Final answer:
Stage directions in a play reveal nuances about characters' relationships, and in John's case with Elizabeth, they suggest control and manipulation. The stage directions indicate a dynamic where John's display of affection is unconvincing and his need for control is evident, leading to a strained and imbalanced relationship.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stage directions provide critical insight into character relationships and dynamics within a play. In the context of John's relationship with his wife Elizabeth, the stage directions suggest a dynamic of control and restraint.
For example, stage directions such as a character's "sickly smile" or "pale and unconvincing affection" indicate a lack of genuine warmth or connection. The use of phrases like "defeated" and actions such as John putting his arms around Elizabeth and kissing her fervently after she agrees to accompany him hints at a need for control and perhaps possessiveness, rather than a relationship based on equal footing and mutual respect. This kind of interaction reveals that John's relationship with his wife is dominated by his control over her decisions and his insistence on her dependency, despite her apparent impatience and his unconvincing displays of affection.
Playwright Lauren Gunderson emphasizes the importance of stage directions by stating that "The truth is what people do, not say. I crave plays." This assertion aligns with the idea that stage directions reveal the true nature of characters' relationships beyond their spoken dialogue.