Characters
Charley
Charley is one of the inmates. His deep love for his wife, Sara, is highlighted during a voiceover where they lovingly discuss their relationship and envision a future together. Near the play's conclusion, he collapses in front of Sara, indicating that he has likely been tortured.
Elderly Woman
The elderly woman, often called the mountain woman, comes to the prison to visit her son. While waiting in the snow for eight hours, a guard dog bites her hand so severely that her thumb nearly detaches. She demonstrates her nurturing and compassionate nature by bringing food to her son and attempting to comfort him, reassuring him that everyone at home eagerly awaits his return. Her lack of understanding of the official language leads to her inadvertently speaking her native mountain language, resulting in her being beaten by the guards.
By the end of the play, she is silent and almost catatonic. When her son tells her the prison officials have changed the rules and they can now speak their own language, she does not respond. It remains uncertain whether she is too frightened to speak or has lost the ability to do so, possibly due to her son's condition.
Guard
The guard displays cruelty by repeatedly jabbing the elderly woman with a stick whenever she speaks mountain language. He attempts to justify his actions by claiming he has responsibilities and a family to care for. The guard fails to acknowledge that the prisoner also has a family and, in an attempt to punish him, tells the sergeant that the prisoner is a "joker."
Sara Johnson
Sara visits the prison to see her husband, Charley. Although she is not a "mountain woman" and clearly belongs to a higher social class, she bonds with the elderly woman. Sara shows her compassionate side by comforting the elderly woman after the dog bite and seeking help for her. She displays courage by standing up to the sergeant and officer multiple times, refusing to repeat her name when ordered and often meeting absurd questions with silence.
However, Sara wisely answers some questions patiently, such as when the sergeant asks her again for the name of the dog that bit the elderly woman, and she responds that she does not know, which should have been obvious. When asked if they have any complaints, she speaks up, pointing out that they have been standing in the snow all day waiting to see the prisoners. She asserts that it is her right to see her husband.
Upon unexpectedly encountering her hooded husband and realizing he has been tortured, she breaks down emotionally. By the play's conclusion, she confesses her willingness to sleep with a prison official to save her husband.
Hooded Man
Refer to Charley
Officer
The officer oversees the prison. Occasionally, he seems to adhere to reasonable standards, but his actions soon devolve into absurdity, mirroring the sergeant's behavior. He sometimes reprimands the sergeant for repeatedly asking the women the same question and appears concerned about the elderly woman's hand. However, this concern quickly dissipates during a ridiculous discussion about dog names. Although he instructs the sergeant to ask the women if they have any complaints, he never addresses those complaints. He reminds the sergeant that the women are not criminals but cannot admit they are innocent. When the officer learns that Sara’s husband is not a mountain person, he acknowledges that the husband has been placed in the "wrong batch" but does not question his guilt. He attempts to assert his authority and highlights the absurdity of his rules by insisting that if the dog that...
(This entire section contains 947 words.)
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bit the elderly woman did not give his name, the dog will be shot. His need for control is evident when he tells the women to be silent, even as they already stand in silence.
Prisoner
The prisoner shows his compassion by expressing deep concern for his mother’s hand. He tries to explain to the guard that his mother cannot understand the official language, hoping to stop the guard from hitting her. In an attempt to evoke compassion and a sense of brotherhood from the guard, he mentions that he too has a wife and three children. However, his boldness is met with punishment when the guard deems him a "joker." The blood on his face in the subsequent scene implies he has been beaten. By the play's end, as his mother appears in an almost catatonic state, he collapses on the floor, gasping and shaking violently, indicating a mental and physical breakdown.
Second Guard
The second guard appears in the corridor, holding up Sara’s husband.
Sergeant
Throughout the play, the Sergeant's cruelty and hunger for power are evident. He frequently insults the prisoners by calling them ‘‘s——houses’’ and belittles Sara, whom he labels a ‘‘f—— intellectual.’’ To assert dominance over her, he touches her and claims, ‘‘intellectual a——s wobble the best,’’ adding that she ‘‘bounces’’ with sin. At times, he asserts he is merely enforcing the law, such as when he informs them that speaking mountain language is prohibited. Later, he masquerades as a public servant when he asks Sara what he can do for her after she inadvertently finds herself in the corridor, witnessing her hooded husband. Sara remains silent, aware that he will offer no assistance to her or her husband. At the play's conclusion, he feigns generosity by suggesting he facilitated the change in the rule banning mountain language, but his true nature is exposed as he shows no sympathy while watching a prisoner collapse, remarking, ‘‘you go out of your way to give them a helping hand and they f—— it up.’’
Young Woman
See Sara Johnson
