THE EXCITATION OF FEELING 123
only function of tone and gesture is to aid in inducing in the hearer the organic tensions with which the conscious side of feeling is always linked.
Let us now turn to note the distinction between arousing feeling by dramatic action and by the simple expression of it in voice and gesture. Dramatic action involves, of course, the use of voice and gesture; but its function is to enable the hearer or spectator to see mentally the actions of a per son or persons not actually present. It is representative ac tion ; and as such is a very effective means of arousing emo tion. But it aims not so much at communicating the emotion of the speaker or actor though it usually does this as at enabling the audience to witness the actions, with their accompanying emotions, of other persons who are not really present, and to experience in some meas ure the feelings which would be aroused by witnessing the actual performance of the actions. Of course, as it ap proaches perfection it tends to produce the illusion of reality or actuality. This is the ideal of the actor; though it is doubtful whether it is ever realized except momentarily. However great and however sustained may be the power of the actor, it is doubtful whether he can banish from the back-ground of the spectator s consciousness the realization of the fact that he is not the person represented, and there are inevitable incidents upon the stage that hinder the com plete consummation of the illusion. Our concern, however, is not with the professional actor, but with the dramatic ac tion of the orator. Certainly the illusion of actuality in his representation is not to be expected, perhaps not to be desired. Dramatic action in the orator is like a sketch in art; it is an outline, with details omitted, of the situation and action represented, giving just enough to enable the imagination of the hearer easily to complete the scene. Often the actor himself does no more. Possibly this is
excitation of feeling. It is obvious that they have an important function in the communication of ideas. They express thought as well as feeling.
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