Dare To Be Different

The Girl Of The Golden West

The Girl of the Golden West was written by David Belasco. Belasco was an American playwright, theatrical producer, and manager, and one of the first American producers to unify all elements of a theatrical production under the supervision of one person. After working as an actor, writer, and stage manager from 1874 to 1882. He moved to New York City and continued writing and working in theatrical management. In 1907 Belasco acquired his own theater, the Stuyvesant, renamed the Belasco in 1910.

This play took place during the days of the GOLD FEVER
During the California Gold Rush
In Cloudy Mountain California-- A mining camp

California was a unique and diverse natural environment after 1848. With a remarkable range of geography and geology, of plants and animals, of weather and natural resources. California had been inhabited or visited by many different people before gold was discovered. Each new group of people brought its own system of values. They related differently to the beauty of California and its immense bounty of natural resources. Each saw a different kind of "gold" to be reaped from the land. They also related differently to each other.

"The world in 1848 was poised to rush to California. A remarkable coincidence of worldwide events and conditions set the stage: political instability and revolution, class tensions and social unrest, economic depression and repression. Add widespread drought and famine to the mix, and suddenly there were tens of thousands of people around the world primed to emigrate from their homelands to almost anywhere. The Old World seemed faded and chaotic, and the New World appeared bright with limitless prospects and promise. California offered a destination, an irresistible temptation. A golden carrot was dangled in front of the world's nose. California Gold . . . free for the taking! This 'Mother Lode' of gold suddenly seemed a compelling answer to the problems of those tumultuous times. The world responded, and rushed to California (museumca)."

The point I have focused on from this play was The Girl and how she was the center of this town. Her saloon was the place to be. It was the hang out for everyone, and she was the object of all of the camp boys' affection. Everyone toasts to her. Sonora melts when he sees her. Handsome sits watching the girl. Blond Harry buys her a drink. The boys give her money to buy ribbons; one more than the last. Rance wants her to be his wife. He goes as far as asking her to marry him.

The Girl "Minnie" is different than most girls in this time. As it states in this passage:
"Her utter frankness takes away all suggestion of vice-- showing her to be unsmirched, happy, careless, untouched by the life about her. Yet she has a thorough knowledge of what the men of her world generally want. She is used to flattery-- knows exactly how to deal with men-- is very shrewd-- but quite capable of being a good friend to the camp boys. Handsome follows her and stands agains the bar, watching her admiringly."

When The Girl was handed the drink that Blond Harry sent her she took it and poured it back into the bottle, and told Nick to send her thanks. I think she is very acceptable of the flirting that she receives, but she knows that what is said is completely different than what is done. When Rance proposes, The Girl brings up the fact that he has a wife in New Orleans. She says that no one here will marry her. Handsome has two wives somewhere East. Trin a "widder" in Sacramento. Also everyone there is not traveling under their own name.

The Girl says that she runs the Polka alone, and she was taught by her father. She doesnt need anyone to protect her. She has her own weapon. She's independent, and happy-- the Polka is paying and she wants no talk of marriage with Rance's wife in New Orleans, because it is a respectable saloon.

This brings up a lot of points at how The Girl seems to run her business, and shows that she is different than most girls out there now. Like the one girl every guy knew from the other town. She is about friendships and nothing more. She is independent and doesn't need a protector. She can handle herself. I think that The Girl is a very out of place character.

Belasco has named her The Girl in the Golden West for a reason. She is always referred to as 'The Girl,' I think this shows how out of place she is already, and brings that point out everytime her name is read.

Nuggets of information to uncover......

Finding out The Girl's name was 'Minnie' took away from her as a character, do you think the story would have more impact if Belasco would have called her Minnie during the play?

Cloudy Mountain, California is not a real place, why do you think Belasco chose this name? Do you think there is a hidden meaning behind this?

During the Golden west there were not a lot of places for women to be, why do you think Belasco chose to focus his story around a saloon girl, and her life?

Posted by ZacharyHarvey at November 10, 2004 12:42 AM