Point of View

The play is written in a documentary style, focusing on the daily experiences of the main character as he tries to navigate the world of a city psychiatric hospital. Jim Down's point of view dominates the play, as he struggles to cope with the restrictive situation in which he finds himself. The audience never gains a clear look at the motivations behind the behavior of the doctors and of Ann. Kramm places the focus instead on tracing one man's complete loss of freedom and the effect that loss has on him. As a result, audiences get an in depth portrait of one man's painful resignation and ultimate defeat as his autonomy is stripped away.

Symbolism

Kramm employs symbolism in the play to illustrate and reinforce his themes. In the opening act, he uses foreshadowing to imply Jim's fate as one of the attendants searches for a...