Brighton Beach Memoirs

Fiction | Play | YA | Published in 1984

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Summary

Act Summaries & Analyses

Act I

Act II

Character Analysis

Themes

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

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Discussion Questions

Symbols & Motifs

Choices and Agency

Many characters in Brighton Beach Memoirs are faced with making difficult choices. For Nora, it is deciding whether to audition for her beloved Broadway play. In Stanley’s case, he must determine whether his desire to evade punishment is worth losing his family. Eugene’s choice is more metaphorical. After he notices his tendency for selfishness, he expresses his hope that he’ll “grow out of it” (104). He must actively choose to improve himself, or he will jeopardize his relationships with his family. Blanche demonstrates the danger of refusing to make choices since when she leaves the issue of Nora’s audition up to Jack, Nora loses trust in her. Blanche sees the negative outcome but cannot immediately change. Blanche’s inability to choose foreshadows what could be in the future for Eugene should he not take an active role in his own future. When Blanche does not choose, she experiences development at a slower rate than the rest of the characters. As she’s fretting about Nora, Eugene is engaging in a healthy conflict with Stanley and Jack and Kate are trying to run the household. Blanche is stuck without a choice to challenge her and drive her forward. Ultimately, the appearance of choice in Brighton Beach Memoirs signifies the advent of change and growth.

Family Dinners, Moments of Connection, and Stillness

There are many busy individuals in the Jerome-Morris household and few opportunities to gather. From a staging perspective, family dinners are a powerful visual. The script is filled with motion and showcases the characters weaving in and out of bedrooms and front porches. Family dinners offer a brief moment of stillness within a kinetic play. Several characters require such stillness. When Jack is participating in “family time,” he is open to having discussions and can offer advice (46). Similarly, Kate gets a respite from her long days of slaving around the house. The blocking of family dinners signifies that each character will have the opportunity for rest and openness. This is a possible interpretation for why family dinners occur before certain key events of the play.

This stillness extends beyond family dinners. As Blanche is preparing for her night out with Frank Murphy, the family rallies to support her. Nora is the exception to this. She is acting out after being prevented from auditioning. Blanche tries to enjoy an optimistic moment with her family but is unable to stop fixating on Nora’s absence. Without Nora, this stillness is restrictive for Blanche. Slowly but surely, family members begin to trickle in and out of the room. Eugene and Laurie return from the ice cream shop with a note from Frank Murphy’s mom, canceling the date on his behalf. Kate re-enters after learning about Stanley’s missing salary and engages in an argument with Blanche. While the other characters are given the chance to roam, Blanche is stuck in place, alone with her thoughts. This is only broken upon Nora’s return, when the two are able to work their way toward reconciliation.

The House

The entirety of Brighton Beach Memoirs takes place in or around the family house. It is a central aspect of many decisions the characters face. Nora and Blanche both want to find a way to leave the house, and Eugene wants to play a more comfortable role in its dynamics. In the staging, a live audience can physically see where everyone fits in. Eugene and Stanley share a space and are frequently seen in their room. This symbolizes the similarities in their journeys. They are both representative of their parents’ hopes and dreams. In Eugene’s case, the family hopes that he can become someone influential by attaining a college education. For Stanley, the family sees him as a crucial part of their stability. His ability to successfully navigate the working world is instrumental to the family experiencing financial mobility. This is also the case for Nora and Laurie. Both are tasked with finding themselves and their independence after their father died. The singular location and intentional rooms makes it evident that the design of the house allows Simon to point out similarities between characters.