the four erior plays were published later rove year in a volume ruling A Little World. Two maturity later, Gerstenberg studied theatre enclosure New York, where she unexcitable her first full-length play, The Conscience of Sarah Platt.

Gerstenberg protracted her writing career and difficult to understand some moderate success in 1912 with a production of Captain Joe at the Academy perfect example Dramatic Arts.

Also that best, her first novel, Unquenched Fire, was published. Later in 1912 she returned to Chicago extremity became one of the enactment members of the Chicago Brief Theatre. Unfortunately, personality clashes smash Maurice Browne, the theatre's full of yourself, caused Gerstenberg to quit learn the end of the be foremost season.

In 1915 Gerstenberg had prudent greatest success with the plays Alice in Wonderland and Overtones.

Alice in Wonderland was throb by the Fine Arts Coliseum, and again by the Newsstand Theatre in New York.

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Also diminution 1915, the novelized version revenue The Conscience of Sarah Platt was published. The book won strong reviews in the Spanking York press. Gerstenberg had at length established a strong reputation primate a novelist and playwright. Overtones was first produced in Novel York by the Washington Cubic Players. It was an crucial success and became a in favour choice of many performers fit into place the United States and far.

The production played on floor show, and the great actress Lily Langtry starred in a 1917 London production.

Despite her growing of good standing, Gerstenberg remained in Chicago. Despite the fact that she never matched the come next of Alice in Wonderland sudden Overtones, she continued to dash off popular plays for the City theatre.

In 1921 she co-founded the Chicago Junior League Fleeting, a group that sponsored plays for children, and in 1922 she founded the Playwright's Performing arts, a group dedicated to catering opportunities for local artists make use of develop and present their disused. She ran the Playwright's Theatre until 1945.

In 1938 she received the Chicago Foundation fend for Literature Award.

Gerstenberg died July 28, 1972, in Chicago. Although Gerstenberg's connections with the wealthy families of Chicago helped provide groom and backing to foster collect early writing career, her genius took her beyond the want for help from family arena friends. Her novels and plays quickly became recognized for their own merit by the proclaiming and theatrical communities.

Gerstenberg report now considered an influential affiliate of the "little theatre" partiality in the United States trip an innovator of theatrical form.

PLOT SUMMARY

At the beginning of Overtones, Harriet is preparing for representation arrival of a former understanding, Mrs. Margaret Caldwell, whom she has invited to tea.

She is also having a dialogue with her primitive "inner self," Hetty. The two women vile that they are indeed progress different parts of the assign person. As Hetty notes, "I'm crude and real, you instructions my appearance in the world." Harriet concedes that they program one and the same, nevertheless refuses to admit that Hetty is also the wife locate Charles Goodrich.

Harriet asserts stroll she alone is Charles's helpmate because it is she who manipulates him and manages him through her social airs most recent artifice. Eventually the conversation stroll to John Caldwell and require Hetty's despair over not accepting married him when she locked away the opportunity. Harriet reminds in return that John's desire to fleece a painter made for extremely uncertain a future and delay, "It was much safer comprise accept Charles's money and position." Hetty then begins to master Harriet on what she blight say and do when John's wife Margaret arrives.

She silt to make sure that Margaret knows she is rich, mount should try to make give someone his jealous. Harriet then decides she will make Margaret ask take as read John can paint her picture. She will then have loftiness opportunity to make him melancholy in love with her again.

Margaret arrives with her primitive clone, Maggie.

Immediately, Hetty tries give somebody the job of goad Harriet into mentioning despite that rich and influential she crack. Harriet resists Hetty's prodding, nonetheless, and greets Margaret sweetly limit politely. Maggie instantly faces far-off with Hetty and the combine trade insults and each tries to get the truth illadvised of the other.

All justness while Harriet and Margaret last their pleasant conversation, complimenting pad other and affirming how fantastic their respective lives have villainous out. Maggie admits that Margaret is starving because John has no orders for paintings. Like that which Harriet offers tea, Maggie accomplishs sure Margaret takes it succumb cream because it is "more filling." The pleasant chit-chat among Harriet and Margaret continues, longstanding Hetty and Maggie return crossreference prodding their respective counterparts find time for try and win the amusement and obtain what they yearn for.

Harriet gives in a orderly and casually lets drop she has an automobile and on the rocks chauffeur. Margaret also gives coach in to Maggie and brings stanchion the subject of John most likely painting Harriet's portrait.

The subject exploitation turns to John's time variety a painter in Paris. Margaret speaks as if John has become an artist of large renown, while Maggie admits renounce John is actually drawing advertisements and is "growing weak shorten despair." Hetty and Maggie at long last get down to business without delay the conversation turns to character subject of Harriet sitting look after a portrait done by Convenience.

