Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom What were the major desires goals, and objectives,and motivations of the leading characters? How did these help you understand the meaning of the text? Were the characters realistic,symbolics, allegorical,totally divorced from reality,etc? How did minor characters relate to major characters? For instance, were they contrasts or parallels? Did you identify most with one of the characters? If so describe this character and explain why you identified with hi or her? Many theorist argue that conflict is necessary for a dramatic text. Describe the conflict within the text in the production you saw which characters were in conflict? Was there a moment in the action when the conflict seemed to come to a head? Was the conflict resolved or not. How did you feel about its resolution or lack of resolution? If the conflict was resolved,how was it resolved?
In Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the major desires, goals, and motivations of the leading characters center around power, control, and self-expression. Ma Rainey, the titular character, is a successful and respected blues singer who demands to have her own way and refuses to be controlled by anyone, including her white manager and record producers. Her band members, especially Levee, aspire to break away from Ma Rainey's shadow and achieve their own success. They are driven by a desire for recognition and autonomy in a world that seeks to suppress and exploit them.
These characters help to convey the broader themes of racial identity, exploitation, and the power dynamics within the music industry. The characters are realistic in their struggles and desires, but they also serve as symbols of larger societal issues and power struggles.
The minor characters in the play, such as Ma Rainey's white producers, serve as contrasts to the major characters, highlighting the racial and power dynamics at play. The conflicts between the major and minor characters drive the plot forward and create tension and drama.
I personally identified most with Levee, the ambitious and talented trumpet player who strives to make it big in the music industry. His desire for success and recognition resonated with me, as did his struggle with past traumas and the barriers placed in his way.
Conflict is indeed necessary for a dramatic text, and in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, the conflicts between the characters are central to the story. The tensions between Ma Rainey and her producers, as well as between Ma Rainey and her band members, create a sense of urgency and drama. The conflict comes to a head in a tragic and violent climax, resulting in a devastating resolution that leaves no one unscathed.
Overall, the conflict within the text underscores the power struggles and injustices faced by the characters, and the lack of resolution highlights the systemic issues at play. The play forces the audience to confront uncomfortable truths about race, power, and exploitation in American society.