Loa to Divine Narcissus Analysis PDF

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Summary

Department of Theatre Arts - THE208
Instructor: Sandie Poels-Luna
Hybrid Class
Analysis of Play 1...

Description

Loa to Divine Narcissus Analysis Loa to Divine Narcissus i s an allegorical play written by Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz about the Amer-Indian conversion to Christianity. However, (hence the allegory) it’s much deeper than that. The play, which is really more of a mini-play or pre-play, depicts the story of Spanish invaders plundering and conquering the Indigenous people of Latin America and specifically imposing their religion on those natives. Sor Juan Inés de la Cruz was a nun, needless to say she was deeply religious, but I think she was conflicted with this invasion because although a faith was gained, a culture was lost. The play begins with Occident and America, who are both of royalty. Occident (which means the countries of the West, especially Europe and America) represents the ideal human status. America represents the native inhabitants. She is beautiful and strong. Then enters Music. Music is a character that represents the spirit of the country, the overall atmosphere. Music prepares the people for the festival by encouraging them to come ready for sacrifice and worship to the God of Seeds. Music, America, and Occident exit. Religion and Zeal enter. Religion is a spanish woman, she represents the peace of love of the Christian god. Zeal is a Spanish man. He represents of the Spanish invaders; angry and volatile. Religion is upset that a false idol (the God of Seeds) is being worshipped. Zeal offers to avenge religion with violence. Religion declines, because she wants to convert America and Occident with peace and love. Religion attempts to persuade America and Occident to abandon their cult and follow her. America and Occident disregard Religion as crazy and deny Religion. Zeal is angered by this. He states that God has sent him to punish Occident and America for their sins. Zeal scares Occident, but not America. America stays strong and defiant. Zeal declares war. America and Occident mistake Zeal’s cavalry for centaurs, they have never seen

guns and are astounded and afraid. This represents the brutality of the spanish invasion on the natives of Latin America. They used their technology and knowledge to overpower the indigenous people. Religion commands Occident to surrender and he complies. Zeal condemns America to death but Religion intervenes. Religion does not want them to die, but to convert. America still resists conversion and so does Occident. Religion takes a softer approach. Religion inquires about the gods revered by America and Occident. As Occident explains the God of Seeds, Religion claims that the God of Seeds is just an imitation of Christianity, a generic version. Religion insists that all of the bounty and harvest bestowed upon them was not given by the God of Seeds, but by the Christian God. When America asks if the layperson are worthy of God's touch and Religion answers yes- the hierarchy, or the pecking order of priests, those worthy and unworthy, starts to crumble. America and Occident continue to ask Religion questions about God and baptism. The final scene sets the stage for the Divine Narcissus , an allegorical play Religion will write to explain and celebrate the Christian God. America and Occident are excited to the story of God.

Characters America - Indigenous woman. Represents Indigenous people and opposes converting to christianity. Strong willed, feminist tones. Occident (the west) - Male counterpart to America. He opposes religious conversion also. A king of sorts. Ideal human aspiration. Weaker than America. Religion - Spanish woman. Wants to convert Occident and America to christianity. Zeal - Spanish man. Military captain. Kinda like Religion's henchmen. Music - Sets the rhythm of the play, encourages them to prepare for the festival, to sacrifice, and worship....