Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Gem of the Ocean, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Meaning of Freedom
Economic Exploitation
The Value of Community
History and Trauma
The Power of Belief
Summary
Analysis
Eli is in the kitchen of Aunt Ester’s home when a frantic knock sounds at the door. It’s late at night, but the knocking is loud and insistent. When Eli opens the door, he informs the person standing outside that this is a peaceful house. Citizen Barlow ignores him and insists on seeing Aunt Ester—people have told him to come see her, and he won’t take no for answer. But Eli tells him to come back on Tuesday, leading to a small fight as Citizen tries to push his way into the house. Awakened by the commotion, Aunt Ester emerges from her bedroom. Citizen suddenly calms down, and Ester tells him to return on Tuesday. Listening to her, he puts on his hat and peacefully leaves.
It’s not yet clear why Citizen Barlow is so eager to speak with Aunt Ester, but it’s evident that he sees her as some kind of benevolent figure—as somebody who can help him. The fact that he immediately calms down when she enters the room suggests that he places quite a bit of significance in her powers. As the play progresses, his belief in her power will become quite meaningful, as the play implies that simply having faith in something spiritual or mystical is often all a person needs in order to transform.
Themes
