
Sally’s dual Existence on the Front and Back Proscenium caused her to question her existence. Sally was the offspring of a lineage of performers. Each member of her family was meticulously trained to excel on stage. Their entire lives were dedicated to perfecting their craft. However, one day, Sally decided she didn’t want to follow in her family’s theatrical footsteps. She yearned for an ordinary life. Sally was raised with the expectation of being a performer.
Her life was a constant performance, every moment a scene. Sally was raised in a theatre world, surrounded by accomplished actors who knew their parts by heart. From a tender age, she was groomed to audition for roles. Her family, as far back as she could recall, were all performers. Sally understood that she was destined for the stage, and she grew comfortable with this reality. She embraced every role she was given, adhering to all the rules and regulations.
Sally lived in the spotlight, performing for every audience that came to watch her. The size of the crowd or the place where she performed was irrelevant; her duty was to perform. However, when Sally retreated backstage after a performance, she felt a sense of dissatisfaction with her life of constant role-playing. She had no concept of a life outside of performance.
One day, Sally decided she could no longer continue acting, prompting her to embark on a journey of self-discovery. She sought tools to help her detach from her roles and performances, leading her to pursue education. In her classes, she realized she was born into a world where everyone was destined to perform. Authenticity seemed to be a lost concept. Her life and society were one big audition. Backstage, Sally would shed her costumes and makeup, uncomfortable with the persona she portrayed on stage.
Sally often found herself torn between her stage persona and her backstage self. She began to experience role strain and role conflict. She was uncertain of her identity amidst the myriad of roles she played. Her training was rigorous and unending.
She recalls growing up with agents who were employed to ensure she understood and executed her roles perfectly. Her parents, educators, friends, physicians, bosses, and government had performance expectations.
Sally started to question the genuineness of her existence. She pondered whether she was merely a character in a play, a marionette manipulated by unseen hands, or if there was more to her than the roles she played. Sally began to challenge societal norms and expectations imposed on her. She started to question the very essence of her reality.
She delved into books on philosophy, psychology, and sociology. She attended lectures and seminars on self-discovery and personal development. She began to meditate and practice mindfulness. She explored various cultures and religions. She traveled and interacted with people from diverse backgrounds. She began to question everything she knew and everything she was taught.
She understood she was not just a performer but a sentient being with thoughts, emotions, and desires. She realized that she had the power to choose her path, to shape her reality. She understood she was not merely a product of her environment but a molder of her destiny.
Sally joined a group of dissenters who taught her how to live authentically. She decided to abandon acting and pursue her passion for writing. Sally began to document her experiences and her journey of self-discovery. She started to share her insights and ideas with the world. She began to inspire others to challenge their reality and seek their truth.
Her parents told her she was born to perform. She was born to conform and not to question. She was born to blend in but not to stand out. She was born to follow, not to lead. She stopped following her family’s traditions of acting.
Backstage, as she changed her costume and removed her makeup, she ceased performing and discovered Sally, the individual. She realized she was not just a character in a play but a person with a narrative. She realized she was not just a marionette but a woman with a voice.
And so, Sally ceased performing and began living. She stopped acting and started being. Sally stopped pretending and started existing. She stopped conforming and started questioning. Sally stopped auditioning and started creating. She stopped being a performer.
Sally’s story highlights the concept of dramaturgy, which is a sociological perspective that views social interactions as performances on a stage. In this perspective, individuals are seen as actors who present different versions of themselves to different audiences to create specific impressions.
Throughout Sally’s life, she was raised and conditioned to fulfill the expectations of her family and society. She played various roles, adhering to the rules and regulations imposed upon her. Her entire existence revolved around performing and conforming to societal norms.
However, as Sally started questioning her authenticity and the genuine nature of her existence, she embarked on a journey of self-discovery. This process led her to challenge the roles and expectations placed upon her. She began to explore different philosophies, immerse herself in different cultures, and question everything she had been taught.
Through this exploration, Sally realized she was not merely a performer but a sentient being with thoughts, emotions, and desires. She discovered her agency and the power to shape her reality. Sally recognized that she could choose her path and create her narrative instead of being confined to the roles prescribed to her.
By participating in discussions, attending lectures, practicing mindfulness, and engaging with dissenters who encouraged her to live an authentic life, Sally broke free from the constraints of performing and started to live as her true self. She embraced her passion for writing and became a storyteller, sharing her experiences and inspiring others to question their realities.
Sally’s journey reflects the shift from conforming to societal expectations to questioning and defining one’s identity. She moved away from being a performer on a stage to living her narrative, embracing her individuality, and discovering her voice.
In the context of dramaturgy, Sally’s transformation can be seen as a rejection of the roles assigned to her and a move towards being her authentic self. She moved from the front stage, where she performed according to societal expectations, to the backstage, where she could disengage from her roles and discover her identity.
Ultimately, Sally’s story demonstrates the importance of self-discovery and the power of questioning societal norms in finding personal fulfillment and living an authentic life. It serves as a reminder that individuals can shape their realities and narratives, breaking free from performance constraints and embracing their true selves.





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