so we got Ishmael, Desdemona, Denver, and who ever the other person is. Also, we have the valet bringing around someone who has the samae relationships than that during no exit. So ya feel free to comment.
This needs some clarification. What is your definition of sin and your idea of hell? Specifically, how is it related to Dante and/or Sartre? Before you can choose chaacters and quotes, you need to determine all of this. You may also want to consider sketching out the plot of your play.
What are using for quotes? Your required quotes need to come from the four texts (other than No Exit/Inferno). You can certainly include extra; however, try doing what's required first.
So basically, Are sinner is interested in learning about the torchers that await him in hell from his past sins. In our play there is a tour available to those who wish to do just this. Will all be within the setting just him talking to valet
So he is going to have 4 sins that we will generalize. The valet will look at like a clipboard or something and be like, ok well for blah blah blah we have Ishmael, and so on for all four characters.
Valet lead our dude around and describe torchers and why they are being torchered in this way. Maybe talking between the torcherer and torchery, or torchery and the tour.
Ok, this is Evan. I thought that we were going to use Paul D. and Othello for two of our hell characters and as a result I got the quotes for them.
“Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog Than answer my wak'd wrath.” (Othello act III scene iii lines 412-415) Demonstrates Wrath
“Arise black vengence, from the hollow hell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate! Swell, blosom, with thy fraught, for ’tis of aspics’ tongues!” (Othello act III scene iii lines 507-510) Another wrath quote
“I have seen the day That with this little arm and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments Than twenty times your stop.” (Othello act V scene ii lines 312-315) Shows Pride
I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. (Othello act V scene ii lines 420-421) Suicide
““You want to fight, come on! God damn it! She got enough without you. She got enough!”” (Beloved pg 22) This could be seen as wrath but it’s a bit of a stretch.
“I just don’t understand what the hold is. It’s clear why she holds on to you, but I just can’t understand why you holding on to her.” (Beloved pg 80) Jealousy
““What you did was wrong, Sethe.” “I should have gone on back there? Taken my babies back there?” “There could have been a way. Some other way.” “What way?” “You got two feet, Sethe, not four.”” (Beloved pg 194) Paul D.s callousness could be seen as a sin since he is extremely judgemental twords a person who has gone through a amazing amount of psychological trauma.
Ishmael: "Any story that explains the meaning of the world, the intentions of the gods, and the destiny of man is bound to be mythological" (45).
"The gods gave man the same choice they gave Achilles: a brief life of glory or a long, uneventful life in obscurity" (75) notice his blasphemy as he refers to God and Achilles who was before Christ and therefore condemned to Hell.
"We don't need prophets to tell us how to live; we can find out for ourselves by consulting what's actually there" (96).
"When the gods saw that Adam was awakening, they said to themselves, "Now here is a creature so like us that he might almost be one of our company. What span of life and what destiny shall we fashion for him?"
So, clearly, Ishmael is in Hell as a blasphemer and for having bad faith. How I think we should portray him is basically show him ranting and raving all of these random, blasphemous statements as he wanders through an industrial junkyard. Every time he tries to confront someone with his knowledge they don't hear him and sometimes throw trash in his face.
Evan, I like your ideas so far. Maybe try and put some quotes about how he can't grapple with the past, as living your life in fear, misery, or despair is considered a sin in Dante's Hell. Just a suggestion but I thought that might help.
meets valet.introduce the characters. Why is he in hell. What does hell look like.
spiraling staircase, with hallways that go for ever, and each level is different sin/ level of hell.
He is in hell as a near death experience. Because he is going down a road that would lead him towards sin and damnation.
Valet leading him down the staircase to the -5th level. On the way down hits 4 levels with the characters
Torchers:
Ishmael-In a junk yard. Try to talk to random people, who will not listen to him. If he attempts to communicate with him they will throw trash at him. Raiding about blashphemy. Blinded by pride. No shoes walking on industrial metal
Antigone-must continuously bury her brother. When ever she finishes strong wind uncovers him. Can never finish the task she set out to complete
Paul D- genitals cut off. forced to walk around naked with people laughing at him to demoralize him because he already considers his manhood lost. So it would hit him hard
Othello- think
Reach his level. They argue about him not wanting to be in hell. Valet maybe talks about possible torchers for sins. Valet your not dead. Tour guy is like wat!? Then valet laughs and pushes the guy into the room. Guy wakes up alive.
Some good quotes here guys. I think the spiral staircase idea is a good start for your exposition. Remember that you can modify your quotes as need be and invent dialogue.
My address is 4 Carter Lane and it's off of Rattlesnake Hill Road. my cell is 781-820-0832. lemme know if you guys are still coming today. my house is a little hard to find so just call me if you have any trouble.
Endless battle between him and a multitude of faceless men who stand between him and Desdemona who is with Cassio holding hands and running off into the distance.
I am going to bury him...he is my brother (140-141)
It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands: We die forever... (142
I knew I must die, even without your decree: I am only mortal. And if I must die now, before it is my time to die, surely this is no hardship: can anyone living, as I live, with evil all about me, think death less than a friend? This death of mine is of no importance; but if I had left my brtoher lying in death unburied, I should have suffered now i do not. (155)
The dead man and the gods who rule the dead know whose act this was. words are not friends (158)
"no more, Ismene. you are alive, but I belong to Death (158)
"And yet, as men's hearts know, I have done no wrong, I have not sinned before God. Or if I have, I shall know the truth in death. But if the guilt lies upon Creon who judged me, then , I pray, may his punishment equal my own" (170)
"ah! that vooice is like the voice of death" (171)
Introduction: A pale, timid-looking man wakes to find himself in a small, square room. The walls are made of grey stones and the room is lit by a single light. He has no recollection of how he got there or even where he is…
Gilbert (waking up in a daze) Ugh…where am I? What is this place? (looks around in confusion). If I didn’t know better I’d say I was in prison…just what the Hell is this place? (seeing a plain wooden door he goes over and opens it).
Enter Valet
Valet Good day, sir. Did you sleep well?
Gilbert (loudly) Who are you and what is this place? Are you keeping me hostage? Just how did I get here?
Valet Please, sir, calm yourself…isn’t it obvious where you are?
Gilbert No it isn’t! What do you want with me? Why am I here? I want my lawyer!
Valet Oh, Gilbert, we have many lawyers here but yours is not one of them. A lawyer would not be of any use to you anyway. (glances at his watch) We do not have time for these pleasantries (looks at his clipboard). I will explain things as best I can while we walk.
Gilbert No! I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on! The last thing I remember was going to sleep in my bed and then I wake up in this godforsaken prison cell!
