THEATRE! TCA College meets at Trinity Christian Centre @ Paya Lebar, in Singapore. The drama courses for the Creative Arts Cert program (accredited by University of Wales) are recorded here.
Objective: What do you want? I want the best for my 2 sons. But now that they have been put to death in such an undignified manner, I want to do all I can to protect their bodies from the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, and as much as I can, preserve whatever shred of dignity they might have left.
What will happen if you can’t get what you want? (does it feel like life or death) If it comes down to it, I would give my life to protect them.
What else do you want? I want to see that my sons get a decent burial, and are laid to rest in peace.
What makes me want this? A mother’s love – fierce, unconditional, loyal and protective.
What is keeping me from getting it? The rulers and man’s thirst for revenge – A famine had fallen on the land for 3 years because Saul broke a running covenant and slew the Gibeonites. As a result, King David asked of the Gibeonites what satisfaction they demanded. They demanded the death of 7 of Saul’s sons. 2 of mine, along with the 5 sons of Merab were put to death, their bodies hung on a hill and exposed before the Lord.
What am I afraid of it I DO get what I want? (playing opposites) I’m afraid of the possibilities? Who knows what might have transpired between the rulers of the land to get them to carry out what I want.
Relationships: What is your relationship to the other character(s)? King David: New king of the land, whose rule I am now subject to. Saul: Previous king of the land (now deceased); 1st king of Israel; I am his concubine. Saul’s wife: 1st wife of Saul, senior in “rank” and “position” in the household. Armoni, Mephibosheth: My 2 sons, borne of Saul. Gibeonites: Foreigners in the land, remnants of the Amorites living in Israel. God of Israel: The LORD my God.
How long have I known them? King David: Since he slew Goliath as a young man, he was frequently in the royal courts spending time with Jonathan. However, my encounters with him then were few and brief. Saul: I have known him from the time I became his concubine. Saul’s wife: From the time I became Saul’s concubine. Armoni, Mephibosheth: My 2 sons, I’ve known them since they were born. Gibeonites: They have been foreigners living in the land since before I was born. God of Israel: Since birth.
How do I feel about them? Can I trust them? King David: Saul always had a long-standing grouse against David. What’s more, he was the one who put my 2 sons to death! Curse the insatiable thirst of men who was and drink the blood of their brothers. No I don’t trust him. Saul: This man, my king, an unloving husband. No I can’t trust him either, he can’t even get my sons’ names straight. Saul’s wife: She couldn’t care less about Saul and his affairs. All she cares about is herself, and she didn’t even flinch when Saul took me in as his concubine. No, I don’t trust her. Armoni, Mephibosheth: My 2 sons, my reason to live. I trust them with my life. Gibeonites: These foreigners who demand the blood of my sons? How could I trust them? God of Israel: The sovereign Lord, yes I trust Him.
What kind of power do they hold over me? King David: As current king of the land, I am subject to his kingship. Saul: As my husband and king, he held authority over me, when he was alive that is. Saul’s wife: First in rank in Saul’s household, I am subject to her whims and fancies. But as long as we keep out of each other’s way, things are ok. Armoni, Mephibosheth: I love them so much they have a strong emotional hold over me. Gibeonites: In seeking to appease the Gibeonites, David has given them power over the lives of my 2 sons, and thus over me. God of Israel: He, is the epitome of power. Power divine and supreme.
What secret will I never tell this person(s)? An injustice that my sons committed – the shedding of innocent blood. I happened to witness this, but I will never reveal it to anyone; I will protect them with my life.
What do I think they think about me? King David: A man who sheds the blood of his brothers in order to appease the enemy? He thinks nothing of me, a woman, and a lowly concubine. Saul: A shadow that moved just beyond tent walls. I was simply a plaything to satisfy his desires. Saul’s wife: She didn’t even flinch when I came into the palace, I am but one of Saul’s concubines. Armoni, Mephibosheth: They love me, they need me. Gibeonites: Obviously nothing, considering how they demanded the lives of my 2 sons. God of Israel: His relationship to me is like that of a just God ruling over His people.
