52 pages • 1 hour read
A Lie Of The Mind: A Play in Three Acts
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Symbols & Motifs
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of gender discrimination, mental illness, illness or death, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and domestic violence.
Frankie’s Gunshot Wound
When Frankie comes to Montana, Baylor shoots him in the leg by accident. Frankie’s gunshot wound then becomes the main reason he needs to stay in Baylor’s home, which is a critical part of how the conflict of the play unfolds. However, Frankie’s gunshot wound is itself a symbol of how traditional masculinity is hampering new generations of men, who might try to improve their situation and their communities. Frankie’s purpose in going to Montana is to resolve the conflict between Beth and Jake, but Mike will not allow him in the house. Mike is too proud and territorial to allow any possibility of peaceful resolution, which is then exacerbated by Baylor shooting Frankie. Baylor and Mike represent the tradition of proud, competitive, and violent masculinity, while Frankie presents a new, more balanced masculinity that prioritizes conflict resolution over victory.
As the gunshot wound forces Frankie to stay and witness Beth’s family drama, it also restricts him to a couch, where he must fight with Baylor for control of a blanket. The gunshot wound, which stopped Frankie from resolving the conflict peacefully, thus also forces him into direct competition with the other man in the house.