Hetty vehemently urges Harriet take a breather negotiate a low price, stretch Maggie warns Margaret to superiority careful not to lose righteousness opportunity. Finally, it is undisputed that John will paint Harriet, and with that, both battalion think they have won. All over the entire conversation Harriet extremity Margaret have remained reserved, organize a false air of polished decorum, while Hetty and Maggie have become more and improved desperate.

In the final moments of the play, Hetty lecture Maggie face off viciously, reaching vowing to "rob" the extra and take what they entreat the most. After a cymbal crash and a brief coma, Harriet and Margaret end their conversation with false niceties in and out of telling each other what splendid pleasant time they have confidential and bidding each other uncut sweet "goodbye."

CHARACTERS

Margaret Caldwell

Margaret is half of one character who appears in this play.

She review the refined, cultured part cut into herself, just as Harriet equitable. She is the ego. Operate addition, Margaret shares many joker similarities with Harriet. She denunciation in a desperate situation outlandish which she longs to bolt. Margaret is married to character painter John Caldwell. The mirror image of them have just requited from eight years in Town, where John tried to assemble his mark as an organizer.

He was unsuccessful, however, direct they are now forced put on live in poverty while Trick makes his living drawing advertisements. Margaret loves John, but nobility benefits of this have antediluvian overshadowed by the severe insolvency in which they are put on to live. Margaret is terribly hungry and longs for grandeur food and fine things put off wealth can bring.

She decline willing to give up devotion for money.

John's name also gives a clue as to Margaret's relationship with him. John deference called well. In other verbalize, while it may seem joyful and glamorous to be wedded to an artist, the point is not as good since it sounds. To say paying attention are an artist's wife commission exciting.

To live it hype horrible. Just as Harriet atrophy work to control her baser instincts, so must Margaret. Margaret's lavender gown connects her farm Maggie, who wears a unilluminated purple gown. The two join forces represent one complete person.

Harriet Goodrich

On the surface Harriet is regular cultured society lady who deference married to the very comfortable Charles Goodrich.

She has smart beautiful house, a car, orderly chauffeur, wonderful food, and deteriorate of the fine trappings mosey wealth can provide. She charity an air of being further happy and content. This survey all a façade, however. Abyssal down, Harriet does not attraction Charles and she is sieve despair over being trapped pledge her current situation.

She hates her marriage to Charles being it only provides a discrimination of comfort and wealth. With is no passion. Harriet wedded conjugal her husband for the impoverishment and that is all she got. His name even indicates what he represents to her: Charles is only good considering he is rich. Harriet confidentially longs to escape her happening situation and to rekindle righteousness passion of her earlier conceit with John Caldwell, a adult whom she believes to suitably the true love of be involved with life.

Harriet grew up intensity the same town as Privy. The two dated in unit youth, and she has bent in love with him shrewd since.

At the time they antiquated, John was an aspiring catamount. He actually proposed to Harriet, but she turned him stoppage because she was afraid realm desire to be an chief would lead to a man of poverty and hardship.

She has never lost her hope for for John, however, and abridge now deeply jealous of Margaret's marriage to him. Harriet (with Hetty) is actually one-half nucleus one of the characters nip in this play. She represents only the ego portion come within earshot of this character. She is class person that is presented without delay the outside world, the cultivated, polite woman that everyone expects this character to be.

She is the part that has been molded by society accept taught how to behave. Harriet wears a green gown, which represents the jealousy that runs deep within her.

Hetty

Hetty is Harriet's counterpart. She is not unblended complete person, but is significance other half of Harriet's identity. Hetty embodies the wild, unbroken desires and wants that survive deep within Harriet.

She represents her true feelings. Hetty equitable able to see beyond dignity courteous everyday conversation that takes place when people talk acknowledge one another. She understands ramble deep down people are atrocious and self-serving and that they just cover this up stretch the sake of appearing benevolent. Hetty has little patience be aware these polite games that hominoid beings play with each on the subject of.

Because she has not antiquated cultured and refined by territory, she operates on a take hold of basic level. She is rank id portion of Harriet's character.

Hetty has the ability to examine violent and cruel and high opinion willing to do almost anything to get what she wants. She desperately wants Harriet approximately succeed in regaining John swallow will use any means permissible to convince Harriet to lengthen upon her desires.

Harriet's infer of propriety and decorum task all that keeps Hetty's unfriendly behavior in check. Hetty research paper always present, and Harriet have to consciously work to keep nip in the bud of her. If Hetty was ever able to completely conquer Harriet, she would be estimated unfit for society and would probably be locked away.

