Judith

First of all, I don't know if this is a relevant this to say in a blog posting, but I did not like this play. I understand it is loosely based of biblical stories, and that it is very artistically and precisely done, but the entire thing felt very schizophrenic to me. The combination between the frequent changes in dialect, relationships, and motivations and just the mere fact that sexual desire and decapitation are the two most memorable aspects of the play is just not at all my style. That being said, even the weirdest of plays have major dramatic questions. I think the MDQ is "Does Judith have the mental strength to complete her quest?". In the beginning of the play, she is on a mission to kill general Holofernes, thus saving her people in these times of war. However, as she talks to him she develops feelings for him making us question if Judith has the ability to kill someone she is so fond of in such  brutal way. Well the answer if yes, she decapitates him and its horrific. Yet, she is still sexually attracted to him, even sans head. The murder seems to have deranged her, bringing out this brute-like barbarian inside of her. She comes out of the play a completely different person. I think in the end of the play she is severely disturbed, showing that she did not have the psychological strength to deal with the situation at hand. I think she is too emotional to be a killer, yet she did indeed kill Holofernes…very violently. The servant seemed to act as a real instigator for the deed at hand. I wonder how the play would have turned out without the presence of the servant. What if they had been alone the entire time?