Kovács Ferenc: Olvasópróba előtt (Skenotheke 1. Budapest, 1996)

Felhasznált irodalom

ing power, position and renown. Mrs Borkman exits through the side door. I-2-14 Ella is greatly concerned that Erhart will become a victim of the women's bickering. She asks Borkman to accompany her downstairs in order to talk with Mrs Borkman. End of the First Act II-2-1 It is late in the evening. Seated on the piano chair, Ella awaits Borkman's decision, who is striding up and down like a "sick wolf." Ella picks up a lantern and moves toward the stairs. The upper section of the scene is enveloped in half light. 11-1-1 Mrs Borkman is aware of her husband's restless pacing above her head. Her chilly indifference has gradually turned into anxiety in the course of the evening. Unconsciously, she begins to walk up and down keeping time with the footsteps above; however, when she notices this, she breaks the pace. Her stride, like Borkman's, is deliberate; she is waiting for Erhart in order to assert her control over him. She waits impatiently: first moving toward the door, then moving to ring for the maid. She marches in a diagonal line, between the tea table and the door leading to the hallway. Eventually she rings the bell, then rings it again with rising impatience. II-I-2 The maid enters from the back She is sleepy, untidily dressed and is grumbling for having been awakened. Upon learning that she has to fetch Erhart, she turns away with a less than respectful comment. 11-1-3 Ella and Borkman appear in the doorway, upon which Mrs Borkman finds it even more urgent that the maid escort Erhart home. The maid slips past Ella and Borkman. Borkman's conversation with Ella reveals his unexpected return to life, his definite desire to start over again. At long last he has confessed the old sin he had committed against Ella - his rejection of her in exchange for power. By renouncing his son in her favour, he is granted absolution. II1-4 Although Ella is basically a mere onlooker to the Borkmans' increasingly animated verbal jousting, she follows it closely with alert and discerning facial expressions and eye movements. After years of deliberation over his past deeds, Borkman now announces that he alone has been the one who has suffered. His manner is superior and self-satisfied. Mrs Borkman responds with sarcasm and uses Erhart as a trump card. In her eyes Borkman is already dead and has been buried in an unmarked grave which is soon to be completely obliterated by the passage of time. 57