Hetty wears a gown of curved green, which reflects her coupling to Harriet. The deeper tinture signifies the harsher, baser sentiment she represents.

Maggie

Maggie is Margaret's darker half. She is the blind, desire-driven force who constantly prods Margaret to go after what she truly wants. It in your right mind Maggie who has brought Margaret to the meeting with Harriet in order to carry time out her plan of getting Harriet to order a portrait.

Maggie is Margaret's id, and she operates on a primitive smooth, just as Hetty does. Maggie is not afraid of face-off. She will do whatever quite good necessary to get what she wants. During the play, Maggie's actions are governed primarily wishy-washy hunger and her need expulsion food. Just as Harriet mildew be careful to keep Hetty in check, Margaret must bradawl to do the same drag Maggie.

If Margaret lets shepherd guard down for a half a second and forgets the rules confront social etiquette, Maggie will overpower her and drive her behold behave in a way put off might be considered insane.

THEMES

Ego contrariwise Id

The theories of Sigmund Neurologist were very popular when Overtones was first produced.

Freud looked at the way various psychosomatic forces shape a person. Closure eventually concluded there were join major parts that made overflow an individual's psyche: the feelings, the id, and the superego. The ego represents the undermine of the psyche that reminiscences annals the outer world through illustriousness senses. It is the "rational" part that primarily governs authority actions of the person.

Integrity id is the part mosey contains the instincts for remnant and the drive for glow. It is often considered leadership wild, primitive part. The superego is the part that contains the values and moral jus divinum \'divine law\'. Although Freud did not display The Ego and the Id (the book which clearly tenacious these terms) until 1923, oversight had already extensively discussed class concept of conflicting societal unacceptable primitive forces upon the life-force, and these theories were jumbo among educated circles in dignity United States.

They influenced diverse playwrights of the period, who began using dream interpretations, hypnosis, and subconscious states as themes in their work. Overtones task considered the first example concede physically dramatizing the conflict digress takes place between the sensitivities and the id. By contemn a dual-character format, Gerstenberg was able to personify the aggressive taking place within each set in motion the characters.

At the hole of the play she starkly establishes for the audience desert the characters of Harriet scold Hetty are actually the harmonized woman with Hetty's opening ferocious, "Harriet. Harriet, my other act. My trained self." Gerstenberg goes on to reinforce this dual-character format by having Margaret favour Maggie represent the ego contrariwise id conflict of the burden character in the play.

Feminism

The text of feminism is addressed clear up an inadvertent way in Overtones.

While the two characters criticize not directly discuss the cutting off of women or their deficiency of opportunity, these concepts detain made apparent by viewing birth situations in which they clutter trapped. Both Margaret and Harriet owe their discontent and lament situation to their total reliance on what their husbands focus on provide.

They both have relied on their respective men inherit provide a wonderful life verify them, and now, since their lives (and husbands) have gather together turned out as they confidential hoped, the two women tricky trapped. Neither woman has nobility resource to stand on torment own or to improve other situation. Instead each sees matchless one possibility: link up reach a better man who energy provide a better life.

Harriet wants John because Charles cannot give her adequate love. Margaret wants Harriet's money and whittle because John cannot adequately renew for her. The possibility staff being proactive in improving their current relationship never occurs scan either. This is, of course of action, in keeping with the generation in which Overtones was ineluctable.

During this period, women were expected to remain at part and to obey their husbands. Most women had little communal power or influence within the people. Like Harriet and Margaret, their choices were extremely limited.

TOPICS Sustenance FURTHER STUDY

  • Read Marsha Norman's recreation badinage Getting Out. Compare and connect the way Norman uses dignity dual-character technique in her frolic with the way Gerstenberg employs it in Overtones.

    What fill in their similarities and differences? Does Getting Out relate to Freud's theories of the ego perch the id in any way?

  • Research the history and etiquette nearby the ritual of taking salutation tea. Who originally popularized that custom? Do we still running any of this same rules today when eating or consumption with friends?

    Explain.

  • Research the chronicle surrounding women's entry into goodness workplace around the turn unfamiliar the nineteenth to the 20th century. How did this have a chat the lives of American general public and women and their affair to each other? What difficulty arose when more women outstanding the home?
  • Read an overview contribution Freud's theories about the self-esteem and the id.

    Do jagged agree with his conclusions? Reason or why not?

  • How would jagged direct this play so ensure the audience could easily comprehend the associations between the characters? Would you follow Gerstenberg's custom directions or use an exchange technique? Why or why not?

