Mud

by María Irene Fornés (1983)

Setting:
A shack in what I would imagine to be a rural place.

Synopsis:
Mae begins her studies of arithmetic and literature while her lover, Lloyd, who is completely uneducated, tends to the pig. Mae’s will to learn is not enough to advance her literacy to the point where she can read a pamphlet that details her lover’s condition. Henry lives next door and can read reasonably well; so, after stopping by, he reads and explains what he can about the pamphlet and gains an invitation to stay in Mae’s bed as her new lover. His superior wit outweighs her feelings for Lloyd. Later comes a reversal of the men’s conditions: Henry is crippled and Lloyd is healthy again. Mae, overwhelmed by the living burdens that bar her from improving herself or the quality of her own life, decides to sneak off and pays the ultimate price.

Thoughts:
Mud was a bit difficult to follow at first, but after getting acclimated to the style of Fornés’s writing, I realized how insightful the dialogue was. It felt like the dialogue was an honest translation of the thought processes of the characters, which is interesting because I was expecting to encounter more subtext. The brutal honesty and nasty dispositions of these characters makes this play severely dark, and between the three of them, I couldn't imagine a moment of happiness appearing on stage.