We begin our story with Judith sitting by herself. Judith has lived a difficult life but she consoles herself with believing that someone will come and take her away. SONG: (Judith & ?) Waiting For Someone Judith

Jesse appears with the promise that he is the one she has been waiting for. SONGS : (Jesse & Judith) Wait No More; Love Will Show the Way JudithJesse

After a passionate night, Judith wakes up to realize that this is not the man she wants. She orders him to leave. He does. SONG : ( Judith & Jesse) I Have Almost, Already Forgotten You JudithJesse

Catherine You would think the story would end here, but it turns out Judith is pregnant. Her daughter is Catherine. JudithJesse

Catherine and Judith never get along with each other. Judith hates the reminder of a foolish night; Catherine condemns her mother for sending away her father. SONG : (Catherine) Daddy Is Gonna Come Back Catherine JudithJesse

Catherine grows up on the streets, barely surviving, but believing that she is meant for better things. SONG : (Catherine) Surprised Catherine JudithJesse

Roman Catherine’s situation changes when she is seen by Roman, the richest man in town and much her elder. He falls in love and takes her in to make her a lady and his wife. SONG : (Roman & Catherine) In Your Eyes Catherine JudithJesse

Roman Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman takes Catherine to meet his parents. His mother, Plata instructs Catherine on the higher things in life. In particular she teaches that the most perfect things in life can never be seen. SONG : (Plata & Catherine) Circle in the Sand

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Roman’s father Ari tells Catherine a different story. The important things in life, he says, are within us and in the physical world around us.. Saxon SONG : (Catherine and Ari) Now and Here Ari

Catherine JudithJesse Plata SONG : (Roman & Catherine) This Child Roman Westman Roman and Catherine have a child. They sense he will be something special. His name is Westman – the hero of our story. Ari

Catherine JudithJesse Plata SONG : (Saxon & Roman) Everything You Have Got Roman Westman Not long after Westman is born, Saxon, Roman’s stable-hand, stands up to challenge his master to a fight. Saxon Ari

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Saxon Ari Defeated, Roman says goodbye to his son and moves East close to his parents. SONG: (Roman) When I Cannot Be With You

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Saxon takes Catherine and Westman as his prize, assuring Catherine that, even though she is above his station, he will cherish her. Saxon SONG : (Saxon & Catherine) I Will Change For You Ari

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman At age 13, Westman’s adolescence ignites an outpouring of art, music writing and exploring. Mother is delighted. Saxon SONG : (Westman) Who Knew? Ari

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Saxon Ari Ready? We are at the end of the first part of the story. It’s time to unravel the allegory.

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Saxon Ari Westman represents the Western mind. Our story is the genealogy of western philosophy. the West

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Ari Judith, the woman waiting for someone, represents Judaism. Judaism Jesse represents Jesus, would-be savior of the Jews. Jesus the West The maternal grandparents

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Ari The West’s paternal grandparents are the Greek philosophers: Plato, seeing idealized truth “out there” and Aristotle, looking for truth “down here.” JudaismJesusPlatoAristotle the West

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Ari Judaic spirituality and Greek rationality meet in Westman’s parents. JudaismJesusPlatoAristotle Catholic Church Roman Empire the West The “West” is born with the Christianization of Rome.

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Ari Saxon, the step-father who raises Westman, represents the Germanic northern Europeans. JudaismJesusPlatoAristotle Church Empire Saxon Germanic Tribes the West

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Ari Westman’s adolescence is the Renaissance, the west’s rebirth. JudaismJesusPlatoAristotle Church Empire Saxon Germanic Tribes the West

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Ari The Family JudaismJesusPlatoAristotle Church Empire Saxon Tribes the West

Catherine JudithJesse Plata Roman Westman Ari The End of PART I JudaismJesusPlatoAristotle Church Empire Vincent Tribes the West