The Philadelphia Story Themes

Philip Barry
This Study Guide consists of approximately 52 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Philadelphia Story.

The Philadelphia Story Themes

Philip Barry
This Study Guide consists of approximately 52 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Philadelphia Story.
This section contains 359 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy The Philadelphia Story Study Guide

Prejudice and Tolerance

Tracy Lord believes that her uncompromising morals are part of her strong character: she expects "exceptionally high standards for herself and "lives up to them." She is disappointed when others fail to live up to her standards. In fact, her father's behavior caused a deep schism in their relationship, as she was unable to forgive him. Also, her husband's alcoholism led to their estrangement; instead of trying to help him, she had rejected him for his weakness.

Tracy's brief fling with Mike, which becomes the source of many comic misunderstandings in Act III, enables her to break free of her own self-imposed moral straitjacket and become more sensitive to human weakness. By the end of the play, she has cast off her prejudices and embraced a more tolerant standard from which to judge herself and others.

Public vs. Private Life

The stimulus for much of the...

(read more)

This section contains 359 words
(approx. 1 page at 400 words per page)
Buy The Philadelphia Story Study Guide
Copyrights
Gale
The Philadelphia Story from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.