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Opera Music Plot Synopsis
Lieberson: Ashoka's Dream
ACT 1
SCENE 1. On a road near the palace, Ashoka the boy encounters
the impoverished
Sage who presents his begging bowl for alms. Ashoka flings
dirt into the bowl
and slowly turns away. The Sage responds with the prediction
that just has
Ashoka has offered earth, so shall he rule it.
SCENE 2. The ministers Kroda, Madu, and Raga discuss the stagnation
of India
resulting from the idleness of King Bindusara. They express
their cynicism at
the likelihood of Bindusara choosing his son Susima over Ashoka
to be his
successor. Cankya declares that he had made great conquerors
of Ashoka' s father
and grandfather and can make Ashoka king.
SCENE 3. In the throne room, Cankya addresses Ashoka respectfully,
but Ashoka
points out he is not a king. Cankya says that he will become
one, but Ashoka
does not believe that is possible because his father will
choose Susima. Cankya
declares that he will kill Susima.
SCENE 4. In this mimed scene, Cankya leads Ashoka dreamily
through the Court in
front of King Bindusara, Prince Susima, and the Ministers.
Cankya removes the
crown from the King and places it on the head of Ashoka. He
then offers a cup of
wine to the Prince who drinks it and consequently collapses.
Cankya retrieves
the cup and leaves.
SCENE 5. Alone in the palace, Lakshmi voices her pain and
anxiety at he cold
reception she received earlier from Ashoka.
SCENE 6. In another room of the place, Raga and Madu approach
Triraksha in the
hope of using her to redirect Ashoka away from his cruel capricious
behavior.
They propose to Triraksha that she ask Lakshmi to intercede
in this matter. They
also suggest that Triraksha may one day be queen.
SCENE 7. Triraksha goes to Lakshmi and asks her to soften
the heart of Ashoka.
SCENE 8. Ashoka and Girika relate the tale of having killed
a great many birds
and beasts in the forest. Cankya interprets this as an omen
that Ashoka must
demonstrate ruthless power throughout the kingdom. Ashoka
orders his men to
carry out such a mission.
SCENE 9. Kroda and Madu discuss the Kalinga nation which does
not recognize
Ashoka as king. Cankya tells them not to worry about Ashoka's
inaction to that
point because it is must a matter of time before Ashoka will
conquer.
SCENE 10. Lakshmi appeals to Ashoka to stop his destructive
armies but Ashoka
rebuffs her saying that peace is nothing more than a mirage
and can only be
guaranteed through force. He tells Lakshmi to go away to wherever
she pleases
but to leave their son with him.
SCENE 11. Kroda and Madu envision the glory of going to war
and the consequent
unification of India. Ashoka asks Triraksha what she desires
and she replies
that she wishes give him a son.
SCENE 12. The battlefield is a scene of great destruction,
but Cankya and the
Ministers are elated with the conquest. However, Ashoka wanders
disorientedly
among the dead and dying. he hears a variety of voices uttering
no more than a
word or two about fathers, sons, husbands. as Triraksha reaches
out to him, he
calls fro Lakshmi.
ACT 2
SCENE 1. Ashoka sees a horrific vision of Lakshmi in his sleep.
He wakes
suddenly and asks "What is a true King?" The voices
of Lakshmi and the Elements
tell him to find the answer by seeking out him who first knew
he would be king.
SCENE 2. Ashoka finds the Sage and expresses his uncertainty
as to how he should
rule. the Sage advises hearts overflowing in ceaseless giving.
Upon hearing
these words, Ashoka is convinced of the path he must follow.
SCENE 3. As Ashoka travels back to his palace he commits to
making his kingdom a
place of ease, healing, and peace.
SCENE 4. In the palace, Ashoka dictates his orders for libraries,
schools and
hospitals to be built throughout the land. Cankya an the Ministers
listen in
disbelief that these new ideas can end the suffering that
has always been part
of mankind's history.
SCENE 5. Ashoka offers his hand to Triraksha who does not
take it. She describes
her lack of understanding of his vision. He ultimately convinces
her to be with
him.
SCENE 6. The Elements give Ashoka offerings of earth, water,
fire, and air. He
in turn passes these offerings on to his people.
SCENE 7. Cankya and the Ministers continue to be dissatisfied
with Ashoka's
generosity to the people at the expense of exercising raw
power. Ashoka asks
Cankya to join in his good works but Cankya says he cannot
be a part of a world
he does not understand. Cankya takes poison and dies.
SCENE 8. Years pass and Triraksha contemplates what the future
holds for her son
by Ashoka.
SCENE 9. Triraksha blinds Kunala, Ashoka's' son by Lakshmi.
SCENE 10. Ashoka exiles Triraksha for her crime and declares
that her son will
never rule, but the crown will follow Lakshmi's line. Triraksha
predicts the
disappearance of Ashoka's' kingdom after his death.
SCENE 11. As Ashoka lies dying, he summons a guard to his
side. He hands him a
bowl of fruit to take to the Sage as a final present. During
Ashoka's final
moments of life, the Elements, Chorus, and Ministers turn
to the audience to
offer them the story of King Ashoka.
synopsis copyright Judy C. Miner, 1998
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