Father Comes Home From the Wars (parts 1, 2, $3) is a three-part play set during the American Civil War. It follows Hero, an enslaved man in Texas, as he faces a life-changing decision: whether to remain on the plantation or accompany his master to war with the promise of freedom.
Part 1: A Measure of a Man
The play begins on a Texas plantation, where Hero is confronted with a difficult choice. His master, The Colonel, offers him a deal: if Hero joins him in the confederate Army, he will be granted freedom. Hero seeks advice from others on the plantation, including his wife Penny and fellow enslaved men.
While some encourage him to go and seize the opportunity for freedom, others warn him that the promise may be empty. Penny, in particular, is deeply hurt and fearful of losing him. Despite the uncertainty and emotional strain, Hero ultimately decides to go with the Colonel, hoping to secure his freedom and return to Penny.
Part 2: A Battle in the Wilderness
Hero and the Colonel are now in the midst of the war. The realities of battle challenge Hero's beliefs and loyalty. During an encounter with a captured Union Soldier, Hero witnesses the moral contradictions of the war.
The Colonel forces Hero to participate in a brutal act, revealing the hypocrisy of fighting for freedom while enslaving others. This moment deeply affects Hero, making him question the promise of freedom and the nature of his master.
Hero begins to see that his fate may not be in his own hands, even as he risks his life for the colonel.
Part 3: The Union of my Confederate parts
Hero returns home after the war, but things are not as he expected. He is now technically free, yet he struggles with guilt, identity, and the consequences of his choices.
Penny has changed during his absence. She is hurt by his decision to leave and disturbed by what he may have done during the war. Their relationship becomes strained as trust and emotional distance grow between them.
Hero is also haunted by the memory of the Union soldiers and the moral compromises he made. He wrestles with what it truly means to be free-physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
In the end, Hero is left in a state of uncertainty, reflecting the complex and incomplete nature of freedom after the war.
