Lost in Yonkers

by Neil Simon

Start Free Trial

Does the book Lost in Yonkers have the theme "reality vs. illusion"?

Expert Answers

An illustration of the letter 'A' in a speech bubbles

Yes, but I wouldn't say that is its primary theme.

By that I mean, other themes are more important. Look at how hard the family works to stay together, and what they have to do to survive. Those get more emphasis in the play.

That said, yes, there are a number of times when that theme or a related theme (like lying, or distance from reality) is emphasized. For example, the grandmother keeps money hidden, so it is not visible. When others search for it, they lie about it. Louie is double-crossing other criminals. And of course, Bella daydreams and deludes herself throughout the play.

See eNotes Ad-Free

Start your 48-hour free trial to get access to more than 30,000 additional guides and more than 350,000 Homework Help questions answered by our experts.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Approved by eNotes Editorial Team