And I had a bad toothache. (Rising, advancing on CLIFFORD) Its very wrong of you to expect Sidney to give you the fruits of his years of experience, his hard-won knowledge, without any quid pro quo, as if the seminar were still in session! Lenny also discovers that the singing career of Meg is not going well. It reflects Lennys power and control over her life. It was a time of significant events in American society. She does not choose Zackery herself but is pressured by her grandfather to marry the successful lawyer. In fact, thats what did happen. has a highly structured plot. The play ends with the hope that his efforts will prove fruitful. She only feels good with Lenny. The relationship of Lenny is not stable with her sisters. He opens his firm in Hazlehurst. Her sisters have forgotten her birthday, only compounding her sense of rejection. They laugh and celebrate Lennys birthday.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'litpriest_com-large-mobile-banner-1','ezslot_12',113,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-large-mobile-banner-1-0'); This drama has an ending in laughter and celebration. I went insane. Everyone loves to be entertained, right? It also re-establishes the unity among them. Which meant that the new Babe was late to the all-in-the-family bonding party. , 'aes vo Lenny Ob, Ley! Lenny faces rejection from men. It reveals that the grandfather is in a coma and does not look like he is alive anymore. Thoughtfully cast, superbly acted and masterfully written and directed, Crimes of the Heart is a winner. Lenny reappears and decides to call Charlie again. Crimes of the Heart has a highly structured plot. shared with me that she is in the middle of her siblings. And A.J. In the final act, the three sisters unite. He took away his job, his home, his health, his respectability. The three MaGrath sisters are back together in their hometown of Hazelhurst, Mississippi for the first time in a decade. Im going to say something thats been on my mind ever since your phone conversation. Oh you must see that painting -- the incomplete lines of God -- they cannot be filled in because they would be too beautiful, they would shock the senses, and so they are almost there -- women or angels -- exchanging confidences -- coming into being. During the lockdown, co-founders Bradyn Braziel and Collin Selman . She also feels unpleasant about Babe. Meg:Good morning! Flashcards. Terms in this set (28) Crimes of the Heart. Lenny, honey, I know exactly how you feel about Meg. obsession devoted to supporting live narrative theatre in Central Texas. She is married to a wealthy lawyer, naming Zackery. In the play, male figures are seen conventionally. indirectly, Old Granddaddy pushes each sister into a lonely life. He makes Lenny believe that due to her infertility, no man will ever love her. She is secretive. Self-awareness, forgiveness, acceptance, and understanding reduce such bad events in ones life. Goodbye. She expressed her deep insight into such a relation in Crimes of the Heart. she is laughing radiantly and limping as she sings into the broken heel.) Oldest sister Lenny takes care of their grandfather and is turning into an old maid. And Shelby is an only child; shes still so youthful and vibrant. Good-bye, Mrs. Givings. Thats what everyones saying, deliberate intent to kill! She completed Crimes of the Heart in 1978. My mouth was just as dry as a bone. [3], Crimes Of The Heart received positive reviews among critics, with Spacek's performance being widely highlighted and lauded. As it stands, if anything should happen to you your cousin in Vancouver would inherit. They look for their own identity and freedom by out-throwing abusive patriarchy. Meg, the middle sister, left home to pursue stardom as a singer in Los Angeles, but has, so far, only found happiness at the bottom of a bottle. Then, Meg enters with a bottle from which she has been drinking. Therefore, towards the end of the play, Lenny decides to go with Charlie on a date. We had a time down there. However, her experience proves that opportunities are not easily available, even when one is super talented. Life is hard for them in the male-dominant society. [2] I thought -- fill her up and then pop! This movement defined the civil rights of women as well.