Twin Towers
The North and South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York, which were commonly referred to as the Twin Towers, became a striking piece of imagery in this play. As they were both destroyed in the horrific terrorist attacks of 9/11, they came to be seen as an image of what we as a nation had lost and what obstacles we had to overcome. Their presence, or lack thereof, created feeling of loss and shift in how we approached terrorism. The Twin Towers are the focal point of the play and referred to frequently.
Fire
Fire imagery becomes more and more prevalent in the play as the plot progresses. This imagery of fire can be found on the towers and buildings where the terrorist attacks occurred as well as on individuals such as the lady in Dorene's office. This imagery of fire comes to represent chaos and destruction. Everywhere fire is seen is where destruction and mayhem can be found, leading us to realize that fire is meant to be portrayed as a callous and destructive object in this play.
NYPD Badges
The New York Police Department, affectionately referred to as New York's Finest, and their badges are imagery that sprouts up throughout this work of theatre. In response to the attacks on 9/11, the NYPD were some of the very first responders to help those in need, plunging in headfirst without worrying about their own safety. When people who were trapped or scared saw the glint of these badges, it came to symbolize a feeling of reassurance and hope. Just as law enforcement typically brings us the feeling of safety, these badges became imagery representative of hope and relief.
Flowers
After this momentous tragedy, the first of its kind in both scale and location, affected the United States of America, it shattered the optimism of the country, but also brought us together in grief. As thousands of people mourned the loss of friends and family, people across the nation mourned the loss of their fellow citizens. As we saw in the play at numerous parts where they were grieving, people often sent in flowers to those affected as well as to memorials to display their condolences. As we saw this imagery of flowers more and more in the play, it came to represent the striking feeling of grief, but also the strength of unity that held the people of the United States together.
