The House of Blue Leaves (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: John Guare
- First Published: 1971
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Absurdist
- Time of Work: October 4, 1965
- Setting: Sunnyside, Queens, New York City
- Genres: Drama, Absurdist literature, Comedy
- Subjects: 1960’s, New York, North America or North Americans, Northeast, U.S., United States or Americans, Murder or homicide, New York City, Marriage, Religion, Mental illness, Adultery, Fame, Success or failure, Songs or songwriters
- Locales: Queens, NY
Characters Discussed
Artie Shaughnessy, a zookeeper and would- be songwriter. Obsessed by a need to be famous, forty-five-year-old Artie fears that it may be too late for him. He looks to Bunny for the support Bananas is too sick to give, but he still has a soft spot for his wife. The play focuses on his attempts to find success, first by having his music blessed by the pope, then by kowtowing to Hollywood celebrities Corrinna Stroller and Billy Einhorn.
Bananas Shaughnessy, Artie’s wife, once a fun-loving woman. She has since suffered a nervous breakdown. She is...
[The entire page is 806 words long]
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