Gem of the Ocean

Aunt Ester is a spiritual guide who draws on the collective memory of the African-American community to help others make sense of their experiences and decisions.

In Gem of the Ocean, the City of Bones is a mythical city in the Atlantic Ocean built from the bones of African slaves. It is a place to which Citizen Barlow must travel if he's to find redemption.

One might argue that Citizen is more responsible because by stealing the nails, he set in motion the chain of events that led to Brown's death. On the other hand, one might argue that Caesar bears...

Black Mary Wilks is a key character in August Wilson's play, serving as Aunt Ester's housekeeper and protege. While Black Mary is tasked with domestic chores, her true role is to inherit Aunt Ester's...

Yes, there is foreshadowing in August Wilson's play Gem of the Ocean, though it is subtle. First, Garret Brown's death (and the reason for it) foreshadows the death of Solly Two Kings. Second,...

August Wilson's play Gem of the Ocean deeply explores the theme of freedom. While the characters in the play are not slaves, many of them are not truly free. They are either imprisoned by their...

One could argue that it is Caesar Wilkes who is ultimately responsible for the death of Garrett Brown. Although Brown kills himself by drowning, he wouldn't have done so had Wilkes the police officer...

August Wilson's Gem of the Ocean delves into the idea of freedom, exploring what it really is as well as the various ways in which people can be slaves. Ironically, the two people in the story who...