I know the story but what is the meaning of the play ?
2006-09-15 00:01:30 · 5 answers · asked by wonbari2000 2 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Theater & Acting
Assassins.
Specifically the assassinations and attempted assassinations of US presidents, starts with John Wilkes Booth (killed Lincoln) ending with Lee Harvey Oswald (killed Kenedy)
2006-09-15 01:10:43 · answer #1 · answered by Steven K 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The meaning of Sondheim's Assassins, in my opinion, is that by looking hard at the different types of (deranged?) men who have attempted to, or who did assassinate various American presidents, we might understand what makes America such a violent country in which assassinations of public figures have frequently happened.
This would include John Lennon, Bobby Kennedy, Martin Luther King and Malcolm X.
By daring to make a musical about such a sensitive, emotional subject, Sondheim showed us that we should seek to understand what has fostered such a climate, and by doing so, perhaps heal it.
Simon 2
2006-09-15 16:55:09 · answer #2 · answered by simon2blues 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I think Sondheim wanted to put a bit of humanity into history. There is no real moral judgement here but with a clever mix of fact and fiction he puts a human face on the demonic names that have permiated American history. It's also something of a critique on the nature of celebrity.
2006-09-19 06:37:55 · answer #3 · answered by Andy W 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Look to the last big song... "there's another national anthem" it tells us.
The main idea seems to me that there are other voices and beliefs in the US that express ideas other than what we might get from some political beliefs. These voices have to have their own means of expression or they will bubble over into violent action.
2006-09-15 08:44:38 · answer #4 · answered by blueowlboy 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am unworthy of your love, darlin', darlin'!
2006-09-15 11:42:44 · answer #5 · answered by Huckleberry Finn 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