Gem of the Ocean
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Prologue Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 2 Act 1, Scene 3 Act 1, Scene 4 Act 1, Scene 5 Act 2, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 4 Act 2, Scene 5
Themes
All Themes The Meaning of Freedom Economic Exploitation The Value of Community History and Trauma The Power of Belief
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Aunt Ester Citizen Barlow Solly Two Kings Caesar Wilks Black Mary Eli Rutherford Selig Garret Brown Jilson Grant
Symbols
All Symbols The Bill of Sale The City of Bones
Download PDF
Download Teacher Edition
The LitCharts.com logo.
Sign In Sign up for A+
The LitCharts.com logo.
AI Tools
  • Ask LitCharts AI
  • Discussion Question Generator
  • Essay Prompt Generator
  • Quiz Question Generator
Guides Guides
  • Literature Guides
  • Poetry Guides
  • Shakespeare Translations
  • Literary Terms
Sign In Sign up for A+ Sign up

Gem of the Ocean

by

August Wilson

Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Prologue
  • Act 1, Scene 1
  • Act 1, Scene 2
  • Act 1, Scene 3
  • Act 1, Scene 4
  • Act 1, Scene 5
  • Act 2, Scene 1
  • Act 2, Scene 2
  • Act 2, Scene 3
  • Act 2, Scene 4
  • Act 2, Scene 5
Themes
  • All Themes
  • The Meaning of Freedom Theme Icon
    The Meaning of Freedom
  • Economic Exploitation Theme Icon
    Economic Exploitation
  • The Value of Community Theme Icon
    The Value of Community
  • History and Trauma Theme Icon
    History and Trauma
  • The Power of Belief Theme Icon
    The Power of Belief
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Aunt Ester
  • Citizen Barlow
  • Solly Two Kings
  • Caesar Wilks
  • Black Mary
  • Eli
  • Rutherford Selig
  • Garret Brown
  • Jilson Grant
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Bill of Sale Symbol Icon
    The Bill of Sale
  • The City of Bones Symbol Icon
    The City of Bones
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
Download this Chart (PDF)
Download the Teacher Edition
Download this Chart (PDF)
Previous
Jilson Grant

Gem of the Ocean Symbols

Next
The Bill of Sale

The Bill of Sale

The Bill of Sale, which is a record of Aunt Ester’s former enslavement, symbolizes the gap between what’s moral and what’s legal. The Bill of Sale—a legal document—says that Aunt Ester was sold from…

read analysis of The Bill of Sale

The Bill of Sale Symbol Icon

The City of Bones

The mystical City of Bones—which is inhabited by the souls of enslaved Africans who died on slave ships—symbolizes the unexpected benefits of uniting with others in a sense of shared suffering. When Aunt Ester helps…

read analysis of The City of Bones

The City of Bones Symbol Icon
Previous
Jilson Grant
Previous
Jilson Grant
Next
The Bill of Sale
Next
The Bill of Sale

Company
About Us Our Story
Support
Help Center Contact Us
Connect
Facebook Twitter
Legal
Terms of Service Privacy Policy Privacy Request
Home About Contact Help
LitCharts, a Learneo, Inc. business
Copyright © 2025 All Rights Reserved
Terms Privacy Privacy Request
The LitCharts.com logo.
Save time. Stress less.
Sign up!
  • AI Tools for on-demand study help and teaching prep.
  • Quote explanations, with page numbers, for over 49,919 quotes.
  • PDF downloads of all 2,238 LitCharts guides.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
  • Expert analysis to take your reading to the next level.
  • Advanced search to help you find exactly what you're looking for.
  • Quizzes, saving guides, requests, plus so much more.
The LitCharts.com logo.
Requesting a new guide requires a free LitCharts account
You'll also get updates on new titles we publish and the ability to save highlights and notes.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to request a guide
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Get your answer with a free account
You’ll also get tons of other helpful features, including free quizzes and saving guides.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Last step: complete your free account
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Creating notes and highlights requires a free LitCharts account.
You'll be able to access your notes and highlights, make requests, and get updates on new titles.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to access notes and highlights
Already have an account? Sign in
The LitCharts.com logo.
Saving guides requires a free LitCharts account
Easily access your saved guides anytime.

or

Already have an account? Sign in
Complete your free account to save guides
Already have an account? Sign in