Potential

This chapter proposes a new paradigm for understanding children, combining ancient and modern ideas about potential. Aristotle developed a complex idea of action and potential which can be aligned with his other comments about children. Extending this argument, we can see that modern theory linked to quantum mechanics suggests a mechanism by which the silent, passive child figures of tragedy have a paradoxically significant role in drama. Children are framed in temporal and socio-historical settings. Then the theatrical and philosophical issues are considered. The chapter concludes by examining imagery used in tragedy, and suggests that analogies from quantum physics may be useful to explain the peculiar strength of child roles. A parallel is drawn with ancient theatrical ghosts.