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'litpriest_com-medrectangle-4','ezslot_5',102,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-medrectangle-4-0'); In Crimes of the Heart, the characters seem unaware of all the events going on at the national level. Times are hard now. The female characters of the play represent the ordinary women of the South. Barnette is a lawyer who Babe hires to fight her case. She goes outside to find Meg, and while she is gone Babe tries to kill herself. Play: Crimes of the Heart by Beth Henley. Crimes of the Heart is a 1986 American dark comedy film directed by Bruce Beresford from a screenplay written by Beth Henley adapted from her Pulitzer Prize-winning 1979 play of the same name.It stars Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Tess Harper, and Hurd Hatfield.The film's narrative follows the Magrath sisters, Babe, Lenny and Meg, who reunite in their family home in . Henley has not made this play unrealistic by putting men outside the world. Meg: Shes in the upstairs room. As with his critically acclaimed Tender Mercies, the Australian director again looks at American types with a fresh eye. There is always goodness in bad, and bad in goodness. Murdaugh, 54, is accused of shooting his wife Maggie, 52, and youngest son, Paul, 22, at the kennels of their 1,800-acre hunting estate in Moselle, South Carolina on the night of June 7, 2021. Why, I always said that girl was nothing but cheap Christmas trash! Sex: Female. The oldest Magrath sister. It says that Zackery, Babes husband, is seriously injured and is hospitalized now. An astonishing first play, initially presented by the Actors Theatre of Louisville, then Off-Broadway, and then on Broadway, where it established the author as a major voice in our theatre. Lenny, the oldest, most reserved sister, is plagued with infertility due to a shrunken ovary. I am Hega ten Dorp. New York, NY 10016
I hope that the uncomfortableness of the play resonates a little more deeply within the white audience members. Meg and Babe are left alone at home. Ended up in L.A. County Hospital. Theyre horrible. No, it will interfere. Chick is very concerned about her reputation in the community. He leaves to go pick up the evidence. Meg apologizes for lying to her grandfather and it starts an argument. Do you want to leave it that way? The role of grandfather in their life is important. Says hes got some sort of evidence. Oh, God. She takes care of her old and sick grandfather, Old Granddaddy. There are three acts in the play, and all of them happen in the kitchen. While this play overflows with infectious high spirits, it is also, unmistakably, the tale of a very troubled family. stevie1990. They are treated as an attacker on female space. Test. The whole society was affected by the casualties. Similarly, the troubles of Babe start when she marries Zackery. L: Look in there in the ribbon drawer. In that hurricane, Docs leg was also hurt. That young man has been discouraging all callers and we were afraid you might be in worse shape than he was letting on. Camille, I believe they called it. Maybe its because . They talk about the hurricane and the hard times in the past. Join our Email List; New Stage Theatre. My God. Meg faces hard luck in her singing career in Hollywood. Is danger here. Yes, here I am just practically on the brink of utter doom. He was perfectly fine! It has central as well as several side conflicts. in 1978. Grandfather marries off Babe to Zackery. She also celebrates Lennys birthday and gifts a box of candies. Seeking 2 Actor Team for Spring
Such acts give freedom of decision to the MaGrath sisters. Crimes of the Heart is a play by American playwright Beth Henley. And I see how distant families are across the board white people, Black people, everybody.. I'm sizzling! Chick mentions that Doc is crippled with a limp due to Meg's actions and does not want her to come home. Then I get drunk. Through the complex human relations and human psyche, Henley has said that human actions cannot be labeled as completely good or completely good. if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[300,250],'litpriest_com-box-4','ezslot_6',103,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-box-4-0');Meanwhile, Barnette, Babes lawyer, arrives. Through the diversity in her characters, Henley has let the readers decide which characters are their favorite. After this, he leaves to meet Zackery at the hospital. At this time, Babe comes downstairs with a rope around her neck. But obviously thats not the case. And youll pay for that! After this, Chicks voice is heard. These two sisters also recall the hurricane which destroys Biloxi. She is twenty-four years old. The next morning, Babe lies down in Lennys sleeping chamber. Lenny, the eldest, never left Hazelhurst -- she is the caretaker of the sisters' cantankerous Old Granddaddy. Dates for this show will be April 20th- 23rd, 2023 and it will be directed by Ryan Kirby!! Each sister is forced to face the consequences of the "crimes of the heart" she has committed. Rita Cole, left, A.J. In the perfect balance between comedy and tragedy, plot and characters, and conflict and resolution, Henleys style matches Chekhov. Lennie's Monologue: It's them sycamores I remember. Babe is slightly insane. He marries another woman and has two children as well. The three sisters are the representation of different societal images of an ordinary woman. . And Id sat next to A.J. In the perfect balance between comedy and tragedy, plot and characters, and conflict and resolution, Henleys style matches Chekhov. She stays away from making any emotional connection with the opposite gender. New York, NY, Ages 12-17: Camp Broadway Ensemble @ Carnegie Hall
