Acting 1- The big WHY: GOTE

As I have mentioned previously, the principles of acting can often be applied to everyday life. This holds true with the recent lesson we had on GOTE. GOTE is an acronym for GOAL, OTHER, TACTICS, and EXPECTATIONS. In order to understand a character, scene or show enough to act it out believably, it is important to go through this acronym and delve deep into the situation. As in every life situation, you (or your character) has a specific goal or need, someone whom you are interacting with, about or for, certain tactics used in order to accomplish that goal, and expectations of the outcome of these tactics.

This concept seems simple at first. It all makes sense. However, applying it to a situation can be tricky at times because so many of these things run hand in hand and it can be difficult to distinguish specifically which is which. For my monologue, the one from Death of a Salesman, I had a difficult time distinguishing these different aspects because my other would be Willy, who is dead. I need him to understand what he has done to me by committing suicide. I need to understand why he abandoned me like that, especially when our debts are finally about to be paid. All my marriage I have been defending him and standing by him through thick and thin. I, like him, believed that if we just had a bit more material advantage than we would be better off. So when he killed himself right when things were looking up, I was utterly hurt and confused. 

My goal, therefore, would be to make him understand what he has done to me and then perhaps I will be able to understand why he did it. My tactics would be to plead and then shame him. My expectations, that I will somehow feel better and be able to move on. It was difficult to decide on a specific expectation because my other is dead and can't really help me move on. I guess, in a way, I am also praying to God, knowing that I am going to need help from another source, or perhaps I am thinking too deep into it. 

Either way, delving into this monologue even deeper, using the GOTE sheet, has helped me to understand better what my character needs and wants. Why she is talking to the grave of her dead husband, why she keeps telling him that she doesn't understand and that she can't cry. Sometimes I think it would be helpful if we stepped back in life and went through these steps during situations that may be difficult to comprehend. That way, we would have a lot less confusion and emotional manipulation going around.