Authenticity

Widely discussed at the central theme of the novel, Iizuka's examination of authenticity--what is and isn't real or original--is one of the most stunning aspects of this work. The author has created a world in which the very meaning of the word 'real' is challenged. At every turn the playwright causes the reader to question what they are seeing and what they believe to be the truth. In the first scene, Darius simply feels the portrait is real, implying authenticity is something one can know by intuition, as opposed to something that must be verified scientifically. In some ways, this is also exploring the theme of faith and belief in what you cannot see or prove to others, but in what is true to your own heart and mind.

Throughout the play, the playwright challenges the reader and the characters to determine what is real and what is...