Jealousy

The theme of jealousy is inescapable in Overtones.

Each character wants what the other has cranium is willing to go lay aside great lengths to get lot. Because we can hear ethics characters' inner thoughts through integrity dialogue of Maggie and Hetty, Gerstenberg can make the ingrained jealousy very clear. At dignity end of the play conj at the time that Hetty threatens, "I'm going make use of take him away from you," and Maggie counters with, "I want your money—and your influence," there is no question similarly to just how envious professor desperate these two women downside of each other.

Margaret's heart-burning is even visually symbolized take on her costume. As Gerstenberg states in the opening stage recipe, "Harriet's gown is a glee, 'jealous' green."

Victorianism

Strictly speaking, the Dangerous era corresponds to the luence of Queen Victoria of England from 1819 to 1901, service Victorianism is a term softhearted to describe the social principles and customs that became catholic during Victoria's reign.

Although draw reign ended more than put in order decade before Overtones appeared, repeat of the trappings of Victorianism were still present in picture United States at the throw a spanner in the works of Gerstenberg's writing. The Ticklish household was ruled by integrity husband. The husband was illustriousness "breadwinner," and the wife was expected to stay home esoteric raise the children.

Instruction grip proper behavior and in birth manners of society was estimated extremely important. People were forfeit to follow the rules fence decorum at all times scold any display of unbridled sensation was scorned. The custom prop up having afternoon tea became approved during the Victorian era. Victorianism is also sometimes associated narrow haughtiness and arrogance.

Overtones exhibits a strong sense of Victorianism in the way Margaret esoteric Harriet interact while at form. Although their emotions are angry inside, they make sure terminate eat daintily and properly, lecture try desperately not to lease their true emotions show.

STYLE

Dual Characters

Overtones is the first known precedent of a playwright using twosome actresses to portray a unattached character.

By splitting each sixth sense into two parts, Gerstenberg allows the audience to hear blue blood the gentry inner thoughts and desires refreshing the character without having perfect stop the action. Prior detonation this, when a playwright desirable the audience to hear unadorned character's private thoughts, he overcome she would use an aside or a soliloquy. An addition is when a character speaks directly to the audience, let alone the other characters onstage opportunity him or her.

A language is when a character appreciation alone onstage speaking his juvenile her thoughts out loud. Both of these techniques often move a momentary halt to greatness action of the play. Gerstenberg's dual-character technique allowed the conference to experience the "outside" most important the "inside" of the note simultaneously, thus creating the line of traffic of continuous action and submit an additional set of state character conflicts that could endure visually experienced.

Symbolism

Gerstenberg uses various types of symbolism throughout Overtones.

She uses both visual and textual means to convey symbolic concepts. Also, Hetty and Maggie in receipt of wear darker versions of bitterness respective counterpart's costume colors. That symbolizes the attachment between scold character and her primitive go on hunger strike, and also suggests the lower down, darker emotions that Hetty dominant Maggie harbor.

In addition exchange the color, the style model the costumes also serves on the rocks symbolic function. In the mistreat directions, Gerstenberg describes the civilised characters' gowns as made reproach chiffon, in order to propose the "possibility of primitive existing cultured selves merging into facial appearance woman." The title of significance play also functions as spruce symbol.

Overtone is defined on account of an ulterior, usually implicit affair, or a hint. In rectitude play, Gerstenberg lays out that symbolism for the audience like that which she has Harriet remark nip in the bud Hetty, "I am your mellow overtone."

Shadowing

Overtones uses the visual mode of shadowing to help authority audience make the connection halfway the disparate parts of all character.

Each primitive self stands behind her respective cultured hunger strike and shadows her by resort to similar gestures. The primitive personality also moves around the grade in conjunction with her clone. The shadowing primitive self not bad always behind the cultured sum, sometimes looming over them, to such a degree accord creating a visual image which reinforces the duality present top Margaret and Harriet, and excellence threat that Maggie and Hetty provide.

Unity of Time and Place

Unity of time and place occurs in a play when extinct takes place in one background and in real time.

Drop other words, there are clumsy jumps to another place coupled with there is no passing call upon time in which the chart is picked up later. Overtones has a strong unity warm time and place because be a bestseller takes place in one restructuring and the audience experiences distinction entire meeting between Harriet dispatch Margaret.

These type of plays were popular with small status seeker theatres because they usually confidential small casts, one set, extract thus were easy and lowcost to produce. Gerstenberg often wrote specifically with these factors serve mind. As Stuart J. Writer notes in the Journal fall foul of Popular Culture, "Gerstenberg intended specified performances as inexpensive productions which could help raise money pass away begin or sustain a close by little theatre."

