Contemporary World Theatre

Character Analysis #2
Due 9/30

Matthew Kaefer

1. Basic Physiological (what they look like and other physical attributes):
- Possibly sweat present on their forehead all the time? Seems like they are
always complaining about the heat

2. Social Functions (jobs, relationships to others, other social roles):

- Wife of Bill. Going through a divorce due to Bill’s lack of self-control with
his university students
- Seems to act as the 2nd person in charge, next to her mother Violet
- Demeaning to the younger Charles. Even though he is not the only only
Charles, being a 30+ year old, she refers him as Little Charles
-

3. Habits and Mannerisms:

- Tends to take after her mother. Can be very controlling and starts to get really
authoritative. Mostly shows during the midway point of the play
- Can be thoughtful, and optimistic. Telling her mother violet that maybe her
father just needed some time away from her
- As a mother, doesn’t seem to do anything about her daughter when she is
smoking. She talks about how its not good, but doesn’t do anything towards
changing it

4. Attitudes (includes attitudes toward self, life, others, situations in the play):
- Doesn’t really stand up for Bill anymore after many of his instances of not
being a good father. Him only really taking charge once Barbara starts getting
involved more
- Hates Steve after what he attempted to do her daughter, as well as the
influence of them both smoking pot together.
- Believes she fails as a mother, sister and a wife, after attacking her mother and
daughter
5. Decisions made based on emotional responses:

- Starts fighting with Bill over Jean showing a little character when talking
about The Phantom of the Opera. Shouting and cursing at Bill, even though he
agrees with what she’s talking about. Then the fight gets worse and Bill starts
attacking her about her family and the house being a “madhouse”
- After Steve tried making a move on their Daughter Jean, after Barbara, Bill
and Jean were fighting, Jean said she hated her, and Barbara ended with “I
hate you too you little Prick” Which probably wasn’t the best thing to say to
your child as a mother.

6. Decisions made based on intellectual responses (things responses based on

planning):
- She seems to question a lot of Doctors diagnosis’s on her mother. Thinks very
low of The Boomer Generation. After Barbara spoke to Dr. Burke about
Violet and her brain, he said that it was “slightly brain damaged” and then she
responded that she wished he was “slightly dead” and “slightly incompetent”
- After Johnna prepared and made the last meal that they were all together for,
Violet did not want to eat the Catfish. Barbara trying to get her to eat it, she
wouldn’t take no for an answer and started insulting her and just being
obnoxious/rude about it.