In the beginning of the play, I wasn't entirely sure what to expect. I've always tried to see the good in people, but have also been taught that it's also important to make certain judgements (as a safety issue precaution). I remember, growing up, how blunt I used to be (and still am occasionally). I used to have an opinion on everything and of everyone. Like many kids, I wasn't afraid to show it. While reading the play, I was surprised how long many innocent people were in jail without any proof of supporting evidence that they did the crime. It was quite difficult to try to comprehend the horrors many went through. It was even more daunting the fact that the stories were based on 89 people's lives who had been exonerated from the death row. I cried a little bit when Sunny revealed her husband had been executed for a crime he did not do. She too was close to death, but then was released after the real murderer confessed.
Record an Analysis of the Text
List
- Characters:
- Sunny, Robert, Georgia, Gary, Kerry, David, Sandra, and Sue, Delbert,
- 10 characters total
- 6 main exonerated people
- Locations:
- The South and Midwest
- Highway
- Cells
- Court
- Transitions:
- Spotlight was on whoever was speaking.
- Many memories
- Facts, Deductions, Questions:
- Why did it take so long for them to be released? Did they receive any help from the government after their release (e.g. money or a job)?
- Central Ideas:
- Be careful what you say about people based on what they look like. Be more open minded.
2. The Exonerated is about prejudice and the consequences many suffer for false accusations.
Research
- Authors' lives:
- Jessica Blank was born in New Haven, Connecticut. She is not only a novelist, but an actress and playwright.
- Erik Jensen is married to Jessica Blank. They have been married since 2002. He too is an American playwright and author.
- Time period and cultural conditions:
- 1970's
- Black people were accused for false crimes based on skin color
- World or local events:
- Governor George Ryan (Illinois) declared a moratorium on the death penalty.
- A different George was running for office. As the governor in Texas; he carried out the most executions of all of the United States since 1976.
- 1976 is when they started practicing the death penalty again.
- Play's reception and impact on audience:
- They performed at the United Nations and had three readings at The Culture Project.
- Themes and ideas of the play:
- Don't judge a book by its cover
- Don't be prejudice or racist
- Particular characters or character traits:
- Confusion
- All were innocent
- African-Americans were accused for murder
- Actual murderer ended up being white
- Genre or style:
- Minimalism
- Post modernism
- Setting:
- The stage had 6 chairs for each exonerated person
- Any particular aspects unique to the play:
- Begins with a poet and ends with a poet
- sets the stage
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