What do I want them to think about me? As a woman in Israel, it is commonplace to be looked down upon. I am so used to being treated unfairly it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about me anymore.
How can I get them to understand me? Is that even possible?
Environment: Where was I the moment before this scene happened? I was in the palace together with the ladies of the royal household, waiting anxiously for news of King David’s talks with the Gibeonites.
Where am I going after this scene ends? Once I see my sons safely buried, I will go back home.
How do you feel about my surroundings? The weather: It has not rained for 5 months. The weather is hot, arid, and dry. The time of day: It is mid-afternoon. The location/setting: The sanctuary of Gibeah, on the top of a hill. What’s just beyond this location? Roads leading down the hill to the town of Gibeah.
Discoveries: What do I learn for the first time in these moments of my life? This is the first time I am subjecting my body to such extended physical hardship. I am amazed at how much I can actually endure.
What do I find humorous or ironic while I live through this scene? 5 months and still no rain; and my sons were killed to appease God’s wrath? More like to satisfy the thirst of bloodthirsty men, hungry for revenge.
Who am I? Physiology
My FULL name: Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Rizpah means “coal” or “hot stone”. My age: No mention given in the bible. Perhaps late 30s – early 40s? My body type: No mention given in the bible. Considering she was one of the king’s concubines, she should have been physically attractive? My hygiene: No mention given in the bible but as a concubine to the king, she should have been rather well groomed. After 5 months in the open however, her body would have been suffering the effects of exposure. My appearance: No mention given in the bible. However, as mentioned, considering she was one of the king’s concubines, she should have been physically attractive. My defects, vices: ?
How do I feel about myself? Psychology. My self-esteem: Women were looked down upon and I have often been treated unfairly. My self-esteem is probably not too high. My intelligence: I’m not that intelligent. Average maybe? My amusements, hobbies: I love my sons, they amuse me. My sex life, moral standards: Here we practice polygamy, but I nevertheless remain faithful to my husband. My personal ambitions: I don’t have any ambitions of my own, but I hope to see my sons rise to positions of respect and honour. My life long dream(s): To be a faithful and caring mother. My frustrations: Men, especially the ruthless, bloodthirsty ones I’ve been exposed to a lot. My disappointments: Men, especially the callous ones I’ve been exposed to. My temperament & personality: Faithful, caring and gentle but with a deep inner strength cultivated from years of silent suffering. But where I am now, I don’t care about anything else except my sons anymore. My attitude toward life: It’s a man’s world. My complexes, obsessions, inhibitions, superstitions: Perhaps some degree of an inferiority complex, and an obsession with my sons. My abilities and talents: Motherhood? People describe me as: Saul’s concubine What gives me energy? My sons.
How do I feel about myself? Sociology. My status/class: I am the concubine of a king.
My Occupation: N/A (I am a king’s concubine)
My Education: N/A (She probably did not go through any formal education)
My home life: Are my parents still living? No mention in the bible. What kind of parents were they? My father was Aiah, son of Zibeon, descendant of Esau. No other mention is made in the bible of Rizpah’s parents, their marital status, habits, vices, and nurture of her. Neither is any mention made of her homelife.
My marital status My feelings about my marriage are: I am but one of Saul’s many playthings.
My current feelings about religion: I believe in the God of Israel. He is a righteous judge, He will judge fairly despite all this unfairness that I see around me.
My race/nationality The community I live in and my place in it: As one of Saul’s concubines, my position hangs in the balance now that King Saul is dead and David has taken the throne.
My political affliations: 2 camps exist in Israel now: those loyal to the house of Saul, and those loyal to King David. My affiliations still lie with Saul at this point in time.
