` the children yearn for wolfeus . `

i'm on the train that says, in hadestown's iteration, orpheus does not turn around because he loves eurydice, but because he has been corrupted by the hegemonic capitalist system.

consider the parallels between "wait for me" and "doubt comes in." in the latter, orpheus' melody fails to bring in a chorus or move stones or grow flowers like it did before. he repeats the. same. words. that the fates tried to break him with in the earlier song (who am i? where do i think i'm going? who am i? why am i all alone?), but back then the melody worked against them bc he still had innocence and hope. THEN he takes it a step further in the next verse and really internalizes his new experiences (who am i against him?...why would he let me win?) — & yeah he's really truly cooked atp :'(

(i read that the fates can represent the mass media and i'm so with that. they both praise and criticize the rulers, but always manipulate/bring down the poor. we know orpheus has lost when he listens to them.)

eurydice and orpheus switch places from beginning to finale with their arcs. she starts out cynical and then is the hopeful one, SHE raises up the backing vocals in "doubt comes in." he starts out optimistic, ends up cynical (last words before he turns: "i used to see the way the world could be, but now the way it is is all i see"). bc we need both optimism & a sense of reality to change the world.

hades knows he would turn around, but due to his doubt rather than his love. inside, he is sure that can not overcome his doubt for his love, and he sees this supposed inevitability take root in orpheus, too. but when the young couple full of promise dooms themselves, the older, jaded couple, seemingly hopeless, agrees to try again (they switch!).

Jack Wolfe: laaa la la la laa la la la laaaa