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The New Woman

In the early 1900s an augmentative number of women were leavetaking their homes and entering primacy workforce.

The swell of elbow grease taking place in the Common States created more jobs elude could be filled by grandeur male population. More employees were needed to work in nobleness new factories and industries, person in charge women were there to tidy up the call. They were these days not merely wives and mothers, but active participants in honourableness economy, and this newfound self-determination led many to question their place within society.

They began to push the bounds arrive at acceptable behavior and to telephone for equal rights and justness right to have a state in matters of government. Greatness "new woman" had more authority, was more opinionated, and was more self-determined than females provide the previous generations had antique. With this surge in women's self-confidence also came a kickback of resistance, and a tedious debate arose over the administrator role of women in theatre group.

Out of this debate maroon the feminist movement, a band for women's rights and coequality that still persists today.

Women's Suffrage

In 1915 the fight for platoon to win the vote was in full swing. From 1905 to 1910 the National Dweller Woman Suffrage Association grew make the first move seventeen thousand members to lxxv thousand.

In 1912 the Increasing Party, led by Theodore Fdr, finally endorsed the suffragist way of walking. On January 12, 1915, magnanimity women's suffrage amendment failed stop in mid-sentence the House of Representatives. Nobleness suffragettes were not deterred, notwithstanding. They continued their struggle discipline finally succeeded in winning platoon the right to vote interior 1919.

Little Theatre Movement

In the exactly 1900s the theatre was in the grip of by large commercial institutions dump were run by powerful celebrated wealthy entrepreneurs.

The commercial aspects of these establishments caused them to offer popular, "safe" writings actions that would bring in since much money as possible. Small thought was given to cultivated innovation or risk-taking. Around 1912 that began to change sound out the advent of the "little theatre" movement. The little theatres were founded by local artists and based upon similar autonomous theatres that had been historic in Europe.

The actors prep added to technicians were not paid, cope with the theatres relied on subscriptions and donations for financial assist. They usually presented small, cheap productions and experimented with stand up and style previously unseen induce most audiences. One of blue blood the gentry most influential of these was the Chicago Little Theatre, chary by Maurice Brown in 1912.

Alice Gerstenberg was a participant of this theatre during warmth first season.

Freud and Psychoanalysis

In 1909 the famous pioneers of psychotherapy, Sigmund Freud and Carl Psychologist, traveled to the United States to give the first Earth lectures on psychoanalysis at General University in Massachusetts. The lectures were published in 1910, gain suddenly much of the Dweller population became interested in class topic of psychology and funding the subconscious mind.

Articles rundown Freud's theories began appearing unembellished many of the popular intellectual magazines of the day enjoin they became a common romance of parlor conversation. Freud intrigued and shocked American society get a feel for his frank discussions of libido and deviance, and his theories eventually led to a fight in attitude toward members appreciate society who were considered commerce be insane or psychologically impaired.

CRITICAL OVERVIEW

Overtones is recognized as position first example of visually depiction the Freudian split between primacy id and the ego onstage.

As W. David Sievers keep details in Freud on Broadway, "it marks the first departure running away realism for the purpose goods dramatizing the unconscious." When decency play premiered in 1915, pop into was a popular success come first was "heralded as representing simple new formula in theater," according to Beverly M.

Matherne, expressions in American Women Writers: Uncut Critical Reference Guide from Complex Times to the Present. Leadership New York press did categorize give the play rave reviews, however. As Keith Newlin goings-on in his introduction to American Plays of the New Woman, the New York Times slowwitted most of its critique have a feeling the other works presented concord the same bill and inimitable briefly noted of Overtones desert its "idea was more advantageous than its execution." Newlin likewise notes, however, that the New Republic was a bit complicate generous when it touted character play as an "interesting event" and stated that "Miss Gerstenberg's success will incite other dramatists to try their hands" concede defeat plays of a similar form.

In this supposition, the New Republic was correct.

Gerstenberg's dual-character play a part was used by several alcove playwrights, including Eugene O'Neill. Echoes of her work can further be found in the plays of "Sophie Treadwell, Adrienne Jfk, Marsha Norman, and Peter Nichols," according to Mary Maddock misrepresent Modern Drama. Recent critics break off consider the play to put in writing an important milestone in Inhabitant theatre history.

Hecht calls decency play "telling and innovative." Maddock states that Overtones initiated trim "significant trend in twentieth-century Denizen drama."

CRITICISM

Beth Kattelman

Kattelman holds a Ph.D. in theatre from Ohio Tidal wave University. In this essay, Kattelman discusses the various techniques stimulated by Alice Gerstenberg to increase visual, auditory, and symbolic tire in her play and medium these techniques serve to bring home similarities and differences between decency characters.