Valet Come with me and I think your curiosities will be satisfied. Please, we do not have much time and I have other business that I must attend to. (Valet stands aside for Gilbert to pass through the door. He walks out and is astonished to find himself in a gargantuan atrium. The atrium is lined with a spiral staircase which extends into blackness both up and down. Along with the staircase, the walls are lined with endless, identical doors).
Gilbert Now what is this? Are we underground? I’ve never seen anything this massive in my life!
Valet Why, we are in the atrium. This staircase leads to all the rooms. Follow me now, as I said we are rather short on time and we have a lot of ground to cover. (Valet begins walking briskly down the stairs and Gilbert hesitates to follow.) Hurry up now. Down the stairs. (Valet allows Gilbert to walk in front of him).
Gilbert Where are we going? What is it you have to show me? (he pauses) Do you have to stand behind me? I don’t like you watching me all the time it makes me uncomfortable. (He turns to face Valet and recoils in disgust) What? Why are you staring at me so coldly like that…you have no eyelids!
Valet What are you talking about? (Gilbert continues to look at him and slowly turns back around).
(continue down staircase, reach a door)
Valet Ah, yes. Here we are. According to this ( holds up clipboard) a damn dirty ape lives in here, named Ishmael. Let’s take a look. (opens the door, Gilbert gasps and steps back with alarm)
Gilbert (The characters enter a large open air junk yard filled with trash and industrial waste where they find Ishmael chained at the arms and legs. Ishmael is forced to walk endlessly in this junk yard with others around him who pay no attention to him) What is this? How is this possible? We were just inside a building!
Valet This is Ishmael, an ape that was sent here for blasphemy. If you listen you will hear him rant on how he was simply trying to save the world.
Ishmael “We don’t need prophets to tell us how to live; we can find out for ourselves by consulting what’s actually there” (96).
Valet Here he goes again. Listen to his blasphemous preaching. This is why he resides here.
Ishmael “Any story that explains the meaning of the world, the intentions of the gods, and the destiny of man is bound to be mythological.” (45)
Gilbert Why do you subject yourself to this torment, break your chains and run!
Ishmael (taking no notice of Gilbert he continues) “The gods gave man the same choice they gave Achilles: a brief life of glory or a long, uneventful life of obscurity” (75)
Valet He forever attempts to make contact with the others in the room, but they pay no attention to him. They are as blind and deaf to his presence as he is to ours.
Gilbert Are you planning on leaving me here?
Valet “How could I. You see, we room for all sorts here. What use would you have for a room like this.” (pg. 3) Now lets keep moving (They leave the room and shut the door behind them)
Gilbert (grabs valet, screams) Where am I god damnit?
Valet (obnoxiously) Haven’t you figured it out yet? You are in hell, of course.
Gilbert Hell!? I am actually in hell?
Valet Where else could you be. (Pause stares into his eyes) We must keep moving. (They continue walking down the stairwell. Gilbert is shaking his head in disbelief)
Gilbert (softly and quickly) How can this be? What did I do to deserve this…to deserve Hell. I can’t believe it’s real. How am I a sinner?
Valet Hm? Oh, I wouldn’t concern yourself with those questions. I don’t have the answers in any case. Just keep moving please, we are almost to the next room. (They continue in silence for a moment and the Valet stops him) I believe this is the one we need. (He opens the door for a moment and shuts it abruptly) Excuse me, I was mistaken. Ah, it’s the next one.
Gilbert Why are you showing me these people? What do they have to do with me?
Valet I can’t be certain. I don’t have all the answers, you see. I just do what I am instructed to do and I have been instructed to show you these specific residents. (He opens the door and then looks at his clipboard). This one is named Othello. He is both a murderer and a suicide. Most undesirable of all is his pride.
Gilbert Why is he fighting those men? He seems to be trying to get through them.
Valet While not visible to us, he sees his beloved wife Desdemona, whom he murdered, holding hands with his honest lieutenant whom he mistrusted. His jealousy blinds him and creates this false image, which only serves to feed his wrath and pride. He will fight this endless battle with the faceless soldiers and their swords will forever make him bleed. Listen to his shouts of rage.
Othello “Arise black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, o love, thy crown and hearted throne to tyrannous hate! Swell, blossom, with thy fraught, for ‘tis of aspics’ tongues!” (III.iii.507-510).
Gilbert He is so wrapped up in anger. Doesn’t he see that there is no end to these warriors? Othello! Throw down your sword! What you’re seeing isn’t real. Run from this place!
Valet He is too intent on reaching his impossible goal to listen to you. In fact, there are very few residents who will speak to any others.
Othello (still raging in background) “I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (V.ii.420-421). Why do you hold his hand, wretched whore!
Gilbert Othello! Listen to me, please!
Othello Away you foul creatures! I’ll gut you all! “I have seen the day that with this little arm and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments than twenty times your stop!” (V.ii.312-315).
Gilbert Please! This is pointless! Calm your anger!
Valet Sir, I assure you he is not listening. (Glances at his watch). I suppose there is not much more for you to see here. Best to be moving on.
Othello You shall all feel my sword! “By the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst better have been born a dog than answer my wak’d wrath! (III.iii.412-415).
Gilbert Othello! Listen!
Valet Sir, please. This is pointless. We still have two more residents to observe. Let us proceed.
Gilbert No! I’ve had just about enough of this! I go to sleep in my own bed and wake up in Hell. There must be a mistake. What am I doing here? What have I done wrong? (Valet stares at him). Stop staring and answer me damn you!
Valet Again, be calm. There is no need for this. I cannot possibly know all of these things. I only know what I am told. And for your information you are not here by mistake. Mistakes do not happen in Hell.
Gilbert Now what do you mean by that? Your ambiguity is infuriating!
Valet No one comes here by mistake. For one reason or another you are here and you are here for a purpose. Now I don’t think your purpose will be discovered if we linger. We must move along. (they walk for a moment in silence).
Gilbert I really wish you wouldn’t keep staring. I’m uneasy enough being in Hell, you know. (Valet does not respond). Are…are all of these “rooms” different? I mean does each resident receive a unique room?
Valet Hm? Oh, well yes, of course. The concept is quite simple, you see. No two sins are exactly alike, just as no two people are exactly alike. As far as I know, when a new resident arrives their history is reviewed and their greatest sins identified. Their room is then designed with a punishment in accordance with these sins. I do not know the exact process but that is the general idea. As long as I have been here I have never observed two rooms that were exactly alike.
Introduction: A pale, timid-looking man wakes to find himself in a small, square room. The walls are made of grey stones and a single light on the ceiling creates a dim glow in the room. He has no recollection of how he got there or even where he is…
Gilbert (waking up in a daze) Ugh…where am I? What is this place? (looks around in confusion). If I didn’t know better I’d say I was in prison…just what the Hell is this place? (seeing a plain wooden door he goes over and opens it).
Enter Valet
Valet Good day, sir. Did you sleep well?
