Ballet Summary
The Green Table is one of the most famous ballets introduced by Kurt Jooss in 1932, describing World War I, its politics, characteristics, and outcomes. There are many strong archetypes in this dance piece, and I want to describe the Politician, Death, and the Soldier. The Politician appears first, next to the table. He is in a clean black suit (“The Green Table” 01:07).
Then, Death in the skeleton-like costume emerges suddenly from the darkness. Its look terrifies and impresses (“The Green Table” 03:57). The Soldier, with a naked chest, thin pants, and a small helmet on his head, can be firstly noticed with a white flag, symbolizing hope (“The Green Table” 06:10). These images help identify the difference between the stakeholders of the war: unaffected but influential politicians, sustained and inevitable death, and unprotected but full of energy soldiers.
Movements and Essence of Characters
The movements of the chosen archetypes differ to demonstrate their true intentions and impact. The Politician moves confidently and reservedly, as if he thinks over each step to avoid unnecessary actions or putting his life under threat. Death’s movements are specific and sharp: its arms and legs are strong, proving the inability to win the battle with this character.
The dance of the Soldier is soft, supportive, and sometimes irrational. Compared to the Politician and Death, who avoid direct contact with other characters, the Soldier cooperates with others either physically or emotionally. His movements prove the openness, sincerity, and hope of the citizens in the war.
Symbolic Interpretation
Although this ballet was created about a decade ago, its metaphorical and symbolic messages can be related to current events in multiple ways. First, the relationships between the government and its citizens do not seem to change: politicians often prefer to make their decisions far from their constituents. Second, cooperation between ordinary citizens fulfills this world, addressing the issues of love, support, and loss. Finally, mainly remaining invisible, death continues taking human lives, and poor people become more vulnerable and exposed to risks. I believe the relevance of The Green Table lies in the impossibility of nations managing their ambitions and pursuits for power and control, which highlights the growth of military conflicts at various levels.
Work Cited
“The Green Table.” YouTube, uploaded by Rachel Haretz.