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Definition of Tone
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical, and so on. For instance... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical or mournful, praising or critical... read full definition
The tone of a piece of writing is its general character or attitude, which might be cheerful or depressive, sarcastic or sincere, comical... read full definition
Act 1
Explanation and Analysis:
Because this is a dramatic work, the tone is not set by a particular narrator but instead shifts depending on the central characters of the act.
Maggie sets the tone for the first act; she is a good representative of the manipulative, catty nature of many of the characters, who all seem to want something from each other. Her breathless voice, not melodic but shrill, encapsulates the cacophony of the household, which fears silence. She also perceives the fractures within the family dynamics, which contribute to a tone of unease and tension. This becomes clear early in Act 1:
MARGARET: Big Daddy dotes on you. honey. And he can't stand Brother Man and Brother Man's wife, that monster of fertility, Mae; she's downright odious to him! Know how I know? By little expressions that flicker over his face when that woman is holding fo'th on one of her choice topics.
Related Themes:
Act 2
Explanation and Analysis:
Because this is a dramatic work, the tone is not set by a particular narrator but instead shifts depending on the central characters of the act.
Maggie sets the tone for the first act; she is a good representative of the manipulative, catty nature of many of the characters, who all seem to want something from each other. Her breathless voice, not melodic but shrill, encapsulates the cacophony of the household, which fears silence. She also perceives the fractures within the family dynamics, which contribute to a tone of unease and tension. This becomes clear early in Act 1:
Unlock with LitCharts A+MARGARET: Big Daddy dotes on you. honey. And he can't stand Brother Man and Brother Man's wife, that monster of fertility, Mae; she's downright odious to him! Know how I know? By little expressions that flicker over his face when that woman is holding fo'th on one of her choice topics.
Related Themes:
Act 3
Explanation and Analysis:
Because this is a dramatic work, the tone is not set by a particular narrator but instead shifts depending on the central characters of the act.
Maggie sets the tone for the first act; she is a good representative of the manipulative, catty nature of many of the characters, who all seem to want something from each other. Her breathless voice, not melodic but shrill, encapsulates the cacophony of the household, which fears silence. She also perceives the fractures within the family dynamics, which contribute to a tone of unease and tension. This becomes clear early in Act 1:
Unlock with LitCharts A+MARGARET: Big Daddy dotes on you. honey. And he can't stand Brother Man and Brother Man's wife, that monster of fertility, Mae; she's downright odious to him! Know how I know? By little expressions that flicker over his face when that woman is holding fo'th on one of her choice topics.
Related Themes:
