SparkNotes: Free Study Guides No Fear Shakespeare: The Bard made easy SparkCharts: Just the facts TestPrep: SAT, ACT, and more 101s: College texts condensed Subject Finder: Browse by subject SparkCollege: Get in! SparkLife: 100% study-free home_bottom home_top BN_link
 
◄ PREVIOUS
Important Quotations Explained
NEXT ►
Study Questions and Essay Topics
 

The Maids

 Jean Genet
 

Key Facts

 
full title ·  The Maids
 
author · Jean Genet
 
type of work · Drama
 
genre · Absurdist drama
 
language · Originally French as Les Bonnes
 
time and place written · France, late 1940s
 
date of first production · Paris, April 17, 1947
 
publisher · Grove Press
 
narrator · No narrator; drama
 
climax · The climax occurs when Claire drinks the poisoned tea
 
protagonist · Solange; Claire
 
antagonist · Madame
 
setting (time) · Modern day
 
setting (place) · The bedroom of a wealthy Madame
 
point of view · The audience empathizes equally with Solange and Claire, though it is Solange's literal visions that dominate at the end
 
falling action · Solange imagines Madame's reaction to her own death
 
tense · Play; present tense
 
foreshadowing · The sisters plot to kill Madame from the beginning
 
tone · Dream-like, tense, hostile
 
themes · Illusion as a reaction against authority; Otherness and whirligigs
 
motifs · Self-conscious theatricality; Filth
 
symbols · Red velvet dress
 
 
Help | Feedback | Make a request | Report an error | Send to a friend

◄ PREVIOUS
Important Quotations Explained
NEXT ►
Study Questions and Essay Topics
 
 
 
 
 
 
Message Boards
Ask a question or start a discussion on the community boards.
  • The Maids
  • French Literature
  •  
     
     
     
    Printable PDF
    Download a printable version of this SparkNote.
     
     
     
    SparkCharts
    A textbook's worth of information on an easy-to-read chart.
  • French Grammar
  • French Vocabulary
  •  
     
     
     
     
    Contact Us | Privacy Policy | Terms and Conditions | About | Sitemap
    ©2008 SparkNotes LLC, All Rights Reserved.