Sweat
Introduction + Context
Plot Summary
Detailed Summary & Analysis
Act 1, Scene 1 Act 1, Scene 2 Act 1, Scene 3 Act 1, Scene 4 Act 1, Scene 5 Act 1, Scene 6 Act 1, Scene 7 Act 2, Scene 1 Act 2, Scene 2 Act 2, Scene 3 Act 2, Scene 4 Act 2, Scene 5 Act 2, Scene 6 Act 2, Transition Act 2, Scene 7 Act 2, Scene 8
Themes
All Themes Working-Class Disillusionment Relationships, Status, and Resentment Economic Strain and Race Relations Shame, Regret, and Forgiveness
Quotes
Characters
All Characters Chris Jason Tracey Cynthia Oscar Stan Jessie Brucie Evan Hank Freddy Brunner Howard
Terms
All Terms Concession Lockout North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) Rust Belt
Symbols
All Symbols The Bar
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Sweat

by Lynn Nottage
Upgrade to A+
Introduction Intro
Plot Summary Plot
Summary & Analysis
  • Act 1, Scene 1
  • Act 1, Scene 2
  • Act 1, Scene 3
  • Act 1, Scene 4
  • Act 1, Scene 5
  • Act 1, Scene 6
  • Act 1, Scene 7
  • Act 2, Scene 1
  • Act 2, Scene 2
  • Act 2, Scene 3
  • Act 2, Scene 4
  • Act 2, Scene 5
  • Act 2, Scene 6
  • Act 2, Transition
  • Act 2, Scene 7
  • Act 2, Scene 8
Themes
  • All Themes
  • Working-Class Disillusionment Theme Icon
    Working-Class Disillusionment
  • Relationships, Status, and Resentment Theme Icon
    Relationships, Status, and Resentment
  • Economic Strain and Race Relations Theme Icon
    Economic Strain and Race Relations
  • Shame, Regret, and Forgiveness Theme Icon
    Shame, Regret, and Forgiveness
Quotes
Characters
  • All Characters
  • Chris
  • Jason
  • Tracey
  • Cynthia
  • Oscar
  • Stan
  • Jessie
  • Brucie
  • Evan
  • Hank
  • Freddy Brunner
  • Howard
Terms
  • All Terms
  • Concession
  • Lockout
  • North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)
  • Rust Belt
Symbols
  • All Symbols
  • The Bar Symbol Icon
    The Bar
Theme Wheel Theme Viz
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Rust Belt

Sweat Symbols

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The Bar

The Bar

The unnamed Reading, Pennsylvania, bar in which most of Sweat’s scenes take place symbolizes the disillusionment that the play’s working-class characters experience and the escapism they seek out as a result. The “lived-in…

read analysis of The Bar

The Bar Symbol Icon
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Rust Belt
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Rust Belt
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The Bar
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The Bar

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