49 pages • 1-hour read
The Humans
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Essay Topics
How does the play reflect its period setting within the post-9/11 era? In what ways does it deliberately reflect topical political, social, economic, and/or cultural aspects of American life? What kind of commentary does it provide on the period?
How does the play explore sibling dynamics? How are Brigid and Aimee characterized? In what ways are they different from or similar to one another?
Each character has to face uncertainty in their own way. What forms of uncertainty appear in the play? How do different characters approach the problem of uncertainty and agency (or lack thereof)?
Compare and contrast The Humans with Karam’s other major play, Sons of the Prophet. What key themes and ideas do the two works have in common? In what ways are they different or similar in their approaches?
The Humans captures the economic struggles of the Blake family. How does the play explore class dynamics and how economic status impacts each character’s opportunities and self-image?
The generational divide between Deirdre and Erik and their daughters also features a divergence in religious views, with Brigid and Aimee not subscribing to the faith their parents cling to. How does The Humans explore the changing role of religion in American life?
How does the setting of The Humans—a two-floor apartment—and its staging impact the plot and character development? How does the setting help to spotlight the play’s key themes and ideas?
How does Karam use lighting and sound to represent the different themes of the play?
What roles do dreams, both literal and figurative, play in The Humans? How does the play explore the connections and tensions between dreams and reality?
Analyze the dialogue style of the play. How do the individual speech patterns and interactions between the characters reveal key aspects of characterization or the emotional dynamics between characters?
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