In The Children's Hour a significant moment when Hellman breaks the Well-Made Play structure is at the very end of the play when they disconnect the phone. In order to continue in the WMP structure, they should have answered the phone just in time to have the revelation of their innocence before Martha could confess her love to Karen and certainly before she could kill herself. However, I think that the abandonment of the WMP framework in this moment is incredibly important to define this play's true nature.
The idea of a "tragic lesbian" play seemed an overly-simplistic classification to me at first, but after seeing the trope throughout other works it seems very much the best lens through which to examine this play. The reaction I felt when I first read this text was anger at the injustice of the women's situation because it was all caused by the lie of a child! However, looking at it a little differently, Hellman gives maybe one too many good reasons to feel pity for these women when none of those reasons is that what they're being persecuted for is rumored lesbianism. Even Hellman's denying the just-in-time revelation in the plot plays a part in stating a very clear message about the "affliction" that Martha recognizes in herself. The pity is inspired by the fact that they were innocent, and when Martha is revealed to be truly guilty of the accusations, she kills herself. I don't think that theatres should produce this play anymore.
It would certainly take on an entirely new meaning.I like the message about the power of a lie. Gossip will always be around.. Maybe an adaptation instead? where they're accused of making the little girls brew Meth! Meth will always be bad. So will Nickleback.
ReplyDeleteI agree, By ignoring the phone call they skip the obligatory scene, which eliminates the opportunity for things to b resolved. It was an interesting choice made.
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