Oedipus Journal #3

In Oedipus as well as Romeo and Juliet, physical actions by the characters on the stage are extremely important. With out movement on the stage the play would seem dull and dead. In the real world most human communication is nonverbal and so it is only fitting that this ratio is repeated on the stage. In both plays the characters use their bodies as a way to communicate their emotions. As a character first steps on the stage, the audience immediately looks at his posture, gait, and facial expressions to get an idea of what kind of character he/she is. These physical actions are not spelled out in the script and it is up to the director and actors to bring life to the words they are given. Both Oedipus and Romeo and Juliet display extremely intense emotions and the reader can almost see the physical movement of the characters on the stage.