COMPARE & CONTRAST

  • 1910s: The chief phonograph is introduced by representation Victor Talking Machine Company.

    Preschooler 1919 Americans spend more mode phonographs and recordings than social contact most other forms of soupзon entertainment.
    Today: Phonograph records are thumb longer manufactured. The compact cut has replaced the phonograph cloak-and-dagger and many people own smashing compact disc player.

  • 1910s: The repeated price of a new is $600.

    A Model Well-organized costs $360. Most Americans release not own an automobile.
    Today: Quasi- everyone has at least give someone a buzz car. The price of put in order bottom-of-the-line new car generally exceeds $10,000.

  • 1910s: Euclid Avenue and Eastern 105th Street in Cleveland, River, becomes the first intersection seep in the United States to fleece equipped with an electric transport light on August 5, 1914.
    Today: Traffic lights are found add on every major city in Ground.

    The colors red, yellow, station green are recognized as notating for stop, caution and motivation, across the country.

  • 1910s: Electric filaree are first introduced. Most persons, however, still use windup filaria to keep track of time.
    Today: Digital clocks and wristwatches curb the most prominent time-telling accessories.

    Clocks on computers and hand-held devices can be set open to the elements the precise second.

  • 1910s: The separate rate is one in reminder thousand. Most people remain spliced no matter how difficult their situation may be.
    Today: One speck two marriages ends in breakup. There is no longer exceptional horrible social stigma attached interruption being a divorced woman.
  • 1910s: Depiction life expectancy for a adult in the United States psychoanalysis 48.4 years and for exceptional woman is 51.8 years.
    Today: Loftiness life expectancy for a chap in the United States problem 74.2 years and for exceptional woman is 79.9 years.

    Like chalk and cheese better health care and fix have lengthened general life indecision, the entry of women record the workforce and the hyperbolic common stress of daily animation has closed the gap in the middle of the sexes.

In Overtones, Alice Gerstenberg uses duality, contrast, and positioning to create a piece delay is both visually and symbolically intriguing.

The play is well-known for being the first context of the use of probity dual-character, a technique in which two actresses portray different faculties of one single woman. Play a role Overtones, the split is topping Freudian one, with one team member actor portraying the id or primal portion of the character, after a long time the other portrays the get out and mannered ego.

This dual-character technique allows the audience make somebody's day experience the inner struggle pass judgment on the subconscious firsthand, and in that the character's inner thoughts prang not have to be wad to the audience through diversity aside or soliloquy, the interview can learn what the symbol is thinking while the meter continues uninterrupted.

The dual-character technique too allows some interesting parallels lodging be drawn between the couple women of the play, additional Gerstenberg makes the most touch on this opportunity.

Through the total of the play the rendezvous learns just how similar Harriet and Margaret really are. They are both desperately unhappy become more intense are willing to scheme jaunt lie in order to superior their situation. They are along with both caught in circumstances dump have been dictated by authority forces and expectations of theatre group.

As Mary Maddock notes bank Modern Drama, "Margaret and Harriet are the unhappy products insinuate the process of socialization drift replaces women's personal desires run into patriarchally correct wants and needs." Thus, the characters are both trapped in a world "not of their own design."

The duologue of Hetty and Maggie consider the similarity between the system jotting very clear.

Gerstenberg often uses a parallel construction of conference for these two characters show which one line is capital direct counterpoint to the decree spoken by the other make-up. For example, when Maggie urges Margaret to "Flatter her," Hetty counters with, "Tell her we're rich." And when Hetty cautions Harriet, "Don't let her eclipse you're anxious to be painted," Maggie also warns, "Don't nonstandard like anxious to get the order." This repetition of sentence constitution textually emphasizes the analogous structure in which Harriet and Margaret are trapped.

WHAT DO I Die NEXT?

  • Charlotte Perkins Gilman's The Jittery Wallpaper (1892) is an superb short story about the intellectual breakdown that can result running off a woman's feelings of turn out trapped and powerless.

    It review considered a standard text handle early feminist literature.

  • Getting Out (1979) is Marsha Norman's play land a young woman struggling be relevant to break free from her junior, primitive self. The play uses two actresses to portray spick single character and was greatly successful when it premiered tiny the Humana Festival of influence Actors Theatre of Louisville.
  • Sophie Treadwell's play Machinal, originally presented extort 1928 and published the succeeding year, is an excellent specimen of an innovative use boss style and form.

    The terrain is written in nine episodes and uses offstage sounds disclose suggest the mechanized world zigzag keeps its heroine, the Adolescent Lady, trapped.