The sisters celebrate Lennys birthday. When I talk to the audience members after the show, I can see the tears in their eyes, and they always want to talk about I have a sister and Im going to go home and call her. Thats the conversation Im mostly having with people. They talk about Lenny who has lost her ability to conceive. The story focuses on the Magrath sistersLenny, Meg, and Babewho reunite at the family home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, after Babe shoots her abusive husband. Crimes of the Heart runs through Feb. 5 at the downtown St. Pete theater. She is resentful of Meg, whom she sees as always having . The destruction caused by the war was broadcasted by the media. He is thirty years old. This leads Meg to make Lenny cry, and Babe follows her to comfort her. Crimes of the Heart Beth Henley. For this purpose, she looks for Babe. The New York Times Archives. She is insecure about her fertility, her appearance, her age, and her role in caring for her grandfather. We only provide suggested audition monologues or songs for an individual character if our system finds content that matches a character's traits. In this way, he makes Lenny be his companion in old age. and more. I think being uncomfortable births growth., Baldwin feels it, too. Click HERE for the sign-up form. Baldwin and Shelby Ronea, on American Stage's "Crimes of the Heart" set. Lenny, the oldest sister, is unmarried at thirty and facing diminishing marital prospects; Meg, the middle sister, who quickly outgrew Hazlehurst, is back after a failed singing career on the West Coast; while Babe, the youngest, is out on bail after having shot her husband in the stomach. "Upcoming" items and similar pieces are drawn from material published or distributed by credited arts organizations or individuals and may have been lightly edited. Sisterhood gives them the power to rule their life. I wanted to make sure I took care of the mental aspect of Babe. (pause) Well, my goodness gracious, Lenora, dont be such a noodleits the truth!
to read our character analysis for Lenora Lenny Magrath and unlock other amazing theatre resources! It also shows that she is the one who can be easily persuaded with a small gentle push. *Our system only provides suggested monologues or songs for select characters if we have matching monologues and song information in our database. Doc: I dont know, Meggy. Can you use a glass? He didnt answer. Doc leaves to pick up his son from the dentist. After a pause, Doc offers to go for a ride and look at the moon. Ooh! She explains to Meg that the shooting happens because she was angry with her husband for threatening and pushing Willie down the steps. And the wind was blowing. The house is old but its condition is not described in the play. Crimes of the Heart 1986 PG-13 1 h 45 m IMDb RATING 6.3 /10 4.2K YOUR RATING Rate Play trailer 1:46 1 Video 28 Photos Comedy Drama Three southern sisters try to come to grips with the meaning of their mother's suicide. Lenny reconnects with her boyfriend. Perhaps not. It exists somewhere between parody and melodrama, between the tragic and the goofy. By posting a comment, I have read, understand and agree to the Posting Guidelines. An' the river, runnin' deep and green, tinkling jus' like the way Aunt Clara's house keys used to when she was out on the porch about to unlock the front door. Due to their fathers betrayal and mothers suicide, Meg gets mentally unstable. Babe asks Barnette why he has a personal feud against Zackery. It gets me upset! Please email me for this monologue. Lenny is a wallflower who bemoans her shriveled ovary. It gets me mad! Chekov would be proud of writer Beth Henley. Throughout the drama, all the characters are limited in their life choices. So I was able to really see her as the woman that she is. Crimes of the Heart is a 1986 American black comedy-drama film directed by Bruce Beresford from a screenplay written by Beth Henley adapted from her Pulitzer Prize-winning 1979 play of the same name. The play begins on Lenny's thirtieth birthday. I dont like to talk about it. The first Chicago production was at the Blackstone Theatre in 1983.