A Lie Of The Mind: A Play in Three Acts

Act I begins with Frankie trying to calm Jake down. Using evidence from the text, show how this dynamic is central to the play’s events. How does Frankie’s perspective lead to the conclusion of the play? Why is Jake’s frustration important to events of Act III?

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?