Overtones

In the world of the play, the thoughts and intentions of the characters are personified in the form of alter-egos. The general rule or convention of the play is that these alter-egos cannot be seen and are only heard by their corresponding character. Therefore, Maggie cannot be seen by Harriet and Hetty cannot be seen by Margaret. This is to symbolize the relationship people have with their thoughts. By presenting them as separate entities, the playwright reveals just how different someone can act in relation to who they actually are. One's mind is always truthful, people however, are not. The mind tries to motivate the body, but the body ultimately has the last say--one's mind can not speak without a mouth; cannot act without a body. This concept symbolizes the inner conflict people face when filtering their thoughts. It also stresses the dangers of unveiling one's true feelings. Keeping them hidden keeps one from being vulnerable. 

         I noticed two instances where the overall rule was broken. A the beginning of the play, the stage directions suggest that Harriet and Hetty can see one another. Descriptions such as "moves away from", "following her", "towering over" and "overpowered, sinks into chair" show interactions that would not be possible otherwise. This may be allowed because no one else was present and therefore Hetty had no one to hide from. The other inconsistency is that the alter-egos communicate and interact with one another. This may be to suggest that just as people hide their emotions, they deny being able to find or sense others'. Therefore, in order to conduct oneself appropriately, one must suppress their feelings and ignore others'. It is a way of keeping peace, a way of remaining strong and ultimately the way to survive. These inconsistencies make one question how truthful they are to themselves and if others can see when they are not. Overall the play is a comment on civilization. If everyone said exactly what they felt and did just as they wanted, there would be chaos. Consequently, people have developed morals, social norms, and rules to guide conversation--they keep their Hetty's and their Maggie's hidden.