In Jose Rivera's two-man play entitled, "Tape," the
Attendant (the supporting character) is a foil for the Person (the
protagonist).
A foil is used in fiction; it is a character
whose presence provides a comparison with the main character, thereby providing a
clearer picture of the protagonist.
[A foil] highlight[s] various features of that
other character's personality, throwing these characteristics into sharper
focus.
At the same time,
development of the Attendant (the supporting character) takes
place.
Though it may not seem clear at first, this short
production is a form of tragedy, at least as far as the Greeks and/or Aristotle would
see it. The Person finds himself either in Heaven, hell, and/or at Judgement Day. He is
being required to relive his sins by listening to the lies he has told throughout his
life, and there are many of them.
The
Attendant tries to accomodate the Person with answers to questions he is asking as the
Person tries to understand what lies ahead of him. The Attendant
tries to be supportive and kind, while the frustrated Person
becomes almost verbally abusive. The Attendant is patient but sad, perhaps because he
has seen this kind of situation transpire before. The kinder and more attentive the
Attendant is, the more distressed the Person becomes. Throughout the exchange between
the two, the development of the supporting character (the Attendant) sheds a clearer
light on the Person, and we are perhaps less surprised that there are ten thousand boxes
of tapes outside of the room, filled with his lies, that he must listen to, for as long
as it takes. Rather than face life head-on, he has perhaps taken the easier path of
lying. This is what we see at the play's end when the Person is face with what seems to
be his mother, asking where he has been, and the Person prepares to listen to his first
lie.
The presence of the Attendance provides a much clearer
picture of the Person in the
play.
Additional
Source:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/José_Rivera_(playwright)
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