How I Learned to Drive Literary Elements

Play

English

The play does not run chronologically but the plot unfolds in the memories of a post-college woman looking back on her sexually abusive relationship with her uncle.The play is set in Maryland.

The point of view is that of Li'l Bit who recounts what happened from her own pieced-together memories.

The tone is nostalgic and also similar to an epiphany; there is mood of realization, with threatening undertones at times.

Li'l Bit is the protagonist, her Uncle Peck the antagonist.

There is constant niggling conflict between Li'l Bit and her family who are wholly unsupportive of her goals and mock her for wanting to go to college.

Li'l Bit realizes that she is finally ready to leave the past in the past and move on with her life without the incumbrance of the emotions and feelings that hold her back.

Uncle Peck's interest in her goals foreshadows the fact that he is using encouragement as a grooming tool and that he is only interested in Li'l Bit in a sexual way not as a mentor.

Li'l Bit admits her family are not encouraging. This is an understatement because the entire family unit is bound together by its dysfunction and the only thing they seem to unite together to do is mock Lil' Bit's dreams.

The play alludes to the music played at the sock-hop, a typical school dance setting at the time of the play's plot.

N/A

Li'l Bit credits Uncle Peck with giving her a feeling of freedom because he taught her to drive, paradoxical because spending time with him whilst he taught her kept her in the prison of his abuse.

There is a parallel between the way in which Uncle Peck teaches Li'l Bit to drive as a cover for sexually molesting her, and the way in which he teaches her cousin BB to fish with the same nefarious intentions behind the scenes.

N/A

The Greek chorus is present throughout most of the play and consists of three people who play every peripheral character in Li'l Bit's life and memories, including her family.