Themes and Characters in *Awake and Sing!*

Awake and Sing! focuses on the idealistic values in society during the Great Depression.

Bessie is depicted as a controlling thematic force who maintains the family unit in Awake and Sing!

The Great Depression had no significant impact on middle-class marriages according to the themes explored in Awake and Sing!

Odets examines the financial insecurity experienced by the Bergers, a family that was originally middle-class.

The evictions during the Great Depression were infrequent and isolated events.

Bessie Berger focuses on materialism and maintaining appearances.

Ralph is depicted as someone who embraces capitalism wholeheartedly.

Myron, Bessie's husband, is characterized as an assertive and effective family leader.

Jacob commits suicide and leaves his insurance money to his daughter Bessie.

Bessie worries about maintaining her social image and respectability.

Themes in Awake and Sing!

Odets contrasts materialistic and idealistic values, fearing the dominance of the former.
He emphasizes the importance of money and its impact on lives, blurring values and perceptions.
The play explores the financial insecurity of the Great Depression and its effects on families, particularly middle-class families.

Awake and Sing! Family Dynamics

The play focuses on the Berger family, examining their struggles and vulnerabilities during the Great Depression.
It explores the economic crisis's impact on various family members (grandfather, father, mother, children).
Odets uses family members to illustrate the effects of the Depression on middle-class families.
The economic pressures affect family unity, particularly marriage, leading to increased spinsterhood.

Character Analysis in Awake and Sing!

Bessie Berger, the matriarch, is driven by materialism and appearances.
Bessie focuses heavily on maintaining appearances and status.
Myron Berger, Bessie's husband, is ineffectual and struggles to adapt to changing circumstances.
Other characters like Jacob or Ralph are idealistic but struggle with the realities of the Depression, while some members embrace or oppose capitalism.

Societal Impact

The play highlights the materialistic values and the importance of appearances in American society.
Odets depicts how the pursuit of materialistic gain can negatively impact human values.
Materialistic thinking pervades all levels of American society, posing a serious threat to human values.
The play emphasizes the importance of appearances in maintaining social respect and prestige, a notable concern in the Great Depression era.

Explore the rich themes, family dynamics, and character analysis in Clifford Odets' powerful play Awake and Sing!. This quiz highlights the impact of the Great Depression on middle-class families and examines the contrasting values of materialism and idealism, as represented by the Berger family. Analyze how these elements shape the narrative and characters within the play.