A Lie Of The Mind: A Play in Three Acts

Why does Shepard choose to write Beth’s dialogue in broken speech and short sentences? How does it reflect the play’s themes and Beth’s characterization?

Beth calls Mike “the dog they send” (12). How does this accusation characterize Mike? Is Beth correct? How does this dynamic contribute to your understanding of Beth’s conflict with Mike?

Examine Lorraine and Sally’s behavior in Act I, Scene 5, in which Lorraine and Sally try to help Jake. What is Lorraine’s primary focus? How does her dialogue indicate that she is more focused on herself than Jake? What does Sally do, and how does she differ from Lorraine?

When Frankie goes to Montana, Mike will not let him come inside. Why does Mike stop Frankie when Frankie is trying to resolve the situation? What do Mike’s actions reveal about his character in contrast to Frankie?

Baylor often references how things “used to” be, such as hunting, opening a can of mink oil, and respecting the American flag. Why is it important for Baylor to hold onto these memories? Is Baylor unable to adapt to modernity, or is he simply unwilling?

Meg has a few brief moments of subverting Baylor’s authority. She decides to stay at the hospital, and she later delays going to bed. What do these moments reveal about Meg? Why is she willing to disagree with Baylor on some issues and not others?

What is the broader meaning of nationalism in the play? How does Shepard’s writing evoke the breakdown of American identity, and through what symbols, motifs, and images does he achieve this effect?

In a few scenes, some characters seem to have visions of the other family’s activities, such as Jake seeing Beth, and Meg seeing Lorraine and Sally’s fire. Why are they able to see these things? What significance do these visions have in the conflict of the play? Use examples from the text in your response.