Objective: What do you want? - I want to be left alone to do what I do in secret. I have lived outside the community for as long as I can remember and I do not wish for that to change What will happen if to you can’t get what you want (does it feel like life or death) - Yes, my life is in eminent danger now that Saul, the King is dead. People who know of my meeting with him may think I am directly responsible for his death. What else do you want? - I have no need of anything but that the meeting with King Saul had been a figment of my imagination but… What makes you want this? - Having lived alone most of my life, I really hope that my privacy be kept intact What is keeping me from getting it? - King Saul… and Samuel. To a larger extend, God. What am I afraid of it if I DO get what I want? - That I will live in obscurity all my life Relationships: - King Saul: The originator of my sorrows… He’s also the King of the Land - Samuel: He is my peer and though our trade functions do seem similar, we couldn’t be more different How long have I known them? - Since they came into prominence though I do not know them personally prior to this
How do I feel about them? Can I trust them? - I do not trust anyone
What kind of power do they hold over me? - I do not know for sure What secret will I never tell this person? - I do not tell anyone anything What do I think they think about me? - Samuel probably hates me to the core while King David seemed indifferent to me prior to this What do I want them to think about me? - That I am harmless and unimportant How do I get them to understand me? - I do not want them to!
Environment: What was the moment before this scene happened? - There is an upheaval in the Land because the King was distress about not getting what he wants What am I going after this scene ends? - I hope to get out of the land by Daybreak, I feel there may be a threat to my life - How do you feel about my surroundings? The Weather - The weather is gloomy, it reflects the situation I am in
The time of the day - Dead of the night - Its in the dead of night The Location/setting - A cave in Endor, where I suggest meeting him, the cave is a place I am most familiar with. Saul seems deranged when I first greeted him. I thought for a moment that I had him playing around my fingers until the Spirit of Samuel came upon me. The cave would be pitch dark if I had not lit a fire, the fickly flame makes our shadows seem like their dancing. What’s just beyond this location? - An unknown land
Discoveries: What do I learn for the first time in these moments of my life? - My vulnerability, the realness of it What do I find humorous or ironic while I live through this scene? - Imagine a King ordained by Yahweh soliciting my services
Who am I? My full name - I am an unknown My age - I seem to have lived forever though I do not want to My body type - scrawny My hygiene - What hygiene? My appearance - Unsightly, people tends to keep away from me My defects, vices - I have no defects nor vices
How do I feel about myself? My self esteem - Low My intelligence - Higher than everyone else My amusement, hobbies - I have no hobbies My sex life, moral ambitions - I practises celibacy though I secretly harbor’s desires for a man My life long dreams - I have no dreams, just that I be left alone My frustrations - Not being left alone My disappointments - None My temperament - Reserved, aloof, I snap fairly easy, at myself My attitude towards life - I have a low opinion of Life in general
My abilities and talents - I am a medium not a witch. I invoke spirits, I don’t do magic People describe me as: - Detestable, and I must say that feeling is mutual What gives me energy? - The spirit World My occupation - Medium Hours - My life is my work Job Description - I invoke the spirits Income - My clients pay in kind Work conditions - It varies My education - Not much, I learn on the job for as far as I can recall How long did I study - I am still studying Why? - I always try to be better Grades - There are no exams and tests! Favourite subjects - ESP Poorest subjects - ESP My Home life - Tumultuous Are my parents still living together? - They should be dead by now What kind of parents were they? Married, divorced? - I do not know Their habits - Fighting Their vices - Giving birth to me Their nurture of me - They indirectly made me the way I am today The home life we had As a small child - I was a nobody, nobody cared As a teenager - Queer As a young adult - Queerer Do I have siblings? - I used to have Do I still keep in contact with them? - I wished they are dead as well so that they will not see me in the state I am in My marital status - Single My feelings and thoughts on this - I have a secret desire to have a man for companion, someone like Saul My current feelings about religion - A man should pursue his own pleasures… Religion is poison My race/nationality - I am a Philistine The community I live in and my place in it - I am my own community, there is no one else My political affiliations - I do like Saul. Whichever country he’s ruling.
3 comments:
from Jocelyn
13th Oct 2008
Character Analysis – Rizpah
Objective:
What do you want?
I want the best for my 2 sons. But now that they have been put to death in such an undignified manner, I want to do all I can to protect their bodies from the birds of the air, the beasts of the field, and as much as I can, preserve whatever shred of dignity they might have left.
