It would seem that at regular intervals, I am brought back to Sondheim’s Into the Woods…
Anything can be the launching point for my mind. Anything.
I am not having luck finding a form of the song I have rolling through my mind. Perhaps I am remembering it wrong and it isn’t a song at all, but a monologue.
I think often of the role of the witch; it is an easy thing to do when played by the incredible Ms. Peters…
That character, and the play itself, serves as a brilliant parallel to how I see the world, or at least how I see my life.
At some point, the witch addresses the other characters and speaks of how she is the only one responsible enough to do what must be done. This is what I relate to exactly… I don’t have exactly such a martyr complex. Not most days. The concept of the witch is a grey. I have mentioned that here on numerous occasions. She is seen as evil; the other characters shun and fear her for what she does. But what she does is necessary to the course of life. She does what must be done, regardless of what light such choices cast her.
I think this role is genius. It says so much. How easy it is to take the easy road and blame others for the failures. How easy it is to be the hero and skip over the icky choices since, well, you are the good guy and good guys don’t do that.
I don’t think I have ever wanted to be a hero, but I have wanted to save the day. Perhaps not by flying over the city wearing a flashy cape (no capes!)… But I wouldn’t mind making the world a richer place by making the tough decisions and riding them out. I sometimes have difficulty which what I am about to express… I don’t care so much about what people think of me. I mean, of course, I want folks I care about to think fondly of me. But beyond that, I want to not care much about general opinions if I feel I am on the right path. Basically, although I may value someone’s opinion, it may not actually influence the choices I plan to make.
In thinking further, perhaps I am mixing two thoughts into one event… Perhaps not. Hard for me to say.
Either way, the witch from Into the Woods is my role model, among others. She is my hero, well… non-hero, well, anti-hero. Whichever.
gryphon's hole 