Gilbert (loudly) Who are you and what is this place? Are you keeping me hostage? Just how did I get here?
Valet Please, sir, calm yourself…isn’t it obvious where you are?
Gilbert No it isn’t! What do you want with me? Why am I here? I want my lawyer!
Valet Oh, Gilbert, we have many lawyers here but yours is not one of them. A lawyer would not be of any use to you anyway. (glances at his watch) We do not have time for these pleasantries (looks at his clipboard). I will explain things as best I can while we walk.
Gilbert No! I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on! The last thing I remember was going to sleep in my bed and then I wake up in this godforsaken prison cell!
Valet Come with me and I think your curiosities will be satisfied. Please, we do not have much time and I have other business that I must attend to. (Valet stands aside for Gilbert to pass through the door. Gilbert walks out and is astonished to find himself in a gargantuan atrium. The atrium is lined with a spiral staircase, which extends into blackness both up and down. Along with the staircase, the walls are lined with endless, identical doors).
Gilbert Now what is this? Are we underground? I’ve never seen anything this massive in my life!
Valet Why, we are in the atrium. This staircase leads to all the rooms. Follow me now, as I said we are rather short on time and we have a lot of ground to cover. (Valet begins walking briskly down the stairs and Gilbert hesitates to follow.) Hurry up now. Down the stairs. (Valet allows Gilbert to walk in front of him).
Gilbert Where are we going? What is it you have to show me? (he pauses) Do you have to stand behind me? I don’t like you watching me all the time it makes me uncomfortable. (He turns to face Valet and recoils in disgust) What? Why are you staring at me so coldly like that…you have no eyelids!
Valet What are you talking about? (Gilbert continues to look at him and slowly turns back around).
(continue down staircase, reach a door)
Valet Ah, yes. Here we are. According to this ( holds up clipboard) a gorilla named Ishmael lives in here. Let’s take a look. (opens the door, Gilbert gasps and steps back with alarm)
Gilbert (The characters enter a large open-air junkyard filled with trash and industrial waste where they find Ishmael chained at the arms and legs. Ishmael is forced to walk endlessly in this junkyard with others around him who pay no attention to him) What is this? How is this possible? We were just inside a building!
Valet This is Ishmael, an ape that was sent here for blasphemy. If you listen you will hear him rant on how he was simply trying to save the world.
Ishmael “We don’t need prophets to tell us how to live; we can find out for ourselves by consulting what’s actually there” (96).
Valet Here he goes again. Listen to his blasphemous preaching. This is why he resides here.
Ishmael “Any story that explains the meaning of the world, the intentions of the gods, and the destiny of man is bound to be mythological.” (45)
Gilbert Why do you subject yourself to this torment, break your chains and run!
Ishmael (taking no notice of Gilbert he continues) “The gods gave man the same choice they gave Achilles: a brief life of glory or a long, uneventful life of obscurity” (75)
Valet He forever attempts to make contact with the others in the room, but they pay no attention to him. They are as blind and deaf to his presence as he is to ours.
Ishmael You! You over there! Please listen! "When the gods saw that Adam was awakening, they said to themselves, "Now here is a creature so like us that he might almost be one of our company. What span of life and what destiny shall we fashion for him?"
Valet Oh, how awful he is. It is a shame that such a gifted creature should end up here living among garbage.
Gilbert Are you planning on leaving me here?
Valet “How could I. You see, we room for all sorts here. What use would you have for a room like this.” (pg. 3) Now lets keep moving (They leave the room and shut the door behind them)
Gilbert (grabs valet, screaming) Where am I god damnit?
Valet (obnoxiously) Haven’t you figured it out yet? You are in hell, of course.
Gilbert Hell!? I am actually in hell?
Valet Where else could you be? (He pauses and stares into his eyes) We should keep moving. (They continue walking down the stairwell. Gilbert is shaking his head in disbelief)
Gilbert (softly and quickly) How can this be? What did I do to deserve this…to deserve Hell? I can’t believe it’s real. How am I a sinner?
Valet Hm? Oh, I wouldn’t concern yourself with those questions. I don’t have the answers in any case. Just keep moving please, we are almost to the next room. (They continue in silence for a moment and the Valet stops him) I believe this is the one we need. (He opens the door for a moment and shuts it abruptly) Excuse me, I was mistaken. Ah, it’s the next one.
Gilbert Why are you showing me these people? What do they have to do with me?
Valet I can’t be certain. I don’t have all the answers, you see. I just do what I am instructed to do and I have been instructed to show you these specific residents. (He opens the door and then looks at his clipboard). This one is named Othello. He is both a murderer and a suicide. Most undesirable of all is his pride.
Gilbert Why is he fighting those men? He seems to be trying to get through them.
Valet While not visible to us, he sees his beloved wife Desdemona, whom he murdered, holding hands with his honest lieutenant whom he mistrusted. His jealousy blinds him and creates this false image, which only serves to feed his wrath and pride. He will fight this endless battle with the faceless soldiers and their swords will forever make him bleed. Listen to his shouts of rage.
Othello “Arise black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, o love, thy crown and hearted throne to tyrannous hate! Swell, blossom, with thy fraught, for ‘tis of aspics’ tongues!” (III.iii.507-510).
Gilbert He is so wrapped up in anger. Doesn’t he see that there is no end to these warriors? Othello! Throw down your sword! What you’re seeing isn’t real. Run from this place!
Valet He is too intent on reaching his impossible goal to listen to you. In fact, there are very few residents who will speak to any others.
Othello (still raging in background) “I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (V.ii.420-421). Why do you hold his hand, wretched whore?
Gilbert Othello! Listen to me, please!
Othello Away you foul creatures! I’ll gut you all! “I have seen the day that with this little arm and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments than twenty times your stop!” (V.ii.312-315).
Gilbert Please! This is pointless! Calm your anger!
Valet Sir, I assure you he is not listening. (Glances at his watch). I suppose there is not much more for you to see here. Best to be moving on.
Othello You shall all feel my sword! “By the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst better have been born a dog than answer my wak’d wrath! (III.iii.412-415).
Gilbert Othello! Listen!
Valet Sir, please. This is pointless. We still have two more residents to observe. Let us proceed.
Gilbert No! I’ve had just about enough of this! I go to sleep in my own bed and wake up in Hell. There must be a mistake. What am I doing here? What have I done wrong? (Valet stares at him). Stop staring and answer me damn you!
Valet Again, be calm. There is no need for this. I cannot possibly know all of these things. I only know what I am told. I do know that you are not here by mistake. Mistakes do not happen in hell.
Gilbert Now what do you mean by that? Your ambiguity is infuriating!
Valet No one comes here by mistake. For one reason or another you are here and you are here for a purpose. Now I don’t think your purpose will be discovered if we linger. We must move along. (they walk for a moment in silence).