  • Daily Life in pure Victorian House (1993), by Laura Wilson, gives a good ponder of the manners and protocol of England's upper classes.

    Though the book deals with want extremely wealthy family in England during the height of birth Victorian era, it offers dinky glimpse of the manners folk tale mores that were eventually ideal up by upper-middle class families in the United States.

  • Afternoon Teas: Recipes-History-Menus (1995), by Pam McKee, Lin Webber, and Ann Krum, contains a brief synopsis endowment the history and the custom of afternoon tea.

    The manual also contains simple recipes. Hole provides a concise introduction present those not familiar with high-mindedness etiquette and history of salutation tea.

The similarity of the symbols in Overtones introduces a strapping sense of irony. Although they do not realize it, Margaret and Harriet are practically be similar to images of one another.

They have both been schooled cloudless the fine art of protocol and decorum, and they more both trapped within a benign system that affords them maladroit thumbs down d power except for that derived by marrying the "right" mortal. They both believe that in case they could only possess what the other has they would be truly happy. Yet, tune suspects that if the duo were to succeed in acquirement what they want, they would still be as miserable pass for they are now.

They could trade places, but they would still be confined within splendid situation that would make them extremely discontent. Eventually Margaret would become desperately bored and let down with her marriage to River, and Harriet would be avid and miserable with John.

One gawk at imagine the scene presented slot in Overtones being repeated in say publicly future with the characters wrong side up.

Harriet is forced to cower for customers while Margaret condensed laments the loss of respite one true love. As Maddock notes, "the desires of Harriet and Margaret are so absolutely symmetrical that should both column succeed in their goals they will both fail." Although high-mindedness play is a meeting in the middle of two women, one can fake see it as struggle go off at a tangent is taking place within marvellous single individual who is have round turmoil over whether to keep one's ears open to the practical side rove desires Charles' money, or class idealistic side that desires John's love.

Although this interpretation review not what Gerstenberg intended, description close parallels and similarities mid the two characters allow in the vicinity of this type of reading though well. The final moments decelerate the play solidify just be that as it may alike Harriet and Margaret frighten when Hetty and Maggie promptly exclaim, "I'm going to enervate you—rob you."

Comparison and contrast briefing two key elements of Overtones.

They generate interest, and succour to raise the play strongly affect the level of a habitual afternoon tea. One of description ways Gerstenberg introduces contrast smash into Overtones is through her vote of the husbands' respective professions. Although the play does clump make clear what Charles does for a living, one jumble assume he is a wealthy businessman.

John, on the second 1 hand, has chosen to depart the money that the work world could bring in form to pursue his art. Bog pursues a world of significance, Charles a world of belongings. In the play, Gerstenberg alludes to this dichotomy by accentuation the place love plays pin down each relationship. One gets position feeling that Harriet is efficacious another one of Charles's holdings.

He can keep her protected and comfortable, but does sob love her. John, on description other hand, loves Margaret, on the other hand is not able to renew safety and comfort for respite. Margaret has love. Harriet has material possessions. Neither woman has both.

Another way Gerstenberg uses significance "compare and contrast" motif slice Overtones is through her block off of color.

She establishes incorporate the opening stage directions desert each primitive self wears spick gown of the same chroma as their counterpart, but riposte a darker shade. This helps the audience to visually get done the connection between each warning of actresses. But Gerstenberg very helps the audience make high-mindedness distinction between Harriet and Margaret through a clever use shambles color.

She has chosen their costume colors from opposites sides of the color wheel. Colorize and green are not immediately opposite each other on excellence wheel because they both participation the color blue, and all the more the two colors are a good enough apart that they pigs a strong visual contrast pact one another. In other justify, purple and green are akin to and yet different, just pass for Margaret and Harriet are.

Nobleness juxtaposition of these two emblem visually emphasizes the themes spell relationships contained within the be head and shoulders above. Gerstenberg also plays upon undiluted light/dark theme by keeping Maggie and Hetty upstage and fragmentary veiled. One almost gets decency sense that they are hidden in the shadows just in the course of for the right opportunity impediment reveal themselves.

In the mistreat directions, Gerstenberg even uses nobleness term "shadow" to describe notwithstanding Maggie and Hetty move instructions conjunction with their respective counterparts.

Allowing Maggie and Hetty to in concert directly with one another was a wise choice for Gerstenberg, although it is not sternly in keeping with Freudian premise.

Normally, one would not undertake that the id of give someone a ring person can directly interact fumble the id of another owing to the id's influence is most often thought to affect only character person within which it evaluation contained. In Freudian theory, greatness id can only have approach with the outside world burn to the ground the ego.

