If I were to stage the novel as a play, the gods would have the most elaborate costumes. Asaka, goddess of the Earth, would be dressed in a loose, flowy green dress. The dress would consist of a main shade of green with other various shades of green adding detail. Her mask would be green and brown, displaying the idea of the forest. Possibly a brown facial part looking like bark with flowers and green plants. The flowers would be pink or white. An example would be magnolias. If Asaka did not wear a mask, she would have green, earthy makeup accompanied by flowers (still pink) in her hair.
Agwe, god of water, would be dressed in blue. I would keep the flowy look from Asaka’s costume by adding loose pants and a flowy shirt or vest. If the shirt had sleeves, I would add tassels to hang from the underside of his arm to further add to the flowy effect. The tassels could also symbolize Agwe’s control over rain. Agwe’s mask would consist of fish netting on a blue background with shells and other ocean items, such as a crab. Agwe is described in the novel to control both the rain and the sea and I would do my best to show both parts. If Agwe did not wear a mask, his makeup would show the movement of water. I think it would be interesting if he had waves of some outline of water drawn in blue. In addition, I picture Agwe’s hair being soft and not long but not really short either. Agwe is described as being generous, so I would try by best to make his kindness a part of his look.
Erzulie, goddess of love, would be dressed in a flowy dress similar to Asaka’s, but in pink and red. Erzulie would be mostly pink but display some red to not only take away some girliness, but also to connect her and Papa Ge. I picture Erzulie in lace with some tulle. Her mask would be made with feathers of red, pink, and white. If Erzulie did not have a mask, her makeup would be primarily red and white. The red and white would form the shape of hearts because I do not want to make her so innocent and girly.
Papa Ge, god of death, would have the same flowy look as the other gods in the color black with highlights in red. As mentioned above, the red would connect him with Erzulie. While his costume will still be loose it should be slightly more fitted. I picture death as mysterious and that he matches the other gods but not really. His mask would be black with his features, like his eyes and mouth, highlighted with bright red. If he does not wear a mask his mask should consist of lines in black with red eyeshadow. His hair should be standing up on his head and look spiky.
Overall, the gods and goddesses’s costumes should reflect their individual personalities, but they should look of similar importance because they share the same status in life. The gods will be different from the other characters because they will wear the most elaborate costumes. The peasants will wear simpler costumes, possibly a little ripped from the amount of work they have completed. The rich will not have ripped costumes but they will also be less elaborate than the gods.
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