David Hare Writing Styles in The Secret Rapture

This Study Guide consists of approximately 83 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Secret Rapture.

David Hare Writing Styles in The Secret Rapture

This Study Guide consists of approximately 83 pages of chapter summaries, quotes, character analysis, themes, and more - everything you need to sharpen your knowledge of The Secret Rapture.
This section contains 1,075 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Secret Rapture Study Guide

Symbolism

In literature, a symbol is something that represents something else. It contains both a literal meaning and an abstract meaning and is often used by the author to communicate complex ideas. In The Secret Rapture, the central symbol of the play is a character, Isobel Glass. She has a literal identity, or meaning, as a grieving daughter, a kindhearted business owner, and an abused caretaker for her widowed stepmother, Katherine. But she also has an abstract identity, or meaning. Through her actions and words, she resembles a saint-like figure who lives a pure life, sacrifices for others, and dies a martyr.

The first image of the play is of Isobel in a darkened room, mourning over her father in his deathbed. She was there when he passed away and tells her sister Marion, "There's actually a moment when you see the spirit depart from the body. . . Like a...

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This section contains 1,075 words
(approx. 3 pages at 400 words per page)
Buy The Secret Rapture Study Guide
Copyrights
Gale
The Secret Rapture from Gale. ©2005-2006 Thomson Gale, a part of the Thomson Corporation. All rights reserved.