EMILIA GALOTTI

Interview -  Samuel Haughton, Marinelli

 

How do you interpret Lessing's Emilia Galotti?

 

I absolutely love this play. Not only does it make some very poignant and very truthful social observations, both about the time in which it was set and today, I also love how it plays with the classical conventions that are found in other plays from the same time. I see it as a much grittier tragedy in comparison to many other texts from the same time.

 

How would you describe Marinelli's perspective in the play?

 

It's been a real challenge to try and get into the mindset of Marinelli, and to figure out his motives for his actions, as they are not explicitly set out in the text. Anger? Jealousy? Boredom? Potentially all three. However, what is evident is the importance he places on self-preservation. Fundamentally, he always makes sure that he will remain unharmed, even to the detriment of those around him.

 

Do you think Emilia Galotti has any resonance today?

 

Absolutely. There are many themes that run throughout the play that are still relevant today. How women are viewed in society and how we can be blinded by our own single-focus and desires. What has struck me most through playing the role of Marinelli is the rationalisation of selfishness. I believe it is an important process to analyse in a society that seems to push us to look after number one first and foremost. In Emilia Galotti, we are shown the consequences when this is taken too far.