Historical Drama from the Point of View of the Gods

Historical drama – whether stage, film, or literature – is always tragic. We, the viewers, become like the gods of Olympus; we know the future and we know of Fate. Now we want to witness the nobility of those who must live it.

I saw the film Valkyrie, about the attempted assassination of Hitler. Every viewer knows the outcome. The film wasn’t suspenseful; that’s not why I watched. I watched to see the character of those who played out the scenario. Though they may have been fictionalize, somewhat, we know the events to be true. Historical drama allows us to observe that character that we, as people who must live out our own scenarios, without foresight of future or Fate, aspire to.

We know the inevitable end, it is only our character that survives.