THE WINTER'S TALE (2022)
THE SHEPHERD: CONNECTING WITH MY CHARACTER
When going through my lines in Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, I thought I had only two connections through the character of the shepherd. Those two are aging, and the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ.
However, I found that is not the case. Actually, I have several more connections. One is between my daughter and Perdita. During the sheep shearing festival (Act 4, Scene 4), the shepherd is pleased that Florizel and Perdita get along so well. He sees that they truly love each other. When Perdita responds with positive affections toward Florizel, the shepherd says,
Take hands: a bargain. And friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't. I give my daughter to him
and make my portion equal his.
I remember 23 years go. My daughter told me she was getting married. I had always dreamt of giving her away. Sadly, I could not because I was in prison. She has since divorced. I get released in about a year and a half. If she gets married after that hopefully, I can...
The surprising thing about making this connection is the fact that I had overlooked it for so long.
I had gone over my lines numerous times and read the play at least five times, thinking that I had only the connections mentioned earlier. Since then, I not only noticed the connection between my daughter and Perdita, but also the fact that the shepherd raised a son and a daughter by himself. I raised my now 44-year-old son and 42-year-old daughter for about ten years by myself, when they were young.
Although it is somewhat devastating to remember this, and would be emotionally draining for me to break character and speak about this during our performance of the play, I think it would be beneficial for me. It would remind me of all that I have missed in the lives of my children over the more than 28 yers I have been incarcerated. I also think it might be beneficial for inmates in the audience. Hopefully, it would stir their desire to get out, stay out, and reconnect with their families, especially their children, in a positive way.
Furthermore, in the non-inmate audience, there might be those who are estranged from their family and children. With my personal story, they may see the need to and get a desire to reconnect with them.
I will do it. Yet, I am hesitant because I might become too emotional and choke up. I ask the Good Shepherd to be my strength through this.
However, I found that is not the case. Actually, I have several more connections. One is between my daughter and Perdita. During the sheep shearing festival (Act 4, Scene 4), the shepherd is pleased that Florizel and Perdita get along so well. He sees that they truly love each other. When Perdita responds with positive affections toward Florizel, the shepherd says,
Take hands: a bargain. And friends unknown, you shall bear witness to't. I give my daughter to him
and make my portion equal his.
I remember 23 years go. My daughter told me she was getting married. I had always dreamt of giving her away. Sadly, I could not because I was in prison. She has since divorced. I get released in about a year and a half. If she gets married after that hopefully, I can...
The surprising thing about making this connection is the fact that I had overlooked it for so long.
I had gone over my lines numerous times and read the play at least five times, thinking that I had only the connections mentioned earlier. Since then, I not only noticed the connection between my daughter and Perdita, but also the fact that the shepherd raised a son and a daughter by himself. I raised my now 44-year-old son and 42-year-old daughter for about ten years by myself, when they were young.
Although it is somewhat devastating to remember this, and would be emotionally draining for me to break character and speak about this during our performance of the play, I think it would be beneficial for me. It would remind me of all that I have missed in the lives of my children over the more than 28 yers I have been incarcerated. I also think it might be beneficial for inmates in the audience. Hopefully, it would stir their desire to get out, stay out, and reconnect with their families, especially their children, in a positive way.
Furthermore, in the non-inmate audience, there might be those who are estranged from their family and children. With my personal story, they may see the need to and get a desire to reconnect with them.
I will do it. Yet, I am hesitant because I might become too emotional and choke up. I ask the Good Shepherd to be my strength through this.