Genre
Satire
Language
English
Setting and Context
Sister Mary Ignatius' classroom - 1979
Narrator and Point of View
POV is that of Sister Mary Ignatius
Tone and Mood
Satirical, Dramatic, Darkly Comedic
Protagonist and Antagonist
Protagonists are the former students. Antagonist is Sister Mary Ignatius
Major Conflict
Sister Mary Ignatius' past students have returned to give her a recreation of a play they once did in their class for her. Diane, one of the students, has brought a gun to kill the Sister for making her become the person she is.
Climax
Sister Mary Ignatius kills Diane, then kills Gary after learning he's confessed all of his sins, in order to send him to Heaven before he commits any more. The Sister lets everyone else go except Aloysius who she has Thomas hold at gunpoint as he recites catechism questions for everyone. She won't let Aloysius leave nor go to the bathroom even though he has to go, thus re-creating the horror she put him through as a child in her class.
Foreshadowing
Sister Mary asks Thomas if he would like to keep his soprano voice, and tells him she will help him to do so. This foreshadows her self-righteous and dangerous behavior and abuse of authority.
Understatement
It is understated that Sister Mary is carrying a gun on her the entire time.
Allusions
The play is an allusion to the abuse of authority and power by the institution of the Catholic Church upon the children it is meant to raise up by stewarding them in love. Instead demanding self-righteous obedience.
Imagery
Thomas with the gun reciting catechism questions at the end of the play.
Sister Mary speaking to Thomas about keeping his soprano voice (castration).
Paradox
Sister Mary Ignatius speak plainly that what matters is whether someone will go to Heaven or hell, and how sin is what directly affects this, even judging her students for their sin. Paradoxically, she kills Gary to get him to Heaven.
Parallelism
Thomas sitting on Sister Mary Ignatius' lap with the gun at the end of the play parallels him sitting on her lap earlier when she speaks to him about keeping his soprano voice.
Personification
Sister Mary Ignatius becomes the personification of the abuse of institutional power.
Use of Dramatic Devices
Sister Mary Ignatius breaking the fourth wall to address the audience.
Diane's monologue.
