Arsenic and Old Lace Questions and Answers
Arsenic and Old Lace
What types of irony are used in Arsenic and Old Lace and where are they seen?
"Arsenic and Old Lace" uses situational, verbal, and dramatic irony to enhance its comedic effect. Situational irony is evident in the sweet old aunts being murderers and Jonathan competing with them...
Arsenic and Old Lace
What are some differences between the play and movie versions of Arsenic and Old Lace?
The play and the film are essentially the same, with only minor differences. The play takes place in the Brewster’s home and a graveyard across from a church. The film adds a few scenes to include a...
Arsenic and Old Lace
The major actions in Acts I, II, and III of Arsenic and Old Lace
In Act I of Arsenic and Old Lace, Mortimer discovers his aunts' deadly secret. Act II involves Mortimer's frantic efforts to prevent more murders while dealing with his brother Jonathan's return. In...
Arsenic and Old Lace
In Arsenic and Old Lace, who does Jonathan resemble and why is this ironic?
Jonathan resembles Boris Karloff due to surgeries performed by an alcoholic surgeon, Dr. Einstein, who was influenced by watching Karloff's horror films. This resemblance is ironic because Jonathan,...
Arsenic and Old Lace
What are the themes of the play Arsenic and Old Lace?
In this play, a comedy of errors and terror, the audience sees a group of aunts who have been poisoning lonely old men to save them from an unhappy married life. The main theme of the play is that...
Arsenic and Old Lace
Why does Mortimer want to keep his wedding a secret?
Mortimer Brewster wants to keep his wedding a secret because he is known for his writings against marriage, having built a reputation as a bachelor and a critic of romantic scenes. Marrying Elaine...