[7]. She also shoots her husband, a well-established lawyer. They all get united to fight against an abusive husband, a bad career, and the dominant male of the MaGrath family. Although the relationship among sisters is focused on the play, each of them also shares a bond with a male. The world of the characters in the play also seems unaffected by civil rights and other developments. Due to her mothers suicide, Meg is afraid of making emotional bonding. Babe goes and gives her a crying shoulder. Despite their troubles and being in an odd situation, the act ends at three sisters laughing together. Lenny is responsible to take care of Old Granddaddy. Meg is an alcoholic. It ran February 14 to April 20, 2008 with Jessica Stone replacing Rocha as Chick.[10]. Now, Im going to make a suggestion to you, Sidney. Lennys crime is that she does not openly express her feelings to a man as she is insecure. He does not expose Zackery openly to protect Babes secret affair with Willie from the public. Lenny and Meg then discuss Old Granddaddy which creates awkwardness between two sisters. They live in a small town in Mississippi. New York, NY, Accessibility Statement Terms Privacy |StageAgent 2020. Think about it. Doc leaves shortly after to go pick up his son from the dentist. Is why God gives gift. crimes of the heart monologue lenny. Sign up today to unlock amazing theatre resources and opportunities. He is an old boyfriend of Meg, Lennys other sister. In this tearjerker based on a successful stage drama, an untimely death haunts a trio of sisters, yet their love proves stronger than any familial tragedy. Babe is the youngest among the MaGrath sisters. She is twenty-seven years old. [email protected]. Where's the scissors, Lenny? It is the story of three sisters who face tragedy after tragedy. How to clear DPF Regan Full Engine Derate code. About the Supreme Court justice I most admire. (Disgustedly) Oh, bluff! Although Henleys play, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for drama, tackles some serious subject matter none of the sisters are telling the total truth it is, in fact, laced with humor, most of it dark, all of it placed there to create a working tension-and-release dynamic between the sisters. Have you ever seen Virgin and Child with the Angels? She starts a sexual relationship with Willie without thinking about her husband. He intends to keep Babe and Willies photos in secret by not exposing Zackery. my heart fluttered with Meg, fell with Lenny and flinched with Babe as the sisters retold their painful past and dealt with the lurking future through dramatic monologues and borderline slapstick humor. Upgrade to PRO Sign Up for PRO to view suggested audition pieces! Dr. Benjamin Franklin once decided to electrocute a bird for his turkey dinner on Christmas Eve. At the end of the play, the unity of three sisters declares that the personal relationship between sisters is far more necessary than their perception in public.if(typeof ez_ad_units!='undefined'){ez_ad_units.push([[250,250],'litpriest_com-leader-3','ezslot_15',116,'0','0'])};__ez_fad_position('div-gpt-ad-litpriest_com-leader-3-0'); Each of the three sisters suffers from identity crises. It stars Diane Keaton, Jessica Lange, Sissy Spacek, Sam Shepard, Tess Harper, and Hurd Hatfield. He reveals that Zackery has ruined his fathers life. Why do you remember how Meg always got to wear twelve jingle bells on her petticoats, while we were allowed to wear only three apiece? Such an act by Lenny represents her sense of family bond. He treats Babe and Meg especially. AUDITIONS: Crimes of the Heart by Beth HenleyJoin us THIS SATURDAY at the Jubilee Theatre if you are interested in auditioning for Crimes of the Heart! Barnette arrives and says that he has found enough scandalous information about Zackery that would make him drop the case. It says that their grandfather has got another stroke. CRIMES OF THE HEART The lights go up on the empty kitchen. Hurricane Camille. Chick, her cousin, arrives with depressing news in the paper that Babe, Lennys younger sister, has shot her husband. Due to her careless nature, Lenny and Babe show their concerns when Meg disappears with Doc one night. However, they realize their worth towards the end. Meg and Babe try to convince Lenny to contact Charlie and give a second thought to their relationship. They lack self-esteem and self-identity because of the Old Granddaddy. These crimes usually go unnoticed, but they develop a sense of guilt in people. When I read this play, what stood out the most (was) I wanted people to be uncomfortable with the roles they play as a sibling. They love sharing their time rather than watching on television what is going on in the world. Occupation: Singer. In Act Three, Chick asks how Old Granddaddy is. Then one afternoon I ran screaming out of the apartment with all my money and jewelry and valuables and tried to stuff it all in one of those March of Dimes collection boxes. Shes the one who got singing and dancing lessons; and a store-bought dress to wear to her senior