J. B. (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: Archibald MacLeish
- First Published: 1958
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Symbolism
- Time of Work: The 1950’s and 1960’s
- Setting: A large American city
- Genres: Drama, Verse drama
- Subjects: Values, Suffering, United States or Americans, Twentieth century, Religion, Guilt, God, Victims, Bible, biblical imagery, or biblical symbolism, Masks, Banks, bankers, or banking
- Locales: United States
Characters Discussed
J. B., the protagonist, a successful businessman who is, like Job in the Bible, “an upright man, one that feareth God and escheweth evil.” Early in the play, at a Thanksgiving dinner with his loving wife and happy children, he gives thanks to God for their many blessings and says that he has never doubted that God is on his side. Disasters soon befall him: His eldest son, David, is killed by mistake while on Army maneuvers; a daughter, Mary, and another son, Jonathan, are struck down by a drunken driver; his youngest daughter, Rebecca, is raped and...
[The entire page is 1004 words long]
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