アメリカ固有の素材を求めて : James Nelson BarkerのThe Indian Princess, Superstition論

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In A History of the American Drama the author Arthur Hobson Quinn writes; Barker's choice of American themes was not accidental nor was it parochial. He knew other literatures and he made use of them, but he felt keenly the lack of a native drama and he did his best to fill the lack (137). Barker picks up the legendary Pocahontas story for The Indian Princess; or, La Belle Sauvage to be first produced in 1808 at Philadelphia's Chestnut Street Theatre and then in the next year at New York's Park Theatre as "an operatic melo-drame." He also chooses a witchcraft theme in the theocratic New England village for Superstition; or, The Fanatic Father, which was produced in 1824 also at Chestnut Street Theatre. In The Indian Princess Captain John Smith who joined 120 member first settlers as one of their councillors and explored Virginian wilderness in 1607 is the central character moving the action. He is caught by Algonquin lndians to be punished for his killing 6 Indians in a gun fight but their chief Powhatan's dear daughter Pocahontas saves him from his execution. In the process meeting Smith's deputy John Rolfe she falls in love with him. There are 4 other couples in the play which making up a romantic atmosphere help Pocahontas and Rolfe get married. This is really a rare case of intercultural and interracial marrlage at that time. The playwright probably might have seen a new probability in human relationship in a historical fact where Rolfe and Pocahontas as husband and wife were invited to England in 1616 and well received in its society. Superstition depicts a Puritan minister Ravensworth who presides a village and a lady Isabella who lives in a large mansion on a hill. He doubts her because she doesn't attend his church although she came from England 3 years ago. Several incidents occur in the course of the drama. Her son Charles harms a young man in a duel and the minister finds his daughter in her own room embraced by Charles. And Indians attack the village for which an unkown wild looking man leads the village people to fight back. Ravensworth calls for the colonial government judges to hold court for witchcraft, because he suspects Isabella and Charles have something to do with some heretical power. In the court they find no proofs for his suspicion, but he insists Charles being guilty for an attempt murder and an attempt rape and dares to have him excecuted in judges' confusion. At the end several facts are revealed: that the unkown is Isabella's father who has been pursued as a regicide for Charles I but now is pardoned; that Isabella came to New England area looking for her father who was supposed to be hiding and that Charles is a son between she and Charles II. Barker here tries to show how cruel and unreasonable the Purtian dogamas can be while he uses a few historical facts and fictions based on facts.
2004-03-02

アメリカ固有の素材を求めて : James Nelson BarkerのThe Indian Princess, Superstition論

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