Aria da Capo & What Makes a Man Powerful?
With a consideration of the play in verse, Aria da Capo by Edna St. Vincent Millay. First presented in a public seminar at the Aesthetic Realism Foundation, New York City.

Through my study of Aesthetic Realism I've seen that we have two different ways of trying to be powerful. In his book Self and World, Eli Siegel writes: "Aesthetic Realism sees the largest purpose of every human being as the liking of the world on an honest basis." This purpose, I learned, represents our true power—to know and see meaning in the world and people.

But we have another notion of power which, though we may not realize it, is ruinous to our lives. It is contempt, described by Mr. Siegel as the "disposition in every person to think he will be for himself by making less of the outside world."

Like many men, I thought I would be powerful if I made a lot of money, knew important people, and had a career that others envied. I thought that would equal success and clout—things I was determined to have.

In college I majored in acting and had a true care for it, trying to get within the feelings of a character. But I also had another purpose. Once I saw a casting notice posted in the drama department for a summer stock job, singing and dancing. I wanted that job; but the next second I thought of my chief rival in the department. Seeing no one nearby, I ripped the notice off the board and hurried away so he would never know about the audition. I thought I had pulled a fast one, but I felt sneaky and ashamed. It was this way of going for power that had me often feel so unsure of myself.

And power is what Edna St. Vincent's play Aria da Capo is all about.

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