Sam

Sam is the play’s central protagonist. He is described as being in his mid-thirties, which is an important aspect of the character even though the play never addresses it directly. His age, combined with the fact that he still lives with his parents, implies a certain aimlessness, a certain sense of being lost, even a certain inability to function in society. Thoughthe issue is never fully addressed, it clearly relates to the play's key theme of futility vs. hope. Sam has goals and dreams. At one point, he says that he would like to be a chef. He hopes for a romantic relationship with Rose. At the end of the play, when nothing but a continuation of his current situation seems imminent, he is smiling. This suggests that between the play’s beginning and its ending, Sam has come to terms with himself and the journey he...