Judith

Because Howard Barker chose a biblical story to base his play, I had to wonder about what his personal goal was with the story, on which I planned to draw a dramatic question. I initially thought as a biblical story there must be some focus on morality, but after a little research I found an interesting interview he had with a Robert David Jaffee, an Arts Journalist for JewishJournal.com. In the interview, Barker says that his tragedy does not take the form of most. It is not a question of morality. He simply used the known story in a theatrical context, focussing on the characters' humanity, not any variation of their representations of right and wrong. He went on to say that the play was also not a political statement.

"I am not a political playwright. A political play is about informing. I don't do that." - Barker 

 If the play's purpose is outside of religion, and social ideas, this puts all of the focus on the emotional decision of Judith to kill (not only kill, but violently decapitate) Holofemes. Barker added an element of conflicted emotioal attatchment in his retelling of the biblical story. I wanted to highlight this choice as well. That being said, I chose a dramatic question "Will Judith put her people before her feelings of connection with Holofemes." This raises a more passionate question, and focusses on the true heightened circumstances of the play. Judith is compromising her body and morals, and risking her life to take someone else's; all for the sake of her opressed people. What form will her passion take?

Source: http://www.jewishjournal.com/arts/article/judith_the_woman_warrior_who_brought_down_a_general_20061123