Prompt 3 on Fornes

In Conduct of Life, by Maria Irene Fornes, covers a topic that is considered a taboo by our standards. It is a story of a secret that is kept by an entire household, and one that few people know about in the world of the play. However, Leticia confides all of Orlando’s sins in one woman, Mona. One dramaturgical choice that stands out is not having Mona as a character. Leticia only talks to Mona on the phone, and we only hear Leticia’s side of things. This choice does well to show although it is a secret, anyone could know. If Mona were seen as a character, we would develop a relationship with her and then see how she is. However, because we don’t know her, we don’t trust her. She could be anyone and could tell anyone. It goes to show that no matter who actually knows nothing is being done to stop the injustice. Everyone, Mona included, is allowing this to happen to the poor girl in the cellar. I think that Fornes is also using this choice to reach out to the audience. Mona is the confidant. She is the confessional priest to which Leticia vents. Because only Mona and the audience can hear their conversations, I believe Fornes is telling us that we are Mona. We are the ones in everyday life who are not directly involved, and yet we are the ones doing nothing. We are merely bystanders to the things that happen in the world. Therefore, Mona is in a way the symbol for the audience. I believe the play is called Conduct of Life because we are expected to conduct our lives in a certain manner. We are expected to uphold a sense of pride and decency and most of all, responsibility. If we do not conduct ourselves in the right way injustices will occur. We must conduct our lives in the way that is expected.