In
Overtones, by Alice Gerstenberg, Harriet and Margaret are unable to see their
counterparts, Hattie and Maggie. Hattie and Maggie represent the internal
desires and thoughts of the two women. They are unable to be seen by Harriet
and Margaret because it is not a physical struggle, but a mental and emotional
struggle. Hattie and Maggie are the voices in the women’s heads that are often
ignored. They are a voice, not an image. To Harriet and Margaret the counterparts
are part of a whole, whereas the audience sees two very separate personalities.
They two women acknowledge the presence of their respected inner selves, but they
make great efforts to avoid them.
While
Harriet and Margaret are unable to see Hattie and Maggie, Hattie and Maggie can
see each other. Hattie and Maggie are what you might call the instinctive side
of Harriet and Margaret. They are the impulses and desires and hold no regard
for ceremony or etiquette. Because they are more primitive, they can see each other.
This shows that deep down, subconsciously even, that Margaret and Harriet both
know exactly what the other is after. Because Hattie and Maggie can see each
other, the audience knows that the two women are able to understand each other’s
needs right from the start. However, they bury these needs and pretend to have
a different aim because they are both trying to impress with the use of manners
and a false sense of priority.
The
way that the four characters interact with each other is unique because of
rules of the relationships that go along with the script. The author sets down
a set of natural laws of who can see who and of who can talk to whom and these
rules drive the play and drive the interactions. I find that the rules make the
interactions more structured and less complicated. It is easier to follow which
characters are real and which are a figment because of the way that they must
talk and notice each other. Essentially
the rules state that Hattie and Maggie can see and talk to each other, Margaret
and Harriet can talk to each of their counterparts, but they cannot see them,
Hattie and Maggie cannot touch the physical world, but they can touch each
other, and of course Harriet and Margaret can interact normally with one
another.
