I do believe that the "inner selves" see and hear each other. For example, Hetty says, "Yes, you are not. There are circles under your eyes." Maggie says, "I haven't eaten since breakfast, and I'm hungry." If there was any question as to if she was actually replying, in parentheses before Maggie's line, it reads, "To Hetty."
Now, as you can see, the script clearly states that they speak to one another. But, there is no concrete indication that they SEE each other, though the "inner selves" see their "trained selves." This is shown in the first few lines of the play, where Hetty compliments Harriet on her appearance.
One of the things I found most interesting in this world created by Gerstenberg, is that one person exists physically as two beings. I can't imagine walking down the street and seeing two people, really only making up one person, while the inner personifications could communicate with one another, and their own human representations, but not with other human representations... *brainsplosion*. Only in the world of theatre does this work and make sense. (Which is part of the reason why I love plays!) The rule for this communication, in which inners can speak to each other but only their human, exists throughout the play. It's not spelled out specifically, so viewers would pick up on it in the same manner readers do: context.
Overall, I found this play utterly fascinating, and would love to see it performed.
Like you, I was also pretty confused about the play.There was so much going that I had to read it more than once. I agree that they probably can hear each other because they do respond to each other. I think it's harder to figure out if they can see each other. One of the only clues is the end when the inner selves give their last lines to each other. The description of how the world would be like with two selves is, indeed, a "brainsplosion".
ReplyDeletethey can definitely hear one another and i think that maybe they can see each other BUT only if they allow for the other "inner self" to see them, like towards the end when they rage towards one another. but in certain moments where they are truly hiding their inner emotions they are hidden away,such as when maggie is reaching for the treats on the table.
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