J. B. (Masterplots, Revised Second Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Archibald MacLeish
- First Published: 1958
- Type of Work: Drama
- Type of Plot: Symbolism
- Time of Work: The 1940’s to the 1950’s
- Setting: A large American city
- Principal Characters: Mr. Zuss, Nickles, J. B., Sarah
- 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
The Story:
Two broken-down actors who had fallen on bad days were ready for their parts in the ensuing drama. Zuss was a large, red-faced, and dignified man, and Nickles was sarcastic and gaunt to the point of grotesqueness. As outsiders, they would control the ensuing action, but they would also be drawn into the drama. The Book of Job is the Old Testament story of a good man who was punished so that God could prove to Satan, his adversary, that there are good people who love God despite their hardships. Unlike Satan in the Book of Job, Nickles seemed to sympathize with...
[The entire page is 2390 words long]
Join eNotes
Over 3,500 study guides, question and answer forums, literature criticism, reference content, and much more!
Navigate
See Also
