Oleanna: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: David Mamet

First published: 1992

Genre: Play

Locale: United States

Plot: Drama

Time: Present

John, is a college professor and author in his 40s. Teaching is his second career; his previous occupation is unknown. He is good-natured although somewhat pompous, self- assured, and distracted, but this may stem from his recent recommendation for tenure resulting in a raise that allows him to make an offer on a better home for his wife and son. He has difficulties concentrating on a student in his office because his wife calls constantly with questions and complaints about the Realtor brokering the deal on the house he wishes to purchase. He, nonetheless, shows genuine concern for Carol, a 20-year-old student visiting his office to confess that she doesn't understand anything in his book or his class. When Carol reveals feeling stupid, John admits that as a student he also was considered subpar and that college often can be a form of prolonged hazing that makes normally intelligent people feel incompetent and inferior. He puts his arm around her to comfort her and guide her back to the chair for further talk when Carol nearly becomes hysterical and rises to leave his office. During a follow-up visit, Carol becomes very forceful and aggressive. She assumes the position of power, informing John that she reported the events of their previous meeting to an unnamed “group,” which has filed a complaint against him with the tenure committee resulting in the committee's rejection of his tenure application and the loss of his new house. Similar to how Carol didn't understand his class, John doesn't understand his student when she informs him of her interpretation of the events of their first meeting that led to her formal complaint. Although Carol's actions lead to John being terminated from his teaching position, he requests a third meeting with her. When she reveals that the “group” is willing to withdraw its complaint if he will alter his syllabus and exclude certain books—including his own—from the coursework, John explodes in fury and physically assaults Carol, beats her to the floor and lifts a chair—presumably to kill her—but lowers it without striking her.

Carol, is a 20-year-old college student who meets with John, her professor, in his office. Carol initially is timid, scared, and self-conscious. She explains to John that she doesn't understand the lessons and discussions in his class and feels inadequate because of her inability to participate with the other students, who appear to firmly grasp the material. She becomes nearly hysterical, and John attempts to quell her fears and comfort her by placing his arm around her. He tries to soothe her by sympathizing with her plight and downplaying the importance of college. Carol initially is accepting of his advice and is about to divulge a deep secret about herself, but departs before revealing it when interrupted by the constantly ringing telephone in John's office. During their second meeting, Carol is very confident and self-assured—her demeanor is completely opposite of how she conducted herself in the initial visit. She aggressively tells John that stemming from his conduct at their earlier encounter that she has filed a formal complaint against him with the tenure committee, claiming sexual harassment and battery. At their third and final meeting, she rejects John's final attempt to explain his actions as innocent, telling him that he could be charged with rape and battery, but that she and the unnamed “group” that has filed the complaint will withdraw it on the condition that he remove certain texts—including his own book—from being assigned in