The Prometheans (Play): Difference between revisions

Jump to navigation Jump to search
(Created page with "The Prometheans ==Background== The Prometheans was a well known late eighteenth century play. Written during the height of the Exponential Empire the play is theorized to have...")
 
 
(5 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
The Prometheans
 
[[File:PrometheansIgnatiusConversion.jpg|thumb|right| Ignatius converting the natives]]
 
'''''The Prometheans''''', written by [[Marcellus Brabentius]] is considered to be one of the primary examples of 18th and 19th Century [[Hesperidesian Paternalism]]. The play centers around the civilizing mission of the [[Empire of Exponent]], and has been cited by many as an early form of pro-Imperialist propaganda.
 
==Background==
==Background==
The Prometheans was a well known late eighteenth century play. Written during the height of the Exponential Empire the play is theorized to have been written to glorify the colonial expansion done in the not so distant past. It was written by the playwright Marcellus Brabentius. The play describes the Empire’s arrival to Hesperidesia, the settlers had come across a beautiful land but the people of the land were uncivilized. Leading lives of savagery and sin the settlers brought God, fire, and civilization to the people. In return for taxes paid in the form of food, blankets, crafts, and physical labor, they were provided with the protection of the settlers and a path out of savagery.  
''The Prometheans'' written during the waning days of the Exponential Empire's status as a great power, and was written with the intent of reminding citizens of the Empire about the glory and purpose of their Imperial mission. The play describes the Empire’s arrival to Hesperidesia, during which time the settlers had come across a beautiful land but the people of the land were uncivilized. Leading the natives to abandon their lives of savagery and sin, the settlers brought God, fire, and civilization to the people. In return for taxes paid in the form of food, blankets, crafts, and physical labor, the natives were provided with the protection of the settlers and a path out of savagery.  
 
==Character List==
==Character List==
The Settlers
'''The Settlers''' <br>
Captain - Marcus Baro (R)
* Marcus <br>
Captains Advisor - The messenger  - Lars Ignatius (R)
* Ignatius <br>
The Natives  
'''The Natives'''  <br>
Chief Lucius Mutius (R)
* Chief Mutius <br>
Villager 1 - Julianus Nepius (R)
* Julianus <br>
Julianus Nepius (R)
* Nepius <br>
The Heretics
 
The demons
Native Allies
==Plot==
==Plot==
===Act I===  
===Act I===  
Julianus Nepius was on the banks of the land when the settlers arrived with their ships, when he saw them  he ran back to his tribe. When he arrived the land is shown to be barren and worn, thatched homes falling to ruins. As he spoke some of what he saw Chief Mutius gave him the task to bring back one of the settlers and prove they were of no threat. Following the orders of Chief Mutius he ran back to the riverbank, gesturing for what seemed to be their leader (Marcus Baro)  to join him. He sent his advisor (Lars Ignatius)  in his place.  
A native, Julianus, sits on the beach and begins a monologue about his simple life in Hesperdesia before he spots the settlers arriving with their ships. Upon seeing the newcomers, Julianus runs back to his tribe to tell them of the settlers and their awe-inspiring outfits and equipment. During the second scene, Julianus arrives in his village, which is shown to be made up of worn thatched homes falling to ruins. As he describes what he saw on the beach, Chief Mutius orders Julianus to bring back one of the settlers and prove they were of no threat. Following the orders of Chief Mutius, Julianus goes back to the beach, and meets with the settlers who welcome him with open arms. After conversing with the leader of the settlers, Marcus, the settlers decide to send a devout individual named Ignatius back to the village.  
 
===Act II===
===Act II===
Once at the village the Lars noticed many of the people appeared to be sick, the homes were crumbling and there was no sign of fire. Him and Chief Mutius of the village shared a piece of bread from his bag. In response to his offering the villagers presented him with a piece of raw meat. Lars, realizing the opportunity, chose to teach them how to cook meat by making a fire for them. Once the meat was cooked they shared it, and from this point forward he was called “the messenger” by the villagers. It was from their enlightenment began.
Once at the village Ignatius notices many of the villagers appeared to be sick, the homes were crumbling and there was no sign of fire. As a sign of peace, Ignatius offers Chief Mutius a piece of bread from his bag. In response to his offering the villagers presented him with a piece of raw meat. Ignatius soon realizes that the villagers had been eating their meat raw, and were surviving mostly off of raw meats and whatever fruit they could find growing in the are. Seeing this, Ignatius decided to teach the how to cook by making a fire for them. Once the meat was cooked they shared it, and Ignatius explains that there is much that he could teach these people, if they are willing to learn.


===Act III===
===Act III===
In act three of the play Lars gives the newly indoctrinated natives weapons with a call to action. There were those among them that rejected the teaching of the messenger, these people were to be educated, the weapons were only to be used if the demons among them attacked. The allies agreed, after all their lives have improved exponentially since accepting the ways of the messenger.
Having gained the trust of the villagers, Ignatius explains why the settlers came to Hesperidesia - to worship the word of God as it was written in the Gospels. Ignatius goes on to teach the villagers of the Gospel and Scripture, and convinces many to abandon their former ways and join him so that they can be saved, not only on Earth, but for eternity. Many of the villagers join Ignatius, but several - led by Mutius - reject the new teachings and move into the jungle, where they begin commiserating with the demons who they once worshipped.  
    The settlers and their native allies marched on a city known to be filled with heretics, they began by peacefully requesting that they join them. Many refused, begging those among the settlers to reject the teachings of the messenger. The settlers reminded those among them of the protection that has been offered and the consequences of rejecting God.
 