prom. B: Okay. document.write(new Date().getFullYear());Lit Priest, Beth Henley was born in Jackson, Mississippi, on May 8, 1952. The absence of prominent historical and political events in the play reflects Henleys perspectives on national politics. Due to Arabs embargo on exports, the U.S. faced economic crises due to its dependency on fuel. Barnette gets familiar with Meg as he remembers her old singing days in Biloxi. I dont know. Another performer was initially to play Babe, the youngest and arguably least sympathetic of the trio, and went through nearly all of the labor-intensive rehearsal process. They keep their differences aside and reunite. And so I hope that people take that away., During Babes Willy Jay monologue, she adds, I see audience members shift in their seats. It was a time of significant events in American society. Therefore, she doesnt care about relationships. They become one anothers strength. Babe makes an affair with a fifteen-year-old boy. The supporting roles helped to fill in the gaps in the storyline and often acted as comic relief when scenes were too tense. She thinks of others opinions regarding MaGrath sisters more than her own. Age: 27. She then calls her old lover and they make a date. Lemonade? They start talking about what is happening with the sisters. When Meg arrives, she and Lenny talk. Dont put it off. [6], The first London production was in 1983 at the Bush Theatre. I would think youd be able to write a very fine thriller on the subject. Hazlehurst is a small town where rumors spread easily. And I'd sat next to A.J. Mr. Anderson, Sidney is bursting with creative ideas about your play! The suicide of the mother, Babe shooting her husband, the death of Lennys horse, Old Granddaddy lying on death bed, Babes attempts to commit suicide, are all the signs of impending death. Set in a small Mississippi town, the play examines the lives of three quirky sisters who have gathered back home. The three actresses who play the Magrath Sisters in the American Stage production of Crimes of the Heart had never met one another before starting work on the show. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); City favors adding housing density in neighborhoods, Fair Housing Act trumps neighbors concerns, Places This Week: Sixty90 affordable housing site lists. The three sisters possess distinctive characters. He remains close to the MaGrath family. I am a good singer too, but during my career in Hollywood, California I had some issues and I spent some time in a mental institution. At the end of the act, Babe decides to cooperate with Barnette. The characters state the exact time of the play. Her father was an attorney, and her mother was an actress. Do you feel calmer? One hell of a hurricane. The Jane Reid-Petty Theatre Center 1100 Carlisle St. Jackson, MS 39202 P: 601.948.3533 F: 601.948.3538 Email. She does not judge her character but shows them in comic and tragic ways. the magrath home in hazlehurst, mississippi. Would you like a Coke instead? Then I got the idea, he was telling me to call on the phone for medical help. Cold reads will follow monologues, starting hopefully at 3:30! [9] This production was moved to the Roundabout Theatre Company for an Off-Broadway run. The two continue with their drink. for our artists as well as our vibrant Ithaca area. Silent House Theatre Company was founded in March 2020 when the world was forced to shut down due to Covid-19. The play continued to be developed, with productions in Los Gatos, California, St. Louis, and Baltimore at the Centre Stage Theatre.[3]. The tragicomedy relates the story of the three Magrath sisters, Meg, Babe, and Lenny, who reunite at Old Granddaddy's home in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, after Babe shoots her abusive husband. The overall attitude of the characters shows that family is important. I was dying of thirst. Earlier, Lenny has dated a man named Charlie from Memphis. After realization, Lenny kicks Chick out of the home. shows a unique perspective about life in a small town in the South. With Barnette, Meg also leaves to pick up Lennys belated birthday cake. I thought of her like a tick. Banette has all the evidence against Zackery. Sad story. When Meg comes back from California, they both start their friendship again. I am in real life the oldest sister to two sisters, she says. For this reason, she has come back from California to Hazlehurst. Through the macabre sense of humor, this play has mated the conventions of naturalistic play with unconventional characters of absurdist tragicomedy. But even the title was a problem. Mar. I saw it all from over there in my own backyard; I saw Meg stumbling out of Doc Porters pickup truck, not 15 minutes ago. during the first rehearsals, and we were already joking between each other."
