night Mother

Night Mother play that portrays suicide as a solution for life's pain, Marsha Norman's "Night Mother" does not seem like school drama material. However, the poignant play permits teens to perceive the impact that their decisions have on their loved ones, and through the intense dialogue enables them to understand family dynamics. The entire play consists of a conversation between a mother and her daughter, who is in her late thirties. Jesse's age shows students that adults have similar feelings of depression and despair, of hopelessness and exasperation, as they do. "Night Mother" does not glamorize suicide or convey the message that suicide is a valid way out of troubling times. Rather, the play displays a harsh truth: many people seriously consider and often carry out suicidal plans. In fact, students who have suicidal tendencies may find some solace in the play's message and may reconsider their decisions. Other students who watch the play could be inspired to take cries for help more seriously, as many people ignore casual statements suggesting suicide. Therefore, in spite of some parental reservations about allowing the school board to stage Norman's "Night Mother," the play can actually remove the denial and miscommunication that frequently surround this sensitive topic.

It is easy to sympathize with parents who have reservations about their children watching the play. After all, much of the dialogue and implicit imagery are macabre and would make even adults shudder. For instance, at one point Jesse says, "Jesus was a suicide, if you ask me." Not only will many parents object to Jesse's rationale for killing herself but many will also view this as being blasphemous.

However, so long as the audience is fairly mature and of high school age, the subject matter should not be psychologically scarring. Moreover, these considerations should be examined in light of other works of literature. For example, many Shakespeare plays contain content including murders and suicides. Like any Shakespeare play, "Night Mother" is a quality piece of literature and drama and has academic import as an example of modern playwriting.

One of the most important things to consider when determining whether or not "Night Mother" is appropriate for young audiences is how it depicts the mother-daughter relationship. During the course of the play, Thelma ("Mama") confides in her daughter about events from her past, proving that all people have problems and attempting to dissuade her daughter from making the decision. Mama struggles to communicate with Jesse; the conversation is tense and strained, emotionally draining and powerfully painful at many points. Adolescent audiences will feel find familiarity within the dialogue and will be able to better understand their parents' inability to bridge the gaps between them. In order to dissuade Jesse, Mama will tell Jesse disparate things like, "You'll miss. You'll just wind up a vegetable," and "Jesse, You've got the guts to stay alive." Yet nothing Mama can say gets through, for Jesse is determined, dead set on her decision.