The Cast List is Up.

In class today, Prof. J posed a question. "How do we know who we are or if we are just playing a role?" I immediately wanted to answer, but due to not having a voice, I decided to make this question the topic of my blog.

Are the two really so different? Who we are and the role we play in society, in life? I believe that the two might actually be the same. We try and define who we are by what we do, our actions reflect our beliefs, otherwise we would not carry out those actions. For the most part.

In theatre, actors and actresses portray certain roles. They are given a character and must give the character life to an audience. I heard something once. When an actor is performing for the time they act on stage, they become their character. Not just to the audience, something in the brain makes you for that time to be the character you are trying to portray. So, that is a more literal way of looking at it, but are roles define us. And by roles, I am not just talking about in a play.

Question: Is trying to define who we are just a ceaseless task that we will never solve? Can we not just settle for who we, ourselves think we are?