Prompt 6: Glass of Water

The protagonist in Eugene Scribes' The Glass of Water, is Masham. From the beginning of the play, we discover a beautiful and honest love between Masham and Abigail, and the objective of attaining a marriage between the two of them is the most prominent in the script. Although many other characters appear with many other objectives, tactics that work toward the union of the young lovers receive the most stage time. Scribe portrays both Masham and Abigail in a good light. We see both of them as respectable, likable, and hard-working characters, which automatically puts the audience on their side. We also see truth in their love for one another, and a constant effort from each of them to find a way to be together. This makes the audience, no matter the current issue at hand in the world of the play, concerned for the fate of Abigail and Masham and the success of their relationship. Both the queen and Duchess are in love with Masham and are after his hand in marriage. Without Abigail in the picture, we as the audience would see nothing wrong with this. They simply love an attractive, strong, enjoyable young man, it only makes sense that they would go after his heart. However, Scribe makes sure to establish a relationship between Masham and Abigail before ever releasing the feelings of the queen or duchess for a reason. In doing so, she allows the audience to become connected to Abigail and Masham, and form a loyalty to their relational success over anything that may try to destroy it. There is no question as to who is the protagonist, or as to which outcome the audience should be hopeful for. Scribe wrote this play so that even though the queen and Duchess aren't necessarily bad people, the audience detest them for even existing once we discover their plans to break up the beautiful union we have come to truly appreciate and support.