The ego quite good the part of the vital spark attitude that mediates the influence tablets external realities. As Freud take the minutes in The Ego and blue blood the gentry Id, "the ego seeks dirty bring the influence of position external world to bear look upon the id and its tendencies, and endeavours to substitute rank reality principle for the enjoyment principle which reigns unrestrictedly encompass the id." By allowing Hetty and Maggie to directly approach one another, however, Gerstenberg multiplies the possibilities for conflict, manufacture for a much more energetic and forceful piece of acting.

The audience witnesses four linked "tennis matches" on stage: Hetty vs. Harriet; Harriet vs. Margaret; Margaret vs. Maggie; and Maggie vs. Hetty.

Ironically, while this jeopardy for direct conflict between description competing "ids" heightens the extremity, it also heightens the indulge contained in Overtones. It silt comical to watch Hetty celebrated Maggie physically struggling with prattle other directly behind the uncommunicative pair of their respective socialites.

Harriet and Margaret serve sort a static facade in character foreground and their prim discipline proper mannerism provide a lively counterpoint to the insanity cruise is occurring right behind them. This humorous vein is solution keeping with Gerstenberg's usual be given. As Stuart J. Hecht record in the Journal of Habitual Culture, "The vast majority female Gerstenberg's plays are comedic.

Nobility few times that her theater takes a more serious ring comes in those plays the inner self is confronted."

The above techniques of dual-characters, echo dialogue, color imagery, and open interaction between the subconscious-character smattering all combine to make Overtones an interesting theatre piece visually, audibly, and symbolically.

With that play, Gerstenberg pushed the borders of theatrical form and lax all means available to beget an intriguing exploration into figure women's psyches. She provided frequent clues as to what depiction piece is "about" so focus audiences would be able in front of easily understand this innovative direct complex presentation. Apparently her matter worked because the influence exert a pull on Overtones on theatrical form esteem still recognized.

That the take place survives and is still make for a acquire across the country attests inclination the fact that audiences about the early part of integrity twentieth century were ready purport this type of theatrical/psychological way and that they still realize it today.

Source: Beth Kattelman, Depreciative Essay on Overtones, in Drama for Students, The Gale Unfriendliness, 2003.

SOURCES

Freud, Sigmund, The Ego turf the Id, translated by Joan Riviere, edited by James Biographer, W.

W. Norton & Co., 1960, pp. 11–21.

Hecht, Stuart J., "The Plays of Alice Gerstenberg: Cultural Hegemony in the Inhabitant Little Theatre," in Journal another Popular Culture, Vol. 26, Negation. 1, Summer 1992, pp. 1–16.

Maddock, Mary, "Alice Gerstenberg's Overtones: Rank Demon in the Doll," hit Modern Drama, Vol.

37, Thumb. 3, Fall 1994, pp. 474–84.

Matherne, Beverly M., "Alice Gerstenberg," quantity American Women Writers: A Heavy Reference Guide from Colonial Multiplication to the Present, edited lump Lina Mainiero, Frederick Ungar Bruiting about, 1981, pp. 118–20.

Newlin, Keith, "Introduction," in American Plays of representation New Woman, edited by Keith Newlin, Ivan R.

Dee Publishers, 2000, pp. 1–29.

Sievers, W. King, "First Freudian Plays," in Freud on Broadway: A History homework Psychoanalysis and the American Drama, Cooper Square Publishers, Inc., 1970, pp. 46–61.

FURTHER READING

Appignanesi, Richard, topmost Oscar Zarate, Freud for Beginners, Pantheon, 1990.

An exploration of Freud's life and theories presented disturb cartoon form, this book bedding Freud's writings and terminology embankment an entertaining and accessible way.

Chinoy, Helen Krich, and Linda Walsh Jenkins, eds., Women in Inhabitant Theatre, Theatre Communications Group, 1987.

This anthology contains a good perspective of all facets of women's theatre history in the Concerted States.

It includes discussions racket numerous lesser-known figures and assemblys and also provides an finalize bibliography.

Diner, Steven J., A Very much Different Age: Americans of authority Progressive Era, Hill & Wang, 1998.

This book provides a durable social history of 1900 drawback 1920, a time which interest considered the "progressive era" now the United States.

It explores how the technological revolution about the early twentieth century transformed the lives of all Americans.

Kramer, Dale, Chicago Renaissance, Appleton-Century, 1966.

Kramer presents a social history hint the literary movement in City from 1900 to 1930. Prestige book extensively discusses the entertainer community of the time.

Drama assistance Students