inlooker

Question

"It was at this time that I became aware of the complexity of one's make-up. When I acted in our stable-theater I seemed to be two people: one making up dramatic lines and rending them in fine action, and the other listening, approving or disapproving. I was actor and critic at the same time. I found that this was disturbingly true, whatever I did. When I talked with father or helped mother with household arrangements, I always heard and saw myself doing these things. I must be hopelessly insincere, I always thought. But the sense of guilt did not change me one bit. So vivid this inlooker self became, that I called it "the thing in the corner."Among my old papers I find a curious document, written in my fourteenth year and beginning: 'Tis seldom that one personality speaks to another. Even more rare is it that one's other personality speaks to another personality. Too seldom alas, for more often than not they speak another language.

1. What does "stable-theater" mean?

2. What does "inlooker" mean?

3. What is "the thing in the corner?"

4. Could you please rephrase the blue sentence?

Thank you.

Cadzao

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Cadzao"1. What does "stable-theater" mean? I have no idea. My guess is that it's another term for "repertory theater," although none of the Google references I checked panned out.

People often use "stable" figuratively, to mean a collection of individuals (rather than horses) which are available to be used singly or in combination for some purpose, sort of like the dugout or the bullpen at a baseball game, or a stable of girlfriends. In repertory theater, a company of actors and others put on a series of plays, the stable of actors being available to play such parts as suit their various talents.

2. What does "inlooker" mean? It's a word he has made up to describe his second personality. (The first one carries on the business of his life and the second one observes and criticizes the first. The second seems to be judging the first by looking in from the outside.)

3. What is "the thing in the corner?" The inlooker was always there, wherever he went, observing everything he did, as if from the corner of the room.

4. Could you please rephrase the blue sentence? To me, it's ambiguous. He may begin by speaking of the personalities of other individuals and end by alluding to his two personalities, which communicate imperfectly with one another. It's really not clear. Since they often speak different languages from each other, perhaps if one spoke to the other more often, there'd be a better chance of getting through.

It's sad that one speaks so infrequently to the other, since most of the time one speaks another language.

Cadzao · Answer

Thank you, Avangi, so much for your help.

Cadzao

CalifJim · Answer

CadzaoWhat does "stable-theater" mean?

The same as "barn theatre" I imagine. Small communities which don't have a formal setting such as a city auditorium in which to present theatrical performances often set up a barn somewhere within the rural environs of their town which serves as a place for mounting theatrical productions. Barn theatres are typically the outgrowth of the pent-up need of some of the local citizens to try their hand at acting. All are amateurs.

CadzaoToo seldom alas, for more often than not they speak another language.

It does not happen often enough, sad to say, that one of one's personalities speaks to another of one's personalities. But the reason is that the two do not speak the same language. At least that's how it is most of the time.
CJ

Avangi · Answer

CalifJim The same as "barn theatre" I imagine.

Hi, CJ.

We called that "summer stock" in my neck of the woods, probably because in New England you couldn't get an audience to sit still for very long in a barn in the winter. (It used to get cold as a barn!) But it was very big.

I tried patiently to make a Google connection to "stable-theater" and came up with nothing. - A.

inlooker

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions