tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post4010068605864788597..comments2023-11-02T06:50:42.777-07:00Comments on billierosie: Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?billierosiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00288997506566830393noreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-59608299011736904182015-03-17T09:21:21.361-07:002015-03-17T09:21:21.361-07:00Adam -- I am intrigued by your studies in relation...Adam -- I am intrigued by your studies in relation to the Theatre of the Absurd -- I hadn't thought of Virginia Woolf as being part of that genre -- but I can see where your train of thought is coming from -- Samuel Becket's Waiting for Godot and Endgame share the same sort of hopelessness as Virginia Woolf -- and come under that genre. Vladimir and Estragon wait endlessly for Godot -- who never turns up. The characters in Endgame, speaking from the props of refuse bins seem simply to be waiting to die. Add Virginia Woolf into the mix and the 3 plays here seem to be about nothingness -- nothing happens. Samuel Becket's stage direction at the end of Godot "they do not move" sums up a sort of futility -- nothing happens -- no matter what we do we are unable to control our destiny -- destiny is abstract, like time, truth and illusion. Where Virginia Woolf differs is the final act Exorcism -- George takes on a holiness, a sacred rite as he invokes the words of the Kyrie Eleison Lord have Mercy -- Christ have Mercy. The rite of the exorcism heals -- and I am shattered.<br /><br />billierosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00288997506566830393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-89659391527649305572015-03-17T07:56:38.803-07:002015-03-17T07:56:38.803-07:00fmurray-incoldblood -- I have always loved the Gre...fmurray-incoldblood -- I have always loved the Greek myths -- I was lucky enough to afford a holiday in Greece some years ago -- when I arrived in Athens it felt like coming home -- I studied Sophocles at university and was overwhelmed by the Greek tragedies -- Antigone, The Medea..I read Mary Renault's re-telling of the Theseus story -- how he killed the Minotaur and eloped with Ariadne -- how she went crazy with the Dionysian orgy on the island of Naxos. My mind made a connection with Albee's play -- the drunken sparring of George and Martha and the utter bewilderment of Nick and Honey at their antics -- no one knows what is going on -- that includes us -- the audience. And it was presumptive of me to conclude that George was in control of the action -- the dialogue between George and Martha is more like a seesaw -- control slips from one to the other...billierosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00288997506566830393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-32962997590723862382015-03-17T07:02:59.470-07:002015-03-17T07:02:59.470-07:00Cameron -- I think it's a testament to Albee&#...Cameron -- I think it's a testament to Albee's creation that even after seeing the play performed on stage and screen -- and having read it countless times that I still don't know, or what to think about his purpose -- that at the end of it all, I still don't really get it. Maybe that is his purpose -- human beings have devoted to much energy inventing systems to deal with the abstract stuff, like time, we still cannot control it -- George and Martha talk about "truth and illusion" "you don't know the difference," Martha says to George -- George responds, "No, but we carry on as if we do.."<br /><br />Is Albee saying 'you may think you're in control -- but are you really?'<br /><br />I Googled Virginia Woolf last night to see if there were any suggestions out in cyberspace as to Albee's intentions -- there is one notion that it is a political play. It was written at the height of the Cold War -- George declares "I will not give up Berlin.." It's a theory, I suppose, but I'm not buying it -- I don't see it as a demonstration of Capitalism v Communism -- the play still makes me flounder but I am drawn to the "truth v illusion debate.<br /><br />btw. I'm still fascinated by the play -- I ordered the dvd last night -- I'll watch it again..billierosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00288997506566830393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-47258604656206021692015-03-16T03:59:02.798-07:002015-03-16T03:59:02.798-07:00Cameron, Adam and fmurray -- I am delighted that y...Cameron, Adam and fmurray -- I am delighted that you have responded to my thoughts on Virginia Woolf -- forgive my tardy response -- I only checked out the post yesterday -- you all raise interesting points which need careful thought -- I shall respond in a few days -- thanks again!billierosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00288997506566830393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-38243472254591698352015-03-02T19:34:30.838-08:002015-03-02T19:34:30.838-08:00Hello; I am an English student having currently ju...Hello; I am an English student having currently just finished reading through the exercise in the absurd that is Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Comparing the antics of this couple and their guests to a Dionysian spectacle is certainly an interesting lens with which to view the play; the god was, after all, known as the Loosener - the loosening of social norms and preconceptions are a dominant theme throughout the play. In addition to this, I am interested in your different interpretations of the meaning of the climactic exorcism; for my part, I feel that we are in fact witness to an exorcism: the harrowing act of wrenching away the last spirit -or is it a demon- to haunt this old, unhappy marriage. This spirit is, of course, the ghost of a life lived differently: one where the birth of a child forges a stronger bond between the couple where a reliance solely on an upwards-bound George failed and led to bitter and drunken nights. This ghost of a better relationship is the last bond holding the two together, in memory of what may have been; this night, George sees it exposed and decides to sever it. Now both must face that final truth, with the refrain of the play's title repeating in their ears as they consider what exactly the truth of their relationship is, and if they are able to face it in full.<br /><br />Well, something of a different take on it! If you do still frequent this blog, I would be interested in hearing your thoughts on my musings. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-87819627025763682122015-03-02T16:10:12.203-08:002015-03-02T16:10:12.203-08:00Your connection of the play to greek mythology ope...Your connection of the play to greek mythology opened a new perspective to me. As we commonly relate this film to modern times, it is interesting to see it traced back hundreds of years. I agree that the direction of the film really accentuate certain scenes of the movie that could not have been done as a stage play! However, I must say that I don't agree that George was in control the whole. Contrary to that, I actually thought that Martha was dominant majority of the party and lost control and gave up the fight.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-50664324304714128652015-03-01T17:02:44.303-08:002015-03-01T17:02:44.303-08:00It is interesting to her your opinion on the play....It is interesting to her your opinion on the play. I had never related it to the Greek gods, and I thought it was an interesting take on the play. You never stated what you truly believe is Albee's purpose for writing this play. I would be interested to know.Cameron Maltmannoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-14845491930074075422015-02-22T12:41:39.263-08:002015-02-22T12:41:39.263-08:00It really is worth renting the movie version Jean....It really is worth renting the movie version Jean...I've seen it several times and read the play a number of times too..you just cannot put your finger on where it all goes horribly wrong...then you realise that it was always horribly wrong...and it was a superb piece of casting...I clearly remember their scandalous affair on the set of Cleopatra...then they married, divorced, married again..he bought her a massive diamond ring...I know that they weren't married when he died..he married an English woman. Can't remember her name, but she said of Burton's funeral she may as well not have existed, totally eclipsed by Elizabeth Taylor and her entourage...billierosiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00288997506566830393noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8670812027273632828.post-39261858987443152502015-02-21T22:55:29.327-08:002015-02-21T22:55:29.327-08:00It is a disturbing play! I haven't seen the mo...It is a disturbing play! I haven't seen the movie version, but anything starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor has a real-life subtext. Both these mega-stars were married to other people when they co-starred in Cleopatra (1963?) and divorced their spouses to be with each other. In the 1960s, this type of behaviour was considered scandalous, even for movie stars. Their relationship apparently had as many ups and downs as the relationships they portrayed on-screen. They seemed perfectly cast in Edward Albee's play. Jean Robertahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08805088081675965859noreply@blogger.com