BS: Fiddler on the Roof--wagon

Subject: RE: BS: Fiddler on the Roof--wagon
From: Melissa
Date: 26 Dec 08 - 03:48 AM

Thanks, Gurney.
That's along the lines of what I was thinking. The rope being over one shoulder probably wouldn't have been much good after the wagon was rolling because it would twist his body--but using the Push to get started makes sense to me.

I'd be using upper-body if I was doing it that way, but normal people do have stronger butt/leg muscles..and starting a heavy wagon is hard work.

Subject: RE: BS: Fiddler on the Roof--wagon
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Dec 08 - 06:55 PM

In Tevye's voice, with a shrug:

You never know when your horse is gonna go lame or have a lazy day. A fatalistic man would hitch up, regardless, "might as well be ready." And you never know when you may be surprised by poor footing on the path, a hill, etc.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Fiddler on the Roof--wagon
From: Gurney
Date: 25 Dec 08 - 06:53 PM

A human's strongest muscles are in the legs and buttocks, so maybe the rope allowed him to attain a more horizontal position to use them.
Just a guess. You can push several times more weight than you can pull. Hard to steer, but.

Subject: RE: BS: Fiddler on the Roof--wagon
From: Melissa
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 09:10 AM

The horse had a sore leg or something.
When he was telling the horse/cows goodbye, I think it showed harness stuff hanging in the barn..(which could have easily been 'barnlike' props for a movie?)

I don't think the loop would have fit over a horse's head, but primitive harness does seem kind of sensible.

Subject: RE: BS: Fiddler on the Roof--wagon
From: JJ
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 09:04 AM

As I recall, Tevye's horse was out of commission, so he had to pull the wagon himself, something he didn't usually do. Perhaps the rope was the horse's primitive harness.

Subject: BS: Fiddler on the Roof--wagon
From: Melissa
Date: 24 Dec 08 - 07:26 AM

When Tevye pulled the wagon/cart, he had a loop of rope that he would put around his shoulder.
What was the rope for?

My guess is that it let him use upper back/shoulder strength (instead of lower back) to help get the wagon rolling?