It's less of Todd excepting that he'll never see Johanna, but more that he no longer feels he needs to see her, that it will make him feel better. He's found a way of revenge and a way to purge the world of what he believes to be evil. So he no longer needs to see Johanna, it's not important while he can just kill and dream of her, and the more he kills, the closer he gets to his revenge, the more Johanna is no longer needed. Also, there's this whole thing where he compares her to his wife, knowing that Johanna has grown up by now. Most likely, if he did see Johanna at this time, he'd see only his wife, heightening his descent into madness. He probably doesn't want the memory of his wife there, as well, just wants to remember Johanna, not as the woman she is, but as a young girl, if anything, because then she couldn't look like his wife. It's a song that very much defines the true madness of Sweeney Todd.
@MacabreSmile I'm not sure I agree with the first part of your interpretation- I cannot feel that Todd is getting closer to revenge the more he kills. Rather it is an impression of dreariness, almost deadness within him. I agree more readily with what you go on to say, and yes, without doubt it is the one number that defines his true madness.
@MacabreSmile I'm not sure I agree with the first part of your interpretation- I cannot feel that Todd is getting closer to revenge the more he kills. Rather it is an impression of dreariness, almost deadness within him. I agree more readily with what you go on to say, and yes, without doubt it is the one number that defines his true madness.
It's less of Todd excepting that he'll never see Johanna, but more that he no longer feels he needs to see her, that it will make him feel better. He's found a way of revenge and a way to purge the world of what he believes to be evil. So he no longer needs to see Johanna, it's not important while he can just kill and dream of her, and the more he kills, the closer he gets to his revenge, the more Johanna is no longer needed. Also, there's this whole thing where he compares her to his wife, knowing that Johanna has grown up by now. Most likely, if he did see Johanna at this time, he'd see only his wife, heightening his descent into madness. He probably doesn't want the memory of his wife there, as well, just wants to remember Johanna, not as the woman she is, but as a young girl, if anything, because then she couldn't look like his wife. It's a song that very much defines the true madness of Sweeney Todd.
@MacabreSmile I'm not sure I agree with the first part of your interpretation- I cannot feel that Todd is getting closer to revenge the more he kills. Rather it is an impression of dreariness, almost deadness within him. I agree more readily with what you go on to say, and yes, without doubt it is the one number that defines his true madness.
@MacabreSmile I'm not sure I agree with the first part of your interpretation- I cannot feel that Todd is getting closer to revenge the more he kills. Rather it is an impression of dreariness, almost deadness within him. I agree more readily with what you go on to say, and yes, without doubt it is the one number that defines his true madness.