What will happen if you can’t get what you want? (does it feel like life or death)
If it comes down to it, I would give my life to protect them.
What else do you want?
I want to see that my sons get a decent burial, and are laid to rest in peace.
What makes me want this?
A mother’s love – fierce, unconditional, loyal and protective.
What is keeping me from getting it?
The rulers and man’s thirst for revenge – A famine had fallen on the land for 3 years because Saul broke a running covenant and slew the Gibeonites. As a result, King David asked of the Gibeonites what satisfaction they demanded. They demanded the death of 7 of Saul’s sons. 2 of mine, along with the 5 sons of Merab were put to death, their bodies hung on a hill and exposed before the Lord.
What am I afraid of it I DO get what I want? (playing opposites)
I’m afraid of the possibilities? Who knows what might have transpired between the rulers of the land to get them to carry out what I want.
Relationships:
What is your relationship to the other character(s)?
King David: New king of the land, whose rule I am now subject to.
Saul: Previous king of the land (now deceased); 1st king of Israel; I am his concubine.
Saul’s wife: 1st wife of Saul, senior in “rank” and “position” in the household.
Armoni, Mephibosheth: My 2 sons, borne of Saul.
Gibeonites: Foreigners in the land, remnants of the Amorites living in Israel.
God of Israel: The LORD my God.
How long have I known them?
King David: Since he slew Goliath as a young man, he was frequently in the royal courts spending time with Jonathan. However, my encounters with him then were few and brief.
Saul: I have known him from the time I became his concubine.
Saul’s wife: From the time I became Saul’s concubine.
Armoni, Mephibosheth: My 2 sons, I’ve known them since they were born.
Gibeonites: They have been foreigners living in the land since before I was born.
God of Israel: Since birth.
How do I feel about them? Can I trust them?
King David: Saul always had a long-standing grouse against David. What’s more, he was the one who put my 2 sons to death! Curse the insatiable thirst of men who was and drink the blood of their brothers. No I don’t trust him.
Saul: This man, my king, an unloving husband. No I can’t trust him either, he can’t even get my sons’ names straight.
Saul’s wife: She couldn’t care less about Saul and his affairs. All she cares about is herself, and she didn’t even flinch when Saul took me in as his concubine. No, I don’t trust her.
Armoni, Mephibosheth: My 2 sons, my reason to live. I trust them with my life.
Gibeonites: These foreigners who demand the blood of my sons? How could I trust them?
God of Israel: The sovereign Lord, yes I trust Him.
What kind of power do they hold over me?
King David: As current king of the land, I am subject to his kingship.
Saul: As my husband and king, he held authority over me, when he was alive that is.
Saul’s wife: First in rank in Saul’s household, I am subject to her whims and fancies. But as long as we keep out of each other’s way, things are ok.
Armoni, Mephibosheth: I love them so much they have a strong emotional hold over me.
Gibeonites: In seeking to appease the Gibeonites, David has given them power over the lives of my 2 sons, and thus over me.
God of Israel: He, is the epitome of power. Power divine and supreme.
What secret will I never tell this person(s)?
An injustice that my sons committed – the shedding of innocent blood. I happened to witness this, but I will never reveal it to anyone; I will protect them with my life.
What do I think they think about me?
King David: A man who sheds the blood of his brothers in order to appease the enemy? He thinks nothing of me, a woman, and a lowly concubine.
Saul: A shadow that moved just beyond tent walls. I was simply a plaything to satisfy his desires.
Saul’s wife: She didn’t even flinch when I came into the palace, I am but one of Saul’s concubines.
Armoni, Mephibosheth: They love me, they need me.
Gibeonites: Obviously nothing, considering how they demanded the lives of my 2 sons.
God of Israel: His relationship to me is like that of a just God ruling over His people.
What do I want them to think about me?
As a woman in Israel, it is commonplace to be looked down upon. I am so used to being treated unfairly it doesn’t matter what anyone thinks about me anymore.
How can I get them to understand me?
Is that even possible?
Environment:
Where was I the moment before this scene happened?
