Point of View

The story is told primarily from the perspective of its central character and narrator, university writing professor Bella Baird. There are a few occasions when the second character, Christopher, directly addresses the audience in the same way that Bella does. On these occasions, the narrative shifts its point of view to him. Those occasions, however, are limited in both number and duration. Overall, the play is about Bella, who functions both as a teller of the story and a character in the story.

As she simultaneously tells and enacts that story, Bella’s words and actions embody the play’s central theme – that is, its consideration of what it means to be truthfully alive. At the beginning of Bella’s story, she is facing a life she does not really want to live – alone, unfulfilled professionally, and dying. There are moments of joy and pleasure...