Father Comes Home from the Wars Literary Elements

Play

It is set during the American Civil War, primarily in the Confederate South. The period is around 1862-1863.

The play does not have a traditional narrator. Instead, the story is conveyed through the dialogue and actions of the characters.

The tone is somber, reflective, and intense. The mood is suspenseful and tragic.

The protagonist is Hero. The antagonist is the institution of slavery and the character of the Colonel.

The major conflict revolves around Hero's internal struggle between loyalty to his master, the Colonel, and his desire for freedom. This is set against the backdrop of the Civil War, where the conflict between the Union and the Confederacy mirrors Hero's battles.

The climax occurs when Hero decides whether to continue serving his master or to seize an opportunity for freedom.

The Colonel imagines Hero leaving and not returning, which hints at the possible separation and loss that could occur later in the play.

Hero’s simple and reserved responses downplay the gravity of his situation and the enormity of the decisions he faces. His response, "I couldn’t say," minimizes the implications of his potential freedom.

The play refers to classical literature, the Bible, and historical events. For example, Hero's name alludes to classical heroes who are faced with moral dilemmas and quests for honor.

The vivid picture of the Colonel and Missus at supper, crying in their soup, and the Colonel unable to lie down because of his grief creates a powerful visual and emotional experience for the audience.

A significant paradox in the play is Hero's status as a slave who is given a choice, highlighting the contradiction of being "free" to choose within the constraints of enslavement.

The parallel stories of loyalty and betrayal among slaves and soldiers alike underscore the play's themes.

"The South" is used as a metonymy of the Confederate cause or the institution of slavery itself.

"I can at least rest in the grace that God made me white."

The abstract concept of grace is personified as something that provides rest and comfort.