Gilbert I really wish you wouldn’t keep staring. I’m uneasy enough being in Hell, you know. (Valet does not respond). Are…are all of these “rooms” different? I mean does each resident receive a unique room?
Valet Hm? Oh, well yes, of course. The concept is quite simple, you see. No two sins are exactly alike, just as no two people are exactly alike. As far as I know, when a new resident arrives their history is reviewed and their greatest sins identified. Their room is then designed with a punishment in accordance with these sins. I do not know the exact process but that is the general idea. As long as I have been here I have never observed two rooms that were exactly alike.
Gilbert So every person’s punishment is their own…this really is Hell. (they continue down the stairs). Who are you showing me now?
Valet (looks at his clipboard) hm. We are about to observe a resident named Antigone. Though it may be rude, I personally find her punishment rather amusing. I loathe pride and Antigone is guilty of both pride and hubris. Here we are. Shall we? (not waiting for a response, Valet opens the door. The room is dark and foggy and the floor is made of dirt. A little way into the room, Gilbert sees Antigone clawing at the dirt with her hands.)
Gilbert May I go in?
Valet If you wish, though I don’t know why you would want to. (Gilbert walks through the door and approaches Antigone. He then stumbles back at the sight of a body lying next to her).
Gilbert Good lord! Why is this body just lying here! He must be buried!
Valet This is the body of her traitorous brother, Polynices and he will never be buried. Antigone will dig a grave for him with her bare hands but as soon as he is completely covered a great wind removes his body and she starts all over again.
Antigone “No. I am going to bury him…he is my brother” (140-141). It is the divine law!
Valet She will never be able to bury him, Gilbert. She believes she is doing the work of the Gods.
Antigone "Ah! Your voice is like the voice of death!" (171)
Gilbert (taken aback) You can hear us?
Antigone Yes
Gilbert Why do you keep this up? You will never be able to bury him. Your hands! They’re bleeding!
Valet If you were digging in soil with glass in it, your hands would be bleeding as well.
Antigone I must bury him. “It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands: We die forever...” (142).
Gilbert But you seem so innocent. They say you are full of pride and hubris but I just don’t see that in you. You cannot be guilty of sin!
Antigone Though your words are kind, I am afraid there are no mistakes here. "And yet, as men's hearts know, I have done no wrong, I have not sinned before God. Or if I have, I shall know the truth in death." (170)
Gilbert If you have done no wrong then come with me. We have to leave this place!
Antigone "no more, sir. you are alive, but I belong to Death” (158)
Gilbert (exclaiming) What? I‘m alive?
Valet Please come along. We really must be going. (As they leave the two witness Antigone finish burying her brother, only to have the great wind uncover his body. Immediately, Antigone begins to bury him again.)
Valet (hurrying) Come along, you still have one more resident to meet.
Gilbert (Grabbing Valet, forcing him to stop) Wait! Did that women just say that I am alive? This doesn’t make any sense…how can I be in Hell if I’m alive?
Valet You’re right, I suppose. That doesn’t seem to make much sense. How can you be in hell and be alive? Quite honestly I do not see how that is possible but it is so. Anyway, we must keep moving.
(Valet pauses at the stairs.)
Valet The next resident we are visiting is far below where we currently are. We’ll have to use the elevator.
Gilbert Charming…elevators in Hell.
(reaching the elevater they enter, and seemingly step out a few seconds later 50 floors below)
Valet (The characters walk up to a door, and the valet lifts up his clipboard) This is the last resident. His name is Paul D and though he suffered unjustly as a slave in life, his lust and jealousy brought him here. (He opens the door. The room appears to be a shed of some sort. Paul D is at the center of the room on his knees with deep cuts across his back. There are white men all around him laughing hysterically and pointing. At the far end up the room a black woman is chained up and is being whipped and beaten by several white men).
Gilbert This is horrifying! What is going on?
Valet He kneels in the mud and slop all day like an animal and the men around him laugh at him and call him as such. Now he feels like more of animal than a man.
Paul D “You bastards! You remind me of Mister…damn rooster. Better than me. Stronger, tougher. Son of a bitch couldn’t even get out the shell by himself but he was still king!” (86). (hysterically) I’m no man. Not no more.
Gilbert No Paul! You are a man! Stand and be one!
Valet Ha! As if he could be a man now. For his lust he has been castrated. To him, he is useless to Sethe, the woman chained to the wall. He had relations with her and she let him into her home. He repaid her kindness by sleeping with another young woman that she took in and then hid the fact that he did. Loathsome animal.
Paul D No! Let her alone! “You want to fight, come on! God damn it! She got enough without you! She got enough!” (22). Stop it!
Valet Well we must really be moving on. I don’t care to look at this disgusting being any longer anyway. (They exit and shut the door). Well we have certainly seen some unique residents today. I suppose you think they don’t belong here but I assure you they do. To live with so much pride, wrath, jealousy and lust is considered a grave sin, a waste of an existence. Perhaps some of them should have thought before they held themselves above others, hurt others, or blasphemed. (He glances at his clipboard) We still have one more stop. Follow me.
Gilbert Where are you taking me now?
Valet Just follow me. (They walk briefly) It appears we have arrived. This is where I must leave you.
Gilbert What do you mean leave me? What’s in here?
Valet If I am not mistaken, this here is your room. And I do not know what is inside, of course, know one has gone in as of yet.
Gilbert No! That can’t be! I’m alive! I don’t belong here yet! What have I done to become a resident! You belong here you heartless monster! Not me! I still have time in my life! I’ll right whatever is wrong, I’ll be pious, I’ll do good, but you can’t leave me here!
(Valet opens door)
Gilbert Stop it! Let me out of here!
Valet I’m afraid this is the only place you have to go. (He starts to push him through the door).
Gilbert Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord be with you…(Valet shoves him in).
(Gilbert wakes to find himself in cold sweats in his own bed. It is just about dawn and some sunlight is creeping through the window).
Gilbert …A dream? Hah! Yes! Only a dream…or…well this is my room…no…it couldn’t be.
22 comments:
leave ur sn with your comments
mines mur1118
mine's xdropxdaylightx
This needs some clarification. What is your definition of sin and your idea of hell? Specifically, how is it related to Dante and/or Sartre? Before you can choose chaacters and quotes, you need to determine all of this. You may also want to consider sketching out the plot of your play.
btw: OUR! grades not are
"How could they be? We cater for all sorts: Chinamen and Indians, for instance. What use would they have for a..." (pg. 3)
"Really, sir, how could you believe such cock and bullstories? Told by people who'd never set foot here." (3-4)
All that I found he said that would work
What are using for quotes? Your required quotes need to come from the four texts (other than No Exit/Inferno). You can certainly include extra; however, try doing what's required first.
