Genre
Semi-Autobiographical Play
Language
English
Setting and Context
Brighton Beach, New York, during the Great Depression
Narrator and Point of View
The point of view is that of Eugene Morris Jerome, the protagonist.
Tone and Mood
Reflective and down to earth; the mood in the Jerome home is often stressful and worried.
Protagonist and Antagonist
Eugene if the protagonist; there are no specific antagonistic characters, but the fact that the household has increased by three people is an antagonistic situation.
Major Conflict
There is conflict between Stanley and his boss at work, who is abusive and offensive, but whom Stanley can never fully stand up to because he wants to keep the job.
Climax
There is no specific climax, just a series of events that come to a head.
Foreshadowing
Extended family moving into the home foreshadows the additional financial pressures that fall upon Eugene's father and older brother.
Understatement
Eugene tells that it was hard to make ends meet, which in an understatement; it was the Great Depression and families were constantly facing the fear of being destitute.
Allusions
Eugene alludes to famous baseball players of the nineteen thirties.
Imagery
N/A
Paradox
Eugene's Aunt wants to move into the family home but she doesn't want to contribute anything to the household financially.
Parallelism
There is a parallel between the Jerome family finances and the general economic position of the nation at the time.
Personification
N/A
Use of Dramatic Devices
The audience is used as the fourth wall during the play.
