Six Characters in Search of an Author

     When reading Pirandello's play entitled Six Characters in Search of an Author, I was confused by what was going on in the play at times. This is due to Pirandello's decision to have multiple conversations going on at the same time. Also, the characters could be having their own conversation when the actors interject, but this sort of conversing went both ways.

     Although I did not particularly care for the play, I would not consider Pirandello's usage of the stage to be a “cheap trick,” but instead to be purposely making a profound point. By showing the interactions of the characters with the actors, Pirandello is demonstrating how important the actual characters are to the play. It is the actors job to then act out the characters drama, but to make it their own. The Step-Daughter comments that they are characters but that they are “lost. Adrift.” As explained by the Father, the “script” or the “drama” is not written down, but “is inside (of them). It is (them).” The actors role is to then portray these feelings and events that the characters are composed of, however, according to the characters the actors do not do them justice.

     The character of the Father seems to have an issue with this, later confronting the Director. Pirandello has the Director respond by saying to the father that he and the other characters “don't express. You provide us with raw material. The actors give it body and face, voice and gesture.” I believe that it is at this point where Pirandello wishes to stress to the reader the great difference between reading a script and seeing it acted out. Both art forms are very different, sometimes causing the scene to be portrayed in a completely different way than the author had intended