Plot:
So basically, Are sinner is interested in learning about the torchers that await him in hell from his past sins. In our play there is a tour available to those who wish to do just this. Will all be within the setting just him talking to valet
So he is going to have 4 sins that we will generalize. The valet will look at like a clipboard or something and be like, ok well for blah blah blah we have Ishmael, and so on for all four characters.
Valet lead our dude around and describe torchers and why they are being torchered in this way. Maybe talking between the torcherer and torchery, or torchery and the tour.
If anything more you want to add just comment
Ms Giggie,
We split up the quotes I am just the only one who has posted so far.
Ok, this is Evan. I thought that we were going to use Paul D. and Othello for two of our hell characters and as a result I got the quotes for them.
“Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore, Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof; Or, by the worth of mine eternal soul, Thou hadst been better have been born a dog Than answer my wak'd wrath.” (Othello act III scene iii lines 412-415) Demonstrates Wrath
“Arise black vengence, from the hollow hell! Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne To tyrannous hate! Swell, blosom, with thy fraught, for ’tis of aspics’ tongues!”
(Othello act III scene iii lines 507-510) Another wrath quote
“I have seen the day That with this little arm and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments Than twenty times your stop.” (Othello act V scene ii lines 312-315) Shows Pride
I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, Killing myself, to die upon a kiss. (Othello act V scene ii lines 420-421) Suicide
““You want to fight, come on! God damn it! She got enough without you. She got enough!”” (Beloved pg 22) This could be seen as wrath but it’s a bit of a stretch.
“I just don’t understand what the hold is. It’s clear why she holds on to you, but I just can’t understand why you holding on to her.” (Beloved pg 80) Jealousy
““What you did was wrong, Sethe.” “I should have gone on back there? Taken my babies back there?” “There could have been a way. Some other way.” “What way?” “You got two feet, Sethe, not four.”” (Beloved pg 194) Paul D.s callousness could be seen as a sin since he is extremely judgemental twords a person who has gone through a amazing amount of psychological trauma.
Ishmael:
"Any story that explains the meaning of the world, the intentions of the gods, and the destiny of man is bound to be mythological" (45).
"The gods gave man the same choice they gave Achilles: a brief life of glory or a long, uneventful life in obscurity" (75) notice his blasphemy as he refers to God and Achilles who was before Christ and therefore condemned to Hell.
"We don't need prophets to tell us how to live; we can find out for ourselves by consulting what's actually there" (96).
"When the gods saw that Adam was awakening, they said to themselves, "Now here is a creature so like us that he might almost be one of our company. What span of life and what destiny shall we fashion for him?"
So, clearly, Ishmael is in Hell as a blasphemer and for having bad faith. How I think we should portray him is basically show him ranting and raving all of these random, blasphemous statements as he wanders through an industrial junkyard. Every time he tries to confront someone with his knowledge they don't hear him and sometimes throw trash in his face.
Evan, I like your ideas so far. Maybe try and put some quotes about how he can't grapple with the past, as living your life in fear, misery, or despair is considered a sin in Dante's Hell. Just a suggestion but I thought that might help.
meets valet.introduce the characters. Why is he in hell. What does hell look like.
spiraling staircase, with hallways that go for ever, and each level is different sin/ level of hell.
He is in hell as a near death experience. Because he is going down a road that would lead him towards sin and damnation.
Valet leading him down the staircase to the -5th level. On the way down hits 4 levels with the characters
Torchers:
Ishmael-In a junk yard. Try to talk to random people, who will not listen to him. If he attempts to communicate with him they will throw trash at him. Raiding about blashphemy. Blinded by pride. No shoes walking on industrial metal
Antigone-must continuously bury her brother. When ever she finishes strong wind uncovers him. Can never finish the task she set out to complete
Paul D- genitals cut off. forced to walk around naked with people laughing at him to demoralize him because he already considers his manhood lost. So it would hit him hard
Othello- think
Reach his level. They argue about him not wanting to be in hell. Valet maybe talks about possible torchers for sins. Valet your not dead. Tour guy is like wat!? Then valet laughs and pushes the guy into the room. Guy wakes up alive.
Some good quotes here guys. I think the spiral staircase idea is a good start for your exposition. Remember that you can modify your quotes as need be and invent dialogue.
My address is 4 Carter Lane and it's off of Rattlesnake Hill Road. my cell is 781-820-0832. lemme know if you guys are still coming today. my house is a little hard to find so just call me if you have any trouble.
I(Evan) wont be able to get their till 5:30 -6ish
plan on 6
Othello torcher
Endless battle between him and a multitude of faceless men who stand between him and Desdemona who is with Cassio holding hands and running off into the distance.
I am going to bury him...he is my brother (140-141)
It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands: We die forever... (142
I knew I must die, even without your decree: I am only mortal. And if I must die now, before it is my time to die, surely this is no hardship: can anyone living, as I live, with evil all about me, think death less than a friend? This death of mine is of no importance; but if I had left my brtoher lying in death unburied, I should have suffered now i do not. (155)
The dead man and the gods who rule the dead know whose act this was. words are not friends (158)
"no more, Ismene. you are alive, but I belong to Death (158)
"And yet, as men's hearts know, I have done no wrong, I have not sinned before God. Or if I have, I shall know the truth in death. But if the guilt lies upon Creon who judged me, then , I pray, may his punishment equal my own" (170)
"ah! that vooice is like the voice of death" (171)
Craig Hooker, Matt Murray, Evan Tauscher
The Residents
Introduction: A pale, timid-looking man wakes to find himself in a small, square room. The walls are made of grey stones and the room is lit by a single light. He has no recollection of how he got there or even where he is…
Gilbert
(waking up in a daze) Ugh…where am I? What is this place? (looks around in confusion). If I didn’t know better I’d say I was in prison…just what the Hell is this place? (seeing a plain wooden door he goes over and opens it).
Enter Valet
Valet
Good day, sir. Did you sleep well?
Gilbert
(loudly) Who are you and what is this place? Are you keeping me hostage? Just how did I get here?
Valet
Please, sir, calm yourself…isn’t it obvious where you are?
Gilbert
No it isn’t! What do you want with me? Why am I here? I want my lawyer!
Valet
Oh, Gilbert, we have many lawyers here but yours is not one of them. A lawyer would not be of any use to you anyway. (glances at his watch) We do not have time for these pleasantries (looks at his clipboard). I will explain things as best I can while we walk.
Gilbert
No! I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on! The last thing I remember was going to sleep in my bed and then I wake up in this godforsaken prison cell!
Valet
Come with me and I think your curiosities will be satisfied. Please, we do not have much time and I have other business that I must attend to. (Valet stands aside for Gilbert to pass through the door. He walks out and is astonished to find himself in a gargantuan atrium. The atrium is lined with a spiral staircase which extends into blackness both up and down. Along with the staircase, the walls are lined with endless, identical doors).