Im Mrs. ah, Beckys attorney Why certainly, Mr. Botrelle, Id be more than glad to check out any pertinent information that you may have Fine, then Ill be right on over. This play has creatively blended different theatrical styles and moods. Family: Lenny, Babe (sisters) Chick (cousin) Bio: I am Meg MaGrath, a beautiful slender 27 year old singer. There are moments when the movie doesn't seem to know where it's going, but for once that's a good thing because the uncertainty almost always ends with some kind of a delightful, weird surprise. She calls Meg low-class tramp. She finds Meg undisciplined. It is a complete drama through a few characters. The entirety of the play takes place in the kitchen of the house belonging to the Magrath sisters: Lenny, Babe, and Meg. He plans to send Willie to the North and be safe. The location is in-door. At the opening scene, when Chick enters with the news of Babe shooting her husband, she worries about her image in the community. I was delegated by Elizabeth and the Wessons and the Harveys. Therefore, towards the end of the play, Lenny decides to go with Charlie on a date. Id better get over there and see what hes got up his sleeve. Babe takes a rope and goes upstairs. Might regular theatergoers eventually tire of these adorable eccentrics, laughing through their tears and crying themselves back to laughter again? And you dont even think about it. the characters seem unaware of all the events going on at the national level. She was the second oldest in her four sisters. You can simply refuse to speak with him. (SHE enters the room dramatically; dripping with sympathy) Well, I just dont know what to say! New York, NY, Linda Ray
And I think thats a good thing. I tell you, I think the reason I made up the lemonade, I mean besides the fact that my mouth was bone dry, was that I was afraid to call the authorities. Lenny Magrath, a thirty-year-old woman with a round figure . Complimented by Gallery Z's Assemblage show, audiences were able to fully take a trip back to the '70s in Beth Henley's play about love, loss, and above all else: Sisterhood. She completed. "Rita reminded me so much of my mom," Ronea says. Tell me, is it true what everyones saying, thatdo you mind talking about this? Well, its been a long time. Meg, who aspires to make it in Hollywood as . Crimes of the Heart. Through these actions, Henley has depicted that fact there is always a reason behind each cruel action. Especially after big, bad, sad pandemic, we want to laugh," Baldwin says. Rachel Hockett, Founding Artistic Director, and Arthur Bicknell, Founding Literary Manager, To collaborate with theater artists both in front of. Shes got a lot on her mind. Doc arrives and shares a drink with Meg. (HE hangs up the phone) He wants me to come see him at the hospital this evening.
Meg is the middle sister. The other two sisters seem jealous of Meg. Will you do that? Zackery annoys Babe time and again. These sisters want to change their destiny, but they are tied up to him. And my mom is my best friend. Meg comes home happy and tells her sisters that she realized she had empathy for others. It is on October 23rd, 1974. BABE: After I shot Zackery, I put the gun down on the piano bench, and then I went out into the kitchen and made up a pitcher of lemonade. There are moments when the movie doesn't seem to know where it's going, but for once that's a good thing because the uncertainty almost always ends with some . She is twenty-nine years old. Eating her birthday candy; talking on about her boyfriend in Memphis. Thanks to the dawn of electricity -- yes, thank you Mr. Edison, I always tip my hat to Mr. Edison -- a great American -- I have a new instrument which I will use. Dramadies I find more approachable in a way, because Im a hard critic for a comedy. The whole play is located in a small town in Hazlehurst, Mississippi, 1974. Henley was once asked why she chose this town as the setting. From time to time a play comes along that restores ones faith in our theatre NY Magazine. Enter the details of the person you want to share this article with. The whole play revolves around the crime of Babe shooting her husband. Each has endured her share of hardship and misery. To be a Black woman, and to go through the things that she goes through, I want people to understand that Babe is a victim of her environment, and she was just doing what she could. Likewise, he makes Lenny believe that she must stop dreaming of her husband and family because she is unable to conceive. I'd hide my mouse in my pocket whene'er I heard them jinglin' keys because Aunt Clara ne'er . Directed by Bruce Beresford. Next, Barnette comes. This is why she hanged her cat along with herself. I just stayed inside my apartment. She expressed her deep insight into such a relation in. With profound humanity and subtlety, A Great Wilderness navigates complex moral terrain, exploring the shifting motives and inconstant strength of our personal convictions.