Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Sweat, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Working-Class Disillusionment
Relationships, Status, and Resentment
Economic Strain and Race Relations
Shame, Regret, and Forgiveness
Summary
Analysis
September 24, 2008. In the news, President Bush is preparing to warn the American people that the economy will be in dire trouble if Congress doesn’t immediately approve a $700 billion bailout for Wall Street.
This headline serves as a short interlude which brings the audience back into the context of 2008. It’s significant that just prior to this, Jason and Chris are so distraught and resentful about their financial woes that they commit assault against an innocent person—the play has shown that the hardships working-class Americans face can destroy individuals’ lives and the very fabric of struggling communities. As such, the news of an enormous Wall Street bailout emphasizes the inequality present in American society and the unjust nature of ordinary Americans’ job insecurity and inability to make ends meet.
Themes