Gilbert
Now what is this? Are we underground? I’ve never seen anything this massive in my life!
Valet
Why, we are in the atrium. This staircase leads to all the rooms. Follow me now, as I said we are rather short on time and we have a lot of ground to cover. (Valet begins walking briskly down the stairs and Gilbert hesitates to follow.) Hurry up now. Down the stairs. (Valet allows Gilbert to walk in front of him).
Gilbert
Where are we going? What is it you have to show me? (he pauses) Do you have to stand behind me? I don’t like you watching me all the time it makes me uncomfortable. (He turns to face Valet and recoils in disgust) What? Why are you staring at me so coldly like that…you have no eyelids!
Valet
What are you talking about? (Gilbert continues to look at him and slowly turns back around).
(continue down staircase, reach a door)
Valet
Ah, yes. Here we are. According to this ( holds up clipboard) a damn dirty ape lives in here, named Ishmael. Let’s take a look. (opens the door, Gilbert gasps and steps back with alarm)
Gilbert
(The characters enter a large open air junk yard filled with trash and industrial waste where they find Ishmael chained at the arms and legs. Ishmael is forced to walk endlessly in this junk yard with others around him who pay no attention to him) What is this? How is this possible? We were just inside a building!
Valet
This is Ishmael, an ape that was sent here for blasphemy. If you listen you will hear him rant on how he was simply trying to save the world.
Ishmael
“We don’t need prophets to tell us how to live; we can find out for ourselves by consulting what’s actually there” (96).
Valet
Here he goes again. Listen to his blasphemous preaching. This is why he resides here.
Ishmael
“Any story that explains the meaning of the world, the intentions of the gods, and the destiny of man is bound to be mythological.” (45)
Gilbert
Why do you subject yourself to this torment, break your chains and run!
Ishmael
(taking no notice of Gilbert he continues) “The gods gave man the same choice they gave Achilles: a brief life of glory or a long, uneventful life of obscurity” (75)
Valet
He forever attempts to make contact with the others in the room, but they pay no attention to him. They are as blind and deaf to his presence as he is to ours.
Gilbert
Are you planning on leaving me here?
Valet
“How could I. You see, we room for all sorts here. What use would you have for a room like this.” (pg. 3) Now lets keep moving (They leave the room and shut the door behind them)
Gilbert
(grabs valet, screams) Where am I god damnit?
Valet
(obnoxiously) Haven’t you figured it out yet? You are in hell, of course.
Gilbert
Hell!? I am actually in hell?
Valet
Where else could you be. (Pause stares into his eyes) We must keep moving. (They continue walking down the stairwell. Gilbert is shaking his head in disbelief)
Gilbert
(softly and quickly) How can this be? What did I do to deserve this…to deserve Hell. I can’t believe it’s real. How am I a sinner?
Valet
Hm? Oh, I wouldn’t concern yourself with those questions. I don’t have the answers in any case. Just keep moving please, we are almost to the next room. (They continue in silence for a moment and the Valet stops him) I believe this is the one we need. (He opens the door for a moment and shuts it abruptly) Excuse me, I was mistaken. Ah, it’s the next one.
Gilbert
Why are you showing me these people? What do they have to do with me?
Valet
I can’t be certain. I don’t have all the answers, you see. I just do what I am instructed to do and I have been instructed to show you these specific residents. (He opens the door and then looks at his clipboard). This one is named Othello. He is both a murderer and a suicide. Most undesirable of all is his pride.
Gilbert
Why is he fighting those men? He seems to be trying to get through them.
Valet
While not visible to us, he sees his beloved wife Desdemona, whom he murdered, holding hands with his honest lieutenant whom he mistrusted. His jealousy blinds him and creates this false image, which only serves to feed his wrath and pride. He will fight this endless battle with the faceless soldiers and their swords will forever make him bleed. Listen to his shouts of rage.
Othello
“Arise black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, o love, thy crown and hearted throne to tyrannous hate! Swell, blossom, with thy fraught, for ‘tis of aspics’ tongues!” (III.iii.507-510).
Gilbert
He is so wrapped up in anger. Doesn’t he see that there is no end to these warriors? Othello! Throw down your sword! What you’re seeing isn’t real. Run from this place!
Valet
He is too intent on reaching his impossible goal to listen to you. In fact, there are very few residents who will speak to any others.
Othello
(still raging in background) “I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (V.ii.420-421). Why do you hold his hand, wretched whore!
Gilbert
Othello! Listen to me, please!
Othello
Away you foul creatures! I’ll gut you all! “I have seen the day that with this little arm and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments than twenty times your stop!” (V.ii.312-315).
Gilbert
Please! This is pointless! Calm your anger!
Valet
Sir, I assure you he is not listening. (Glances at his watch). I suppose there is not much more for you to see here. Best to be moving on.
Othello
You shall all feel my sword! “By the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst better have been born a dog than answer my wak’d wrath! (III.iii.412-415).
Gilbert
Othello! Listen!
Valet
Sir, please. This is pointless. We still have two more residents to observe. Let us proceed.
Gilbert
No! I’ve had just about enough of this! I go to sleep in my own bed and wake up in Hell. There must be a mistake. What am I doing here? What have I done wrong? (Valet stares at him). Stop staring and answer me damn you!
Valet
Again, be calm. There is no need for this. I cannot possibly know all of these things. I only know what I am told. And for your information you are not here by mistake. Mistakes do not happen in Hell.
Gilbert
Now what do you mean by that? Your ambiguity is infuriating!
Valet
No one comes here by mistake. For one reason or another you are here and you are here for a purpose. Now I don’t think your purpose will be discovered if we linger. We must move along. (they walk for a moment in silence).
Gilbert
I really wish you wouldn’t keep staring. I’m uneasy enough being in Hell, you know. (Valet does not respond). Are…are all of these “rooms” different? I mean does each resident receive a unique room?
Valet
Hm? Oh, well yes, of course. The concept is quite simple, you see. No two sins are exactly alike, just as no two people are exactly alike. As far as I know, when a new resident arrives their history is reviewed and their greatest sins identified. Their room is then designed with a punishment in accordance with these sins. I do not know the exact process but that is the general idea. As long as I have been here I have never observed two rooms that were exactly alike.
murmann223@yahoo.com
Craig Hooker, Matt Murray, Evan Tauscher
The Residents
Introduction: A pale, timid-looking man wakes to find himself in a small, square room. The walls are made of grey stones and a single light on the ceiling creates a dim glow in the room. He has no recollection of how he got there or even where he is…
Gilbert
(waking up in a daze) Ugh…where am I? What is this place? (looks around in confusion). If I didn’t know better I’d say I was in prison…just what the Hell is this place? (seeing a plain wooden door he goes over and opens it).