    This infuriated the heretics and the demons among them attacked. A bloody battle broke out, the demons among the natives shed the illusion of humanity, they embraced a dark demonic gaze. They attacked the settlers and their allies, killing many with a brutality rivaling hell itself. Caught up in the fever of the brutality and their false gods the heretics attacked. Many died on this day. As if to show God’s grief at the bloodshed the heavens opened during the battle. The settlers and their allies are shown as protective and reluctant to attack despite the savage advance, only resorting to violence as a final resort. The play ends with the messenger shown standing over a slain demon as the storm breaks and a beam of light shines on him.  
The villagers who joined Ignatius, led by Julianus, decide to spread the news of salvation to a neighboring village, bringing Ignatius and Marcus with them to demonstrate the power of their new beliefs, and encourage their neighbors to embrace their new faith as well. Once in the neighboring village, many of the inhabitants - led by a demon named Nepius who was disguised as a human - refused to accept Julianus and his message, and begin begging the villagers and the settlers to reject the teachings and instead embrace the worship of their old idols. The settlers reminded those among them of the protection that has been offered and the consequences of rejecting God.  
 
Upon hearing this, Nepius lashes out at Marcus, striking him down and declaring that the settler's God has no power in his land. The demons among the natives then shed the illusion of humanity and launch an attack upon the settlers and the converted neighbors. Ignatius, Jullianus, and the others engage in a fierce battle against the attackers. The play ends with Ignatius shown standing over the slain body of Nepius, with the famous final monologue of Ignatius explaining how his people will always protect the natives from evil so long as the natives embrace the protection of the settlers and the word of God.  
 
==Legacy==
 
''The Prometheans'' has been traditionally shown in Hesperidesian theaters around the world, and is considered to be one of the defining pieces of [[Hesperiedesian theater]].  


[[Category:Blackhelm Confederacy]]
[[Category:Blackhelm Confederacy]]
[[Category: Astyria]]
[[Category: Astyria]]

Latest revision as of 17:38, 8 October 2022

Ignatius converting the natives

The Prometheans, written by Marcellus Brabentius is considered to be one of the primary examples of 18th and 19th Century Hesperidesian Paternalism. The play centers around the civilizing mission of the Empire of Exponent, and has been cited by many as an early form of pro-Imperialist propaganda.

Background

The Prometheans written during the waning days of the Exponential Empire's status as a great power, and was written with the intent of reminding citizens of the Empire about the glory and purpose of their Imperial mission. The play describes the Empire’s arrival to Hesperidesia, during which time the settlers had come across a beautiful land but the people of the land were uncivilized. Leading the natives to abandon their lives of savagery and sin, the settlers brought God, fire, and civilization to the people. In return for taxes paid in the form of food, blankets, crafts, and physical labor, the natives were provided with the protection of the settlers and a path out of savagery.

Character List

The Settlers

  • Marcus
  • Ignatius

The Natives

  • Chief Mutius
  • Julianus
  • Nepius

Plot

Act I

A native, Julianus, sits on the beach and begins a monologue about his simple life in Hesperdesia before he spots the settlers arriving with their ships. Upon seeing the newcomers, Julianus runs back to his tribe to tell them of the settlers and their awe-inspiring outfits and equipment. During the second scene, Julianus arrives in his village, which is shown to be made up of worn thatched homes falling to ruins. As he describes what he saw on the beach, Chief Mutius orders Julianus to bring back one of the settlers and prove they were of no threat. Following the orders of Chief Mutius, Julianus goes back to the beach, and meets with the settlers who welcome him with open arms. After conversing with the leader of the settlers, Marcus, the settlers decide to send a devout individual named Ignatius back to the village.  

Act II

Once at the village Ignatius notices many of the villagers appeared to be sick, the homes were crumbling and there was no sign of fire. As a sign of peace, Ignatius offers Chief Mutius a piece of bread from his bag. In response to his offering the villagers presented him with a piece of raw meat. Ignatius soon realizes that the villagers had been eating their meat raw, and were surviving mostly off of raw meats and whatever fruit they could find growing in the are. Seeing this, Ignatius decided to teach the how to cook by making a fire for them. Once the meat was cooked they shared it, and Ignatius explains that there is much that he could teach these people, if they are willing to learn.

Act III

Having gained the trust of the villagers, Ignatius explains why the settlers came to Hesperidesia - to worship the word of God as it was written in the Gospels. Ignatius goes on to teach the villagers of the Gospel and Scripture, and convinces many to abandon their former ways and join him so that they can be saved, not only on Earth, but for eternity. Many of the villagers join Ignatius, but several - led by Mutius - reject the new teachings and move into the jungle, where they begin commiserating with the demons who they once worshipped.

The villagers who joined Ignatius, led by Julianus, decide to spread the news of salvation to a neighboring village, bringing Ignatius and Marcus with them to demonstrate the power of their new beliefs, and encourage their neighbors to embrace their new faith as well. Once in the neighboring village, many of the inhabitants - led by a demon named Nepius who was disguised as a human - refused to accept Julianus and his message, and begin begging the villagers and the settlers to reject the teachings and instead embrace the worship of their old idols. The settlers reminded those among them of the protection that has been offered and the consequences of rejecting God.  

Upon hearing this, Nepius lashes out at Marcus, striking him down and declaring that the settler's God has no power in his land. The demons among the natives then shed the illusion of humanity and launch an attack upon the settlers and the converted neighbors. Ignatius, Jullianus, and the others engage in a fierce battle against the attackers. The play ends with Ignatius shown standing over the slain body of Nepius, with the famous final monologue of Ignatius explaining how his people will always protect the natives from evil so long as the natives embrace the protection of the settlers and the word of God.

Legacy

The Prometheans has been traditionally shown in Hesperidesian theaters around the world, and is considered to be one of the defining pieces of Hesperiedesian theater.