For people who know the music of Rent! (preferably the Broadway version!)?

Question

What exactly do they mean when they use the term "baggage?" They mention this quite frequently throughout the songs and I can't figure out if it's referencing pent up emotions or hidden motives or AIDS or maybe even all three of those. Anyone know?

Answer 1

To me, the words "I've got baggage" means " I've got problems", one of the problems being AIDS, but also emotional problems, financial problems. . . Basically, it's like saying "I'm just warning you; I'm super flawed".

They both have had great emotional difficulty in their lives. With Mimi this means her drug abuse, striping, and, as the meaning of her name implies, a neglected childhood. For Rodger, it's his temper, relationship fears (His previous girlfriend April, who gave him AIDS and then committed suicide), and he seems to have a mild case of depression. Both are obviously living in rather shoddy conditions, and are social outcasts, and that whole AIDS thing is pretty difficult too.

p.s. if you do research on the names, you'll find out some interesting things !

Answer 2

The baggage is HIV/AIDS and what comes with having it. You have to take many different types of anti-retroviral pills at certain times of the day with other regulations (such as on an empty stomach or with caffein), also, these pills have extreme side affects-uncontrollable diarrhea. Also, there's the mental baggage-every time you take one of those pills-which I've already mentioned is multiple times a day-you are reminded that you are infected-it's a detrimental blow to one's self-esteem because you think "who would want me, I'm infected, my body is killing itself." There's just one more thing, when Jonathan Larson wrote RENT it was during a time when people were still learning things about HIV/AIDS, so there was still very much a stigma related to the people who had it. Many doctors didn't want to treat them, and many people wouldn't hire a person infected-there weren't any laws yet protecting people from that discrimination, and in many states, there still isn't.

Answer 3

Baggage is past experiences that have led them to the emotional position they are in now. This can be determined by the contraction of AIDS, bad childhood growing up. etc So "you don't want baggage without life time garrentees" translates - you don't want to be with me knowing that I have AIDS now and I have to take medication for the rest of my life also knowing that i have no money to pay for that, and other addictions, till it leads to my death. Hope this clears it up for you. I LOVE RENT!

Answer 4

The baggage referred to is AIDS. You will notice that Roger won't commit to Mimi because he has "baggage". He's referring to his AIDS. "I Should Tell You" is about the both wanted to tell each other about their disease. When Mimi's alarm goes off for her AZT break, that let's Roger know that she has AIDS too. Since they both realize that they are in the same boat, they conclude that their "baggage" is the same.

Answer 5

I appreciated the film variation as good. I although they would accomplish that a lot more with the units and the making a song used to be first-class. The streets of New York (or the set) had been a lot more fascinating than the play. Although each models are relatively well.

Answer 6

all three, but it mostly depends on the point at which it is mentioned. Don't worry. I got this answer from a highly obsessed RENT fan that knows every lyric to every song.

Answer 7

It's definitely all three. Accepting their baggage means to accept them as they are... disease, meds, poorness, gayness and all. Take me as I am.

Answer 8

I would simply say it is your past - and the negative aspects of your past that still effect you today

Answer 9

i think they refer to it as in their issues and problems. hope that helps