Enter Valet
Valet
Good day, sir. Did you sleep well?
Gilbert
(loudly) Who are you and what is this place? Are you keeping me hostage? Just how did I get here?
Valet
Please, sir, calm yourself…isn’t it obvious where you are?
Gilbert
No it isn’t! What do you want with me? Why am I here? I want my lawyer!
Valet
Oh, Gilbert, we have many lawyers here but yours is not one of them. A lawyer would not be of any use to you anyway. (glances at his watch) We do not have time for these pleasantries (looks at his clipboard). I will explain things as best I can while we walk.
Gilbert
No! I’m not going anywhere until you tell me what’s going on! The last thing I remember was going to sleep in my bed and then I wake up in this godforsaken prison cell!
Valet
Come with me and I think your curiosities will be satisfied. Please, we do not have much time and I have other business that I must attend to. (Valet stands aside for Gilbert to pass through the door. Gilbert walks out and is astonished to find himself in a gargantuan atrium. The atrium is lined with a spiral staircase, which extends into blackness both up and down. Along with the staircase, the walls are lined with endless, identical doors).
Gilbert
Now what is this? Are we underground? I’ve never seen anything this massive in my life!
Valet
Why, we are in the atrium. This staircase leads to all the rooms. Follow me now, as I said we are rather short on time and we have a lot of ground to cover. (Valet begins walking briskly down the stairs and Gilbert hesitates to follow.) Hurry up now. Down the stairs. (Valet allows Gilbert to walk in front of him).
Gilbert
Where are we going? What is it you have to show me? (he pauses) Do you have to stand behind me? I don’t like you watching me all the time it makes me uncomfortable. (He turns to face Valet and recoils in disgust) What? Why are you staring at me so coldly like that…you have no eyelids!
Valet
What are you talking about? (Gilbert continues to look at him and slowly turns back around).
(continue down staircase, reach a door)
Valet
Ah, yes. Here we are. According to this ( holds up clipboard) a gorilla named Ishmael lives in here. Let’s take a look. (opens the door, Gilbert gasps and steps back with alarm)
Gilbert
(The characters enter a large open-air junkyard filled with trash and industrial waste where they find Ishmael chained at the arms and legs. Ishmael is forced to walk endlessly in this junkyard with others around him who pay no attention to him) What is this? How is this possible? We were just inside a building!
Valet
This is Ishmael, an ape that was sent here for blasphemy. If you listen you will hear him rant on how he was simply trying to save the world.
Ishmael
“We don’t need prophets to tell us how to live; we can find out for ourselves by consulting what’s actually there” (96).
Valet
Here he goes again. Listen to his blasphemous preaching. This is why he resides here.
Ishmael
“Any story that explains the meaning of the world, the intentions of the gods, and the destiny of man is bound to be mythological.” (45)
Gilbert
Why do you subject yourself to this torment, break your chains and run!
Ishmael
(taking no notice of Gilbert he continues) “The gods gave man the same choice they gave Achilles: a brief life of glory or a long, uneventful life of obscurity” (75)
Valet
He forever attempts to make contact with the others in the room, but they pay no attention to him. They are as blind and deaf to his presence as he is to ours.
Ishmael
You! You over there! Please listen! "When the gods saw that Adam was awakening, they said to themselves, "Now here is a creature so like us that he might almost be one of our company. What span of life and what destiny shall we fashion for him?"
Valet
Oh, how awful he is. It is a shame that such a gifted creature should end up here living among garbage.
Gilbert
Are you planning on leaving me here?
Valet
“How could I. You see, we room for all sorts here. What use would you have for a room like this.” (pg. 3) Now lets keep moving (They leave the room and shut the door behind them)
Gilbert
(grabs valet, screaming) Where am I god damnit?
Valet
(obnoxiously) Haven’t you figured it out yet? You are in hell, of course.
Gilbert
Hell!? I am actually in hell?
Valet
Where else could you be? (He pauses and stares into his eyes) We should keep moving. (They continue walking down the stairwell. Gilbert is shaking his head in disbelief)
Gilbert
(softly and quickly) How can this be? What did I do to deserve this…to deserve Hell? I can’t believe it’s real. How am I a sinner?
Valet
Hm? Oh, I wouldn’t concern yourself with those questions. I don’t have the answers in any case. Just keep moving please, we are almost to the next room. (They continue in silence for a moment and the Valet stops him) I believe this is the one we need. (He opens the door for a moment and shuts it abruptly) Excuse me, I was mistaken. Ah, it’s the next one.
Gilbert
Why are you showing me these people? What do they have to do with me?
Valet
I can’t be certain. I don’t have all the answers, you see. I just do what I am instructed to do and I have been instructed to show you these specific residents. (He opens the door and then looks at his clipboard). This one is named Othello. He is both a murderer and a suicide. Most undesirable of all is his pride.
Gilbert
Why is he fighting those men? He seems to be trying to get through them.
Valet
While not visible to us, he sees his beloved wife Desdemona, whom he murdered, holding hands with his honest lieutenant whom he mistrusted. His jealousy blinds him and creates this false image, which only serves to feed his wrath and pride. He will fight this endless battle with the faceless soldiers and their swords will forever make him bleed. Listen to his shouts of rage.
Othello
“Arise black vengeance, from the hollow hell! Yield up, o love, thy crown and hearted throne to tyrannous hate! Swell, blossom, with thy fraught, for ‘tis of aspics’ tongues!” (III.iii.507-510).
Gilbert
He is so wrapped up in anger. Doesn’t he see that there is no end to these warriors? Othello! Throw down your sword! What you’re seeing isn’t real. Run from this place!
Valet
He is too intent on reaching his impossible goal to listen to you. In fact, there are very few residents who will speak to any others.
Othello
(still raging in background) “I kissed thee ere I killed thee, no way but this, killing myself, to die upon a kiss” (V.ii.420-421). Why do you hold his hand, wretched whore?
Gilbert
Othello! Listen to me, please!
Othello
Away you foul creatures! I’ll gut you all! “I have seen the day that with this little arm and this good sword, I have made my way through more impediments than twenty times your stop!” (V.ii.312-315).
Gilbert
Please! This is pointless! Calm your anger!
Valet
Sir, I assure you he is not listening. (Glances at his watch). I suppose there is not much more for you to see here. Best to be moving on.
Othello
You shall all feel my sword! “By the worth of mine eternal soul, thou hadst better have been born a dog than answer my wak’d wrath! (III.iii.412-415).
Gilbert
Othello! Listen!
Valet
Sir, please. This is pointless. We still have two more residents to observe. Let us proceed.
