This is the third essay in a three-part series of highly subjective, opinionated and personal reflections of your faithful bee on the musical Hadestown. This critique is not aimed at the production, the actors, or the musical score—all of which were beautifully executed—but rather at the core storytelling elements that, unfortunately, did not resonate with the bee. Spoilers abound.
About Hadestown: Hadestown is a Tony Award-winning musical that reimagines the ancient Greek myths of Orpheus and Eurydice, as well as Hades and Persephone. The story follows Orpheus, a gifted musician, as he journeys into the underworld to rescue his beloved Eurydice. Through its blend of folk, jazz, and blues, the musical explores themes of love, power, and the struggle for freedom in a world that feels increasingly oppressive. But beyond its mythological roots, Hadestown also serves as a modern allegory, reflecting on the dynamics of labor, industry, and society.
While Hadestown is celebrated for its music and striking visuals, the development of its characters leaves much to be desired. Each character in this tragic tale has the potential to be a rich, multi-layered figure, yet the narrative often skims the surface, leaving key questions unanswered and significant opportunities for depth unexplored. This essay will take a closer look at the central characters—Orpheus, Eurydice, Hades, and Persephone—examining the missed opportunities in their arcs and the lingering questions that the story fails to address.
Orpheus: The Idealist Without a Journey
Orpheus is the story’s central figure, the young musician whose love for Eurydice drives the narrative. He is portrayed as an idealist, full of hope and conviction in the power of his music. However, this portrayal is also where the problems begin.
The Tragic Flaw That Never Was
In myth, Orpheus’s tragic flaw is his doubt—a flaw that should gradually build throughout the story, culminating in his fatal decision to look back at Eurydice. Yet in Hadestown, this doubt is barely hinted at until the very moment it causes his downfall. Orpheus’s optimism is so unyielding that when he finally does turn back, it feels less like the result of an internal struggle and more like a sudden, inexplicable act. The show misses the opportunity to explore Orpheus’s internal journey—his fears, his moments of hesitation, his growing anxiety as he leads Eurydice out of the underworld. These are the moments that could have added depth to his character, making his final act of doubt both inevitable and heartbreaking.
A Love Without Substance
Orpheus’s love for Eurydice is presented as pure and all-consuming, but it lacks the foundation of real connection. The musical does not explore what draws Orpheus to Eurydice beyond her initial allure, nor does it delve into how their love could withstand the hardships they face. There’s little exploration of Orpheus’s understanding of Eurydice’s struggles, her desires, or her fears. This leaves his pursuit of her into the underworld feeling more like a quest driven by stubborn idealism rather than a deep, nuanced love. The narrative misses the chance to show Orpheus questioning himself, reflecting on what he could have done differently, or even doubting whether he truly knows Eurydice at all.
Eurydice: The Unexplored Struggles
Eurydice is the catalyst for much of the action in Hadestown, yet her character is perhaps the most underdeveloped. Her journey from the world above to the underworld is fraught with potential for exploration, but the musical fails to fully engage with her internal struggles.
The Unseen Hunger
Eurydice’s decision to accept Hades’s offer and descend into the underworld is supposed to be driven by her desperation—her hunger, her need for security, her fear of the uncertain future with Orpheus. However, the show does not convincingly portray these needs. Eurydice never appears as destitute or desperate as her decision would suggest. Her hunger, whether literal or metaphorical, is not sufficiently shown, which makes her choice feel unmotivated. The narrative could have taken the time to depict her gradual slide into despair, her internal conflict between staying with Orpheus and accepting Hades’s offer, and her ultimate resignation to the grim reality of her situation.
A Love Not Worth the Sacrifice?
Eurydice’s love for Orpheus should be complex, torn between her affection for him and her need to survive. Yet, the musical does not delve into this complexity. Eurydice’s decision to leave Orpheus is presented almost as a foregone conclusion, without much exploration of her emotional turmoil. The audience is left wondering: What does Eurydice see in Orpheus that makes her hesitate, if at all? Does she regret her decision once she’s in the underworld, or does she feel justified? These are questions the musical leaves unanswered, missing the opportunity to add layers to Eurydice’s character and make her choices feel more impactful.
Hades: The Tyrant Without Tension
Hades, the ruler of the underworld, is a character of immense potential—an authoritarian figure who is moved by Orpheus’s music but ultimately bound by his need to maintain control. Yet, his character arc lacks the tension and complexity that would make him truly compelling.
A Conflicted Ruler
Hades is portrayed as a tyrant, but also as a lover—his relationship with Persephone is meant to humanize him, showing that even he is not immune to the power of love. However, the musical does not fully explore this duality. Hades’s decision to challenge Orpheus and Eurydice with his condition is supposed to stem from his need to assert control, yet there’s little exploration of the internal conflict this decision might cause. Does Hades struggle with his role as a tyrant? Does he ever doubt the justice of his rule? Does he see something of himself in Orpheus? These questions are left unexplored, making Hades’s character feel more like a necessary antagonist than a fully realized individual.
He loves her, he loves her not
Hades’s relationship with Persephone is central to his character, yet it feels oddly static. Despite being reminded of his love for her, Hades’s behavior does not change significantly. The show misses the opportunity to explore how this reminder affects his decisions—does it make him more lenient, more reflective, or more tyrannical? Does Hades consider Persephone’s opinions in his rulings, or is he too far gone in his role as the ruler of the underworld? By not delving into these questions, the musical leaves Hades as a figure of power without much depth.
Persephone: The Powerless Queen
Persephone, the queen of the underworld, is a character brimming with potential. She could be the emotional center of the story, the one who understands both the beauty of the world above and the harshness of the world below. Yet, her character is curiously underutilized.
A Queen Without Agency
Persephone is central to Hades’s arc, yet she seems to have little power over her own fate or the events around her. Despite her importance to Hades, she is unable to influence his decisions in any meaningful way. This lack of agency is frustrating because it reduces Persephone to a symbol rather than a character with her own desires, struggles, and conflicts. The musical could have explored Persephone’s inner life—her thoughts on her forced time in the underworld, her feelings about the love that Hades professes but does not always show, and her views on Orpheus and Eurydice’s plight. Instead, Persephone remains largely in the background, her potential for depth and influence untapped.
The Missed Chance for Rebellion
Persephone’s relationship with Hades is marked by both love and resentment. The show hints at the idea that Persephone might rebel against Hades’s rule, perhaps siding with Orpheus and Eurydice or trying to broker a different outcome. However, this possibility is never fully realized. Persephone never steps into a role where she might challenge Hades or offer Orpheus and Eurydice the help they so desperately need. This missed opportunity leaves Persephone as a passive character in a story where she could have been a driving force.
Conclusion: A Story of Missed Depth
In the end, Hadestown presents a world rich with thematic potential but populated by characters who are not fully developed. The missed opportunities for exploring Orpheus’s doubt, Eurydice’s desperation, Hades’s internal conflict, and Persephone’s agency weaken the narrative, leaving it feeling more like a collection of events rather than a cohesive, character-driven story. The musical’s strength lies in its production values and its ambitious blending of myth and modernity, but its characters fall short of the depth and complexity that could have made the story truly resonate.
This lack of character development is more than just a narrative flaw; it’s a missed opportunity to fully explore the timeless themes of love, power, sacrifice, and despair that lie at the heart of the original myths. Hadestown could have been a tale for the ages, a modern myth that speaks to contemporary issues while still honoring its ancient roots. Instead, it is a story of potential unfulfilled, where the characters, like the audience, are left grasping for something more substantial than what is ultimately offered.
コメント