Nick's Place

Nicholas Barnard Character Analysis 11/6/00

Sheila, I lost the Character Sketch sheet that you gave us. I tried everything, but could not find in and get it in ontime. I went looking and found the Character Analysis appendix in the Barton book, on pages 295-300. I replicated and filled most of it out. Hopefully you think that this is equivalent to what you originally wanted. If it is not, feel free to only provide me partial, if any credit.

Character: Jorge (US)/Roberto (UK) (I prefer Jorge)

Play and author: Death and the Maiden by: Ariel Dorfman

Character's Past

I come from a lower middle class family. My brother and I “played our cards” right in the previous régime and came to moderate positions of power in governmental middle management. This placed both my brother and I in positions of moral ambiguity, although I doubt my brother fully realized the horrible acts we were committing against people.

My Childhood was marred by my father's disablement. My father was a man of wealth, at least he had land, this is why the communists took over his land. He had a stroke as a result of the heart attack that happened when the communists invaded. Watching my father was a painful experience for me. Those eyes tried to communicate so much; they were angry eyes, angry for what had happened to him. He wanted me to kill the people who had caused this to him. I believe this is where my brother got his rage and revenge against the communists. He took dad's disablement and made it into anger; I took dad's disablement and made it into a desire to care. My dad was the reason I became a doctor. I hated to see him suffer and wanted to do all I could to prevent someone else from having to go through the same thing.

My family conditions were reasonable at least. My father's illness was a quiet point in my family's relationships. My mother was a strong silent figure; always moving the family forward and taking care of the business after my father had a heart attack.

Three experience that made a profound and lasting impression on me were:

The five most important given circumstances in my life are:

Crucial events that occurred prior to this scene were my being knocked out and tied to a chair, and Gerardo's discussion with me concerning the fact that I would die if I did not confess I would die.

Details of the moment just before my entrance include a detailed description by Paulina of what I did to her while she was in custody.

Character's Present

Immediate conditioning forces on me are the rage of Paulina, and the fact that I am restrained

Other characters describe me as either a kind and reasonable person, willing to go out of his way for others, or as an evil person, conspiring in torture and essentially a beast who should not be allowed to live.

I describe the others around me as lunatics, crazed and lost in themselves by either their pasts or their close relationships with those around them.

In groups, I tend to be a reserved person. When I know the group or subject well, I am talkative. When I am lost among strangers and do not know what is being spoken about, I am an attentive listener.

I would describe myself as basically a person with a troubled past, trying to put it behind himself and move on with life. I constantly make attempts to atone for my past, but I will never be able to fully.

My physical life differs from that of the actor playing me in the following ways: The actor playing me is much younger and of better health. He also is in better shape than I am. I have lagged in my old age, acquiring a reasonable belly, and lost much of my defined muscle tone.

My vocal life differs from that of the actor playing me in the following ways: The actor playing me is more outspoken and thinks much less before speaking (most times) than I do. I account for others reactions much more actively than he does.

The actor playing me most needs to use the Magic If in regards to my past. He must understand why I did what I did and the choices that faced me at the times I did what I did.

My usual style of clothing and type of accessories include a reserved doctor's suits and sweaters. I have a pocket watch, and a wallet. But I am a simple man, sticking to reserved but well looking clothing

I do not really have any specific distinguishing physical characteristics.

My favorite things are having a roof over my head and the time an ability to help others.

My temperament could be described as calm, but irritable under the right conditions.

I am most interested in getting on with my life and maintaining my professional career.

I am not interested in what is happening in America and the resulting commercialization. Although my wife and kids love it.

Character's Future

My super objective in the entire play is to get out of Paulina's custody with my life

My primary objective in this scene is to make the truth as realistic as possible, and not to put in too many details from the actual situation, but only those which Gerardo has supplied to me.

My other significant objectives, in order of importance, are:

I face the following major obstacle: convincing Paulina that I have told the truth, and I am a worthy human.

My strategy in this scene is to be calm and truthful.

Three futures I have rehearsed include this, my best possible future: Paulina believes me and lets me go, not having anything that I say or write be published.

This, my worst possible future: Paulina kills me in rage brought on by her memories.

And this, my wildest dream come true: Gerardo believes his wife has gone too far and stops this interrogation, and lets me free.