Sabbath's Theater

Throughout Sabbath’s Theater, Sabbath and other characters wrestle with what it means to get older. Faced with the realization that life is almost over, they experience guilt, fear, and regret, and these strong emotions often lead them to make rash decisions. When Sabbath visits Norman and they discuss Linc’s death by suicide, Norman attributes Linc’s depression to aging: “I know a number of men our age, right here in Manhattan, clients, friends, who’ve been going through crises like this. Some shock just undoes them around sixty—the plates shift and the earth starts shaking” (81). For Sabbath, the “shock” is Drenka’s death, which forces him to confront his own aging body and decide whether he wants to keep living. Faced with his mortality, Sabbath feels he must either recreate himself and his life or bow out.

For Sabbath, aging is closely tied to the loss of sexuality. Sex is a major factor in Sabbath’s life. It is not only a release for him but also a form of expression—both in his personal life and in his artistic career—and without it, his perception of himself unravels. Not only has Drenka’s death robbed him of his most meaningful sexual relationship, but changes to his aging body impact how frequently and with whom he can have sex.