His wearing of a blackface in this song was also a symbol or metaphor for being American. ... A powerful scene is when Mary enters the room and Jack is applying the black face paint, he is clearly distraught and conflicted by his Jewish culture and his career. ... In the final song of the play, "Mammy," blackface is used again as a symbol. ... This could be viewed as Jack being responsible for his father's death and that he disappointed him to near death, and that by the time they made peace it was too late. ... So, as his father's ghost appears behind him in the synagogue it is a sy...

• Word Count: 1489
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

These findings give evidence to Campbell's concern with the psychological horror. ... He turned around and there she was, looking out the front-room curtains. ... He would die with her. ... They are a symbol for his madness. ... Campbell's surrealistic atmosphere mingles with a disturbing tone. ...

• Word Count: 1611
• Approx Pages: 6
• Has Bibliography
• Grade Level: High School

Gillian shows these values only to represent the materialistic views of society, and that they should not be thought of as achieving true happiness. ... which shows that he has recognized what has happened and can now deal with it by grieving. ... The first scene shown in the movie is the where Jack is on the radio in a room that seems to look somewhat like a jail. ... Gillian uses the glasses as a symbol of Jack hiding his true emotions. ... From the beginning when he relies on materialistic objects to the end where he has achieved true happiness by becoming friends with Perry and finding tru...

• Word Count: 1513
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School

Tyler lets Jack stay, or live with him under one condition - Jack must hit Tyler as hard as he can. ... Jack discovers a bunch of plane ticket stubs in a drawer in Tyler's room and sets out on a quest to find him. ... One night, he awakens to find Tyler is there in his hotel room beside his bed. ... Jack proceeds to pull the trigger in a symbol of sacrifice for the good of all humanity, as considers what he and Tyler have accomplished to be wrong. ... He defines himself through his possessions and is unsatisfied with his life. ...

• Word Count: 3618
• Approx Pages: 14
• Grade Level: High School

Despite all of these things, Jack is not satisfied with his life. ... Jack becomes enraged with the presence of Marla, as he sees her as a symbol of the lie he has been living and fears that through Marla, he will be exposed as a "faker". ... This animal is a symbol of their personal power to overcome all obstacles they encounter in life. ... Tyler asks Jack what time it is and draws a line in the sand with a stick. ... "If you don't know what you really want you end up with a lot you don't." ...

• Word Count: 6674
• Approx Pages: 27
• Grade Level: High School