I was in the palace together with the ladies of the royal household, waiting anxiously for news of King David’s talks with the Gibeonites.
Where am I going after this scene ends?
Once I see my sons safely buried, I will go back home.
How do you feel about my surroundings?
The weather: It has not rained for 5 months. The weather is hot, arid, and dry.
The time of day: It is mid-afternoon.
The location/setting: The sanctuary of Gibeah, on the top of a hill.
What’s just beyond this location? Roads leading down the hill to the town of Gibeah.
Discoveries:
What do I learn for the first time in these moments of my life?
This is the first time I am subjecting my body to such extended physical hardship. I am amazed at how much I can actually endure.
What do I find humorous or ironic while I live through this scene?
5 months and still no rain; and my sons were killed to appease God’s wrath? More like to satisfy the thirst of bloodthirsty men, hungry for revenge.
Who am I? Physiology
My FULL name: Rizpah, daughter of Aiah. Rizpah means “coal” or “hot stone”.
My age: No mention given in the bible. Perhaps late 30s – early 40s?
My body type: No mention given in the bible. Considering she was one of the king’s concubines, she should have been physically attractive?
My hygiene: No mention given in the bible but as a concubine to the king, she should have been rather well groomed. After 5 months in the open however, her body would have been suffering the effects of exposure.
My appearance: No mention given in the bible. However, as mentioned, considering she was one of the king’s concubines, she should have been physically attractive.
My defects, vices: ?
How do I feel about myself? Psychology.
My self-esteem: Women were looked down upon and I have often been treated unfairly. My self-esteem is probably not too high.
My intelligence: I’m not that intelligent. Average maybe?
My amusements, hobbies: I love my sons, they amuse me.
My sex life, moral standards: Here we practice polygamy, but I nevertheless remain faithful to my husband.
My personal ambitions: I don’t have any ambitions of my own, but I hope to see my sons rise to positions of respect and honour.
My life long dream(s): To be a faithful and caring mother.
My frustrations: Men, especially the ruthless, bloodthirsty ones I’ve been exposed to a lot.
My disappointments: Men, especially the callous ones I’ve been exposed to.
My temperament & personality: Faithful, caring and gentle but with a deep inner strength cultivated from years of silent suffering. But where I am now, I don’t care about anything else except my sons anymore.
My attitude toward life: It’s a man’s world.
My complexes, obsessions, inhibitions, superstitions: Perhaps some degree of an inferiority complex, and an obsession with my sons.
My abilities and talents: Motherhood?
People describe me as: Saul’s concubine
What gives me energy? My sons.
How do I feel about myself? Sociology.
My status/class: I am the concubine of a king.
My Occupation: N/A (I am a king’s concubine)
My Education: N/A (She probably did not go through any formal education)
My home life:
Are my parents still living? No mention in the bible.
What kind of parents were they? My father was Aiah, son of Zibeon, descendant of Esau. No other mention is made in the bible of Rizpah’s parents, their marital status, habits, vices, and nurture of her. Neither is any mention made of her homelife.
My marital status
My feelings about my marriage are: I am but one of Saul’s many playthings.
My current feelings about religion: I believe in the God of Israel. He is a righteous judge, He will judge fairly despite all this unfairness that I see around me.
My race/nationality
The community I live in and my place in it: As one of Saul’s concubines, my position hangs in the balance now that King Saul is dead and David has taken the throne.
My political affliations: 2 camps exist in Israel now: those loyal to the house of Saul, and those loyal to King David. My affiliations still lie with Saul at this point in time.
Character Analysis – Witch of Endor
Objective:
What do you want?
- I want to be left alone to do what I do in secret. I have lived outside the community for as long as I can remember and I do not wish for that to change
What will happen if to you can’t get what you want (does it feel like life or death)
- Yes, my life is in eminent danger now that Saul, the King is dead. People who know of my meeting with him may think I am directly responsible for his death.
What else do you want?
- I have no need of anything but that the meeting with King Saul had been a figment of my imagination but…
What makes you want this?
