Six Characters in Search of an Author Luigi Pirandello (classic novels for teens txt) š
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veil. Let them see you!
The Mother
Rising and covering her face with her hands, in desperation. I beg you, sir, to prevent this man from carrying out his plan which is loathsome to me.
The Manager
Dumbfounded. I donāt understand at all. What is the situation? Is this lady your wife? To The Father.
The Father
Yes, gentlemen: my wife!
The Manager
But how can she be a widow if you are alive? The Actors find relief for their astonishment in a loud laugh.
The Father
Donāt laugh! Donāt laugh like that, for Heavenās sake. Her drama lies just here in this: she has had a lover, a man who ought to be here.
The Mother
With a cry. No! No!
The Step-Daughter
Fortunately for her, he is dead. Two months ago as I said. We are in mourning, as you see.
The Father
He isnāt here you see, not because he is dead. He isnāt hereā ālook at her a moment and you will understandā ābecause her drama isnāt a drama of the love of two men for whom she was incapable of feeling anything except possibly a little gratitudeā āgratitude not for me but for the other. She isnāt a woman, she is a mother, and her dramaā āpowerful sir, I assure youā ālies, as a matter of fact, all in these four children she has had by two men.
The Mother
I had them? Have you got the courage to say that I wanted them? To the company. It was his doing. It was he who gave me that other man, who forced me to go away with him.
The Step-Daughter
It isnāt true.
The Mother
Startled. Not true, isnāt it?
The Step-Daughter
No, it isnāt true, it just isnāt true.
The Mother
And what can you know about it?
The Step-Daughter
It isnāt true. Donāt believe it. To The Manager. Do you know why she says so? For that fellow there. Indicates The Son. She tortures herself, destroys herself on account of the neglect of that son there; and she wants him to believe that if she abandoned him when he was only two years old, it was because he Indicates The Father. made her do so.
The Mother
Vigorously. He forced me to it, and I call God to witness it. To The Manager. Ask him Indicates husband. if it isnāt true. Let him speak. You To The Step-Daughter. are not in a position to know anything about it.
The Step-Daughter
I know you lived in peace and happiness with my father while he lived. Can you deny it?
The Mother
No, I donāt deny itā āā ā¦
The Step-Daughter
He was always full of affection and kindness for you To The Boy, angrily. Itās true, isnāt it? Tell them! Why donāt you speak, you little fool?
The Mother
Leave the poor boy alone. Why do you want to make me appear ungrateful, daughter? I donāt want to offend your father. I have answered him that I didnāt abandon my house and my son through any fault of mine, nor from any wilful passion.
The Father
It is true. It was my doing.
Leading Man
To the company. What a spectacle!
Leading Lady
We are the audience this time.
Juvenile Lead
For once, in a way.
The Manager
Beginning to get really interested. Letās hear them out. Listen!
The Son
Oh yes, youāre going to hear a fine bit now. He will talk to you of the Demon of Experiment.
The Father
You are a cynical imbecile. Iāve told you so already a hundred times. To The Manager. He tries to make fun of me on account of this expression which I have found to excuse myself with.
The Son
With disgust. Yes, phrases! phrases!
The Father
Phrases! Isnāt everyone consoled when faced with a trouble or fact he doesnāt understand, by a word, some simple word, which tells us nothing and yet calms us?
The Step-Daughter
Even in the case of remorse. In fact, especially then.
The Father
Remorse? No, that isnāt true. Iāve done more than use words to quieten the remorse in me.
The Step-Daughter
Yes, there was a bit of money too. Yes, yes, a bit of money. There were the hundred lire he was about to offer me in payment, gentlemen.ā āā ā¦ Sensation of horror among the Actors.
The Son
To The Step-Daughter. This is vile.
The Step-Daughter
Vile? There they were in a pale blue envelope on a little mahogany table in the back of Madame Paceās shop. You know Madame Paceā āone of those ladies who attract poor girls of good family into their ateliers, under the pretext of their selling robes et manteaux.
The Son
And he thinks he has bought the right to tyrannize over us all with those hundred lire he was going to pay; but which, fortunatelyā ānote this, gentlemenā āhe had no chance of paying.
The Step-Daughter
It was a near thing, though, you know! Laughs ironically.
The Mother
Protesting. Shame, my daughter, shame!
The Step-Daughter
Shame indeed! This is my revenge! I am dying to live that scene.ā āā ā¦ The roomā āā ā¦ I see it.ā āā ā¦ Here is the window with the mantles exposed, there the divan, the looking-glass, a screen, there in front of the window the little mahogany table with the blue envelope containing one hundred lire. I see it. I see it. I could take hold of it.ā āā ā¦ But you, gentlemen, you ought to turn your backs now: I am almost nude, you know. But I donāt blush: I leave that to him. Indicating The Father.
The Manager
I donāt understand this at all.
The Father
Naturally enough. I would ask you, sir, to exercise your authority a little here, and let me speak before you believe all she is trying to blame me with. Let me explain.
The Step-Daughter
Ah yes, explain it in your own way.
The Father
But donāt you see that the whole trouble lies here. In words, words. Each one of us has within him a whole world of things,
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