Objectives

Definition

Objectives in theatre refer to the specific goals or intentions that a character aims to achieve throughout a play. These objectives drive the character's actions and decisions, creating motivation and conflict that are essential to storytelling. Understanding a character's objectives helps actors and directors shape performances and narrative arcs effectively.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Objectives help to define a character's journey and the stakes involved in their interactions with other characters.
2. Actors analyze their characters' objectives to create authentic and believable performances that resonate with the audience.
3. Characters may have multiple objectives that can shift based on circumstances, leading to dynamic storytelling and character development.
4. Understanding both a character's immediate objectives and their superobjective is crucial for grasping the overall narrative arc of the play.
5. Conflicts often arise from opposing objectives between characters, driving the tension and drama of the storyline.

Review Questions

• How do objectives influence a character's actions within a play?
  • Objectives serve as the driving force behind a character's actions, guiding their decisions and interactions with others. By understanding what a character wants to achieve, actors can portray their motivations authentically. This connection between objectives and actions creates compelling drama, as characters navigate challenges and conflicts arising from their desires.
• Discuss the role of given circumstances in shaping a character's objectives in a performance.
  • Given circumstances provide the context that influences a character's objectives by defining their environment, relationships, and personal history. These factors inform what the character aims to achieve at any moment. For example, a character from a wealthy background may have different objectives than one from a struggling family. The interplay between given circumstances and objectives is essential for creating layered performances.
• Evaluate how understanding both short-term objectives and superobjectives contributes to an actor's performance.
  • Recognizing both short-term objectives and superobjectives enriches an actor's portrayal by allowing them to understand the character's full arc. Short-term objectives reflect immediate goals in specific scenes, while superobjectives encompass broader desires that drive the character throughout the play. This dual awareness helps actors create depth in their performances, as they can convey how each action relates to long-term aspirations and conflicts within the story.

Related terms

Given Circumstances: The specific context and conditions surrounding the events of a play, including time, place, and social dynamics that influence characters' behavior and objectives.

Motivation: The underlying reasons that propel a character toward their objectives, often shaped by their desires, fears, and personal history.

Superobjective: The overarching goal or desire of a character that drives their actions throughout the entire play, often encompassing various smaller objectives.