Genre
Drama
Language
English
Setting and Context
San Diego, California - The Late 1950's
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Alan
Tone and Mood
Serious, Dramatic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonist is Alan. Antagonist is Douglas.
Major Conflict
Alan has moved to California to live with his father and his dad's new family. His dad instantly gets him in a full-time work demanding he be in school and work simultaneously, hardly spending time getting to know his estranged son.
Climax
Douglas comes on to Penny, his foster daughter, sexually; kicks Alan out of the house claiming he is a homosexual and Carol dies in a horrific car accident.
Foreshadowing
Alan and Carol tell the audience that she will be dead in six months, and he won't be living in California any longer. This foreshadows a bad ending.
Understatement
It is understated as to why Ronnie defends Douglas through all of his horrible actions
Allusions
The play is an allusion to living a life in such a way that if confronted about wrongdoing, you rage against people and blame them for things being so bad. This is Douglas.
Imagery
Mt. McGinty on fire. The dark room with Douglas and Penny. Carol's car crash.
Paradox
Douglas desires for Alan to live in his home, to get to know him. Paradoxically he spends to time with his son attempting to find out who he is, only imposing his own will upon the boy.
Parallelism
The reveal of Carol's death by car crash off a cliff parallels Alan speaking of how she will die earlier in the story.
Personification
Douglas becomes the personification of a dark room by living a life that is hidden from everyone who cares for him. He becomes a place that must be hidden and will not reveal anything at any cost.
Use of Dramatic Devices
The characters speak to one another and directly to the audience as well by breaking the fourth wall.
Stage lights burning bright at the end of the play.
