Definitions HQ

A Role (n.) beyond ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠your powers disgraces you in that one and makes you neglect the one you might have filled with success.

A Role (n.) such ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠as son, brother, councillor, elder or father, when duly considered, suggests the acts appropriate to it.

A Role (n.) must ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠fit your nature: a calf should get out of the way when a lion appears, while a bull should go out and fight.

A Role (n.) as ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠beggar can be played as finely as a king's: the actor Polus was no worse as Oedipus at Colonus than as Oedipus the King.

A Role (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠the one thing in life you are asked to play well, never to choose: the author picks the part, whether beggar, cripple or consul.

A Role (n.) assigned ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠by the Deity should be played as Polus played Oedipus the beggar at Colonus, with no poorer voice than Oedipus the King; shall the noble man play worse?

A Role (n.) is ⁠​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​⁠assigned by the Playwright — short or long, beggar, cripple or official: your business is to play it admirably; the choosing of it is Another's.