#sisiposting

in act one, elisabeth is played by the younger actress, and death by the elder. here, death acts as a symbol of freedom via being old and maturing, getting to make your own decisions. later in the act, death is the idea that elisabeth, should she only get older, will one day be able to make her own decisions, will one day get out of the court and be her own person. death says to her, I am what you could be. I am what you will be.

and it is the elder actress who sings ignm reprise, taking elisabeth's place as the character decides that she will become this person, will grow up and mature and be free that way. that that's how she's gonna gain control. but death now takes the form of the younger elisabeth, now beginning to taunt her. in a way, Elisabeth has, by becoming this person that death had shown her, given into them.

through act two, the elder elisabeth is now taunted by death in the very opposite way; death, now appearing young and free, says to her, I am what you could have been. I am what you never knew you had and will never have again. I am everything you should have taken advantage of. and elisabeth chases this figure, now, as she did before, desperate to regain something, anything, of her youth, her beauty, and her capability.