Children of a Lesser God

by Mark Medoff

Start Free Trial

Act I Summary

Download PDF PDF Page Citation Cite Share Link Share

The main events of Children of a Lesser God unfold within the mind of James Leeds. The play's timeline is non-linear, and characters "step from his memory for anything from a full scene to several lines." The setting shifts quickly on a minimalist stage featuring "only a few benches and a blackboard." James works as a speech teacher at a State School for the Deaf. He encounters Sarah Norman, a cleaner who has been deaf since birth and has lived at the school since she was five.

James regularly conducts speech therapy sessions with two other students: Orin, a peer of Sarah who has become an apprentice teacher, and Lydia, a teenager who develops a crush on James. As James and Sarah's relationship deepens, Orin distances himself from James, while Lydia becomes increasingly smitten with her teacher.

Sarah's mother, referred to as Mrs. Norman in the play, initially appears as a bitter woman whose husband left around the time Sarah was sent to the State School for the Deaf. Later, James brings Sarah to her mother's house, prompting a reunion. The women reconcile, and Mrs. Norman attends James and Sarah's wedding.

Get Ahead with eNotes

Start your 48-hour free trial to access everything you need to rise to the top of the class. Enjoy expert answers and study guides ad-free and take your learning to the next level.

Get 48 Hours Free Access
Next

Act II Summary

Loading...