- Having lived alone most of my life, I really hope that my privacy be kept intact
What is keeping me from getting it?
- King Saul… and Samuel. To a larger extend, God.
What am I afraid of it if I DO get what I want?
- That I will live in obscurity all my life
Relationships:
- King Saul: The originator of my sorrows… He’s also the King of the Land
- Samuel: He is my peer and though our trade functions do seem similar, we couldn’t be more different
How long have I known them?
- Since they came into prominence though I do not know them personally prior to this
How do I feel about them? Can I trust them?
- I do not trust anyone
What kind of power do they hold over me?
- I do not know for sure
What secret will I never tell this person?
- I do not tell anyone anything
What do I think they think about me?
- Samuel probably hates me to the core while King David seemed indifferent to me prior to this
What do I want them to think about me?
- That I am harmless and unimportant
How do I get them to understand me?
- I do not want them to!
Environment:
What was the moment before this scene happened?
- There is an upheaval in the Land because the King was distress about not getting what he wants
What am I going after this scene ends?
- I hope to get out of the land by Daybreak, I feel there may be a threat to my life
-
How do you feel about my surroundings?
The Weather
- The weather is gloomy, it reflects the situation I am in
The time of the day
- Dead of the night
- Its in the dead of night
The Location/setting
- A cave in Endor, where I suggest meeting him, the cave is a place I am most familiar with. Saul seems deranged when I first greeted him. I thought for a moment that I had him playing around my fingers until the Spirit of Samuel came upon me. The cave would be pitch dark if I had not lit a fire, the fickly flame makes our shadows seem like their dancing.
What’s just beyond this location?
- An unknown land
Discoveries:
What do I learn for the first time in these moments of my life?
- My vulnerability, the realness of it
What do I find humorous or ironic while I live through this scene?
- Imagine a King ordained by Yahweh soliciting my services
Who am I?
My full name
- I am an unknown
My age
- I seem to have lived forever though I do not want to
My body type
- scrawny
My hygiene
- What hygiene?
My appearance
- Unsightly, people tends to keep away from me
My defects, vices
- I have no defects nor vices
How do I feel about myself?
My self esteem
- Low
My intelligence
- Higher than everyone else
My amusement, hobbies
- I have no hobbies
My sex life, moral ambitions
- I practises celibacy though I secretly harbor’s desires for a man
My life long dreams
- I have no dreams, just that I be left alone
My frustrations
- Not being left alone
My disappointments
- None
My temperament
- Reserved, aloof, I snap fairly easy, at myself
My attitude towards life
- I have a low opinion of Life in general
My abilities and talents
- I am a medium not a witch. I invoke spirits, I don’t do magic
People describe me as:
- Detestable, and I must say that feeling is mutual
What gives me energy?
- The spirit World
My occupation
- Medium
Hours
- My life is my work
Job Description
- I invoke the spirits
Income
- My clients pay in kind
Work conditions
- It varies
My education
- Not much, I learn on the job for as far as I can recall
How long did I study
- I am still studying
Why?
- I always try to be better
Grades
- There are no exams and tests!
Favourite subjects
- ESP
Poorest subjects
- ESP
My Home life
- Tumultuous
Are my parents still living together?
- They should be dead by now
What kind of parents were they?
Married, divorced?
- I do not know
Their habits
- Fighting
Their vices
- Giving birth to me
Their nurture of me
- They indirectly made me the way I am today
The home life we had
As a small child
- I was a nobody, nobody cared
As a teenager
- Queer
As a young adult
- Queerer
Do I have siblings?
- I used to have
Do I still keep in contact with them?
- I wished they are dead as well so that they will not see me in the state I am in
My marital status
- Single
My feelings and thoughts on this
- I have a secret desire to have a man for companion, someone like Saul
My current feelings about religion
- A man should pursue his own pleasures… Religion is poison
My race/nationality
- I am a Philistine
The community I live in and my place in it
- I am my own community, there is no one else
My political affiliations
- I do like Saul. Whichever country he’s ruling.
Witch of Endor analysis thanks to daniel teu!
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