Kaprice Anglin
PAS 200-03
Professor Johnson
April 12, 2014
Gem of the Ocean
The setting of the play is the early 1900’s during the Industrial Revolution. The play
follows an African American “family” dealing with the daily struggles of the poverty and
mistreatment around them. This play is very complex and has several plot lines that tie into what
we have been learning in class.
One of the main plot lines involves the character Citizen Barlow. Citizen is a young man
from the South who comes looking for Aunt Ester is thought to be able to cleanse souls. Even
after Citizen climbs through a window of her house Aunt Ester is willing to take him in because
he reminds her of her son Junebug. Citizen’s name his symbolic of his mother’s hope for his life,
to be a citizen. I believe that in itself is powerful. Citizen is conflicted about his transgressions
and seeks Ester’s help in order to find a way to redeem himself. He goes on an adventure to the