ABSTRACT
A strong central idea or authorial point of view is necessary for the events in a play to cohere into a unified dramatic whole. The chapter gives examples of how theme is embedded in plot and characters to focus the meaning of the play. Examples: In Julius Caesar, Brutus embodies the principle of noble purpose whereas Cassius and Mark Anthony represent political expediency and ambition. The conflicts between them reinforce this theme throughout the play. In All the Way by Robert Schenkkan, there is a contrast between Lyndon Johnson’s noble goals and the ruthless means by which he achieves them. In addition, all the other characters, including Martin Luther King, confront the same dilemma embedding that theme in play. Sometimes the complexity of an issue involves the necessity of ambiguity in the thematic statement: The play Roe by Lisa Loomer is not a polemic on the abortion debate: Rather it explores the cultural divide on both sides of the issue while ultimately embracing the ambiguity of choice as opposed to the need for rigid ideology.