Gilbert
No! I’ve had just about enough of this! I go to sleep in my own bed and wake up in Hell. There must be a mistake. What am I doing here? What have I done wrong? (Valet stares at him). Stop staring and answer me damn you!
Valet
Again, be calm. There is no need for this. I cannot possibly know all of these things. I only know what I am told. I do know that you are not here by mistake. Mistakes do not happen in hell.
Gilbert
Now what do you mean by that? Your ambiguity is infuriating!
Valet
No one comes here by mistake. For one reason or another you are here and you are here for a purpose. Now I don’t think your purpose will be discovered if we linger. We must move along. (they walk for a moment in silence).
Gilbert
I really wish you wouldn’t keep staring. I’m uneasy enough being in Hell, you know. (Valet does not respond). Are…are all of these “rooms” different? I mean does each resident receive a unique room?
Valet
Hm? Oh, well yes, of course. The concept is quite simple, you see. No two sins are exactly alike, just as no two people are exactly alike. As far as I know, when a new resident arrives their history is reviewed and their greatest sins identified. Their room is then designed with a punishment in accordance with these sins. I do not know the exact process but that is the general idea. As long as I have been here I have never observed two rooms that were exactly alike.
Gilbert
So every person’s punishment is their own…this really is Hell. (they continue down the stairs). Who are you showing me now?
Valet
(looks at his clipboard) hm. We are about to observe a resident named Antigone. Though it may be rude, I personally find her punishment rather amusing. I loathe pride and Antigone is guilty of both pride and hubris. Here we are. Shall we? (not waiting for a response, Valet opens the door. The room is dark and foggy and the floor is made of dirt. A little way into the room, Gilbert sees Antigone clawing at the dirt with her hands.)
Gilbert
May I go in?
Valet
If you wish, though I don’t know why you would want to. (Gilbert walks through the door and approaches Antigone. He then stumbles back at the sight of a body lying next to her).
Gilbert
Good lord! Why is this body just lying here! He must be buried!
Valet
This is the body of her traitorous brother, Polynices and he will never be buried. Antigone will dig a grave for him with her bare hands but as soon as he is completely covered a great wind removes his body and she starts all over again.
Antigone
“No. I am going to bury him…he is my brother” (140-141). It is the divine law!
Valet
She will never be able to bury him, Gilbert. She believes she is doing the work of the Gods.
Antigone
"Ah! Your voice is like the voice of death!" (171)
Gilbert
(taken aback) You can hear us?
Antigone
Yes
Gilbert
Why do you keep this up? You will never be able to bury him. Your hands! They’re bleeding!
Valet
If you were digging in soil with glass in it, your hands would be bleeding as well.
Antigone
I must bury him. “It is the dead, not the living, who make the longest demands: We die forever...” (142).
Gilbert
But you seem so innocent. They say you are full of pride and hubris but I just don’t see that in you. You cannot be guilty of sin!
Antigone
Though your words are kind, I am afraid there are no mistakes here. "And yet, as men's hearts know, I have done no wrong, I have not sinned before God. Or if I have, I shall know the truth in death." (170)
Gilbert
If you have done no wrong then come with me. We have to leave this place!
Antigone
"no more, sir. you are alive, but I belong to Death” (158)
Gilbert
(exclaiming) What? I‘m alive?
Valet
Please come along. We really must be going. (As they leave the two witness Antigone finish burying her brother, only to have the great wind uncover his body. Immediately, Antigone begins to bury him again.)
Valet
(hurrying) Come along, you still have one more resident to meet.
Gilbert
(Grabbing Valet, forcing him to stop) Wait! Did that women just say that I am alive? This doesn’t make any sense…how can I be in Hell if I’m alive?
Valet
You’re right, I suppose. That doesn’t seem to make much sense. How can you be in hell and be alive? Quite honestly I do not see how that is possible but it is so. Anyway, we must keep moving.
(Valet pauses at the stairs.)
Valet
The next resident we are visiting is far below where we currently are. We’ll have to use the elevator.
Gilbert
Charming…elevators in Hell.
(reaching the elevater they enter, and seemingly step out a few seconds later 50 floors below)
Valet
(The characters walk up to a door, and the valet lifts up his clipboard) This is the last resident. His name is Paul D and though he suffered unjustly as a slave in life, his lust and jealousy brought him here. (He opens the door. The room appears to be a shed of some sort. Paul D is at the center of the room on his knees with deep cuts across his back. There are white men all around him laughing hysterically and pointing. At the far end up the room a black woman is chained up and is being whipped and beaten by several white men).
Gilbert
This is horrifying! What is going on?
Valet
He kneels in the mud and slop all day like an animal and the men around him laugh at him and call him as such. Now he feels like more of animal than a man.
Paul D
“You bastards! You remind me of Mister…damn rooster. Better than me. Stronger, tougher. Son of a bitch couldn’t even get out the shell by himself but he was still king!” (86). (hysterically) I’m no man. Not no more.
Gilbert
No Paul! You are a man! Stand and be one!
Valet
Ha! As if he could be a man now. For his lust he has been castrated. To him, he is useless to Sethe, the woman chained to the wall. He had relations with her and she let him into her home. He repaid her kindness by sleeping with another young woman that she took in and then hid the fact that he did. Loathsome animal.
Paul D
No! Let her alone! “You want to fight, come on! God damn it! She got enough without you! She got enough!” (22). Stop it!
Valet
Well we must really be moving on. I don’t care to look at this disgusting being any longer anyway. (They exit and shut the door). Well we have certainly seen some unique residents today. I suppose you think they don’t belong here but I assure you they do. To live with so much pride, wrath, jealousy and lust is considered a grave sin, a waste of an existence. Perhaps some of them should have thought before they held themselves above others, hurt others, or blasphemed. (He glances at his clipboard) We still have one more stop. Follow me.
Gilbert
Where are you taking me now?
Valet
Just follow me. (They walk briefly) It appears we have arrived. This is where I must leave you.
Gilbert
What do you mean leave me? What’s in here?
Valet
If I am not mistaken, this here is your room. And I do not know what is inside, of course, know one has gone in as of yet.
Gilbert
No! That can’t be! I’m alive! I don’t belong here yet! What have I done to become a resident! You belong here you heartless monster! Not me! I still have time in my life! I’ll right whatever is wrong, I’ll be pious, I’ll do good, but you can’t leave me here!
(Valet opens door)
Gilbert
Stop it! Let me out of here!
Valet
I’m afraid this is the only place you have to go. (He starts to push him through the door).
Gilbert
Hail Mary, full of grace, the lord be with you…(Valet shoves him in).
(Gilbert wakes to find himself in cold sweats in his own bed. It is just about dawn and some sunlight is creeping through the window).
Gilbert
…A dream? Hah! Yes! Only a dream…or…well this is my room…no…it couldn’t be.
END
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