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Anthony Hope

The information given about this figure is minimal, to say the least. It becomes apparent that he is a young sailor who rescued Todd when his ship was wrecked. During the piece, Anthony falls in love with Johanna, Todd's daughter.

He speaks like Todd in iambic meter which provides him a place among the protagonists. His way of expressing is polite, almost timid, even when he talks to the beggar woman to whom everyone is rude. This friendliness renders him the goodwill of the audience. He, together with Johanna, are the only really friendly characters in the play. This puts them in a sub-plot.

If we look at Anthony's musical motive, we see that it consists of an ascending sixth, followed by a descending semi-tone. It is related to two other themes. First of all it is a permutation of the seduction-motive, and secondly the motive is related (in a way) to Lucy/Johanna who both have a descending semi-tone motive.

In his music Anthony shows more feminine characteristics than Todd. If, for instance we examine the playful rhythms and the meter changes in Look At Me we see some typically effeminate, aspects of his music. Even the composer's use of the descending semi-tones, a motive which is clearly derived from the Lucy/Johanna motives present an other ''effeminate'' aspect of his personality.

Altogether he is portrayed as a man who is passionately in love, and exposing much of the feminine side of his character.


next up previous contents
Next: Johanna Up: Verbal communication and the Previous: Mrs. Nellie Lovett   Contents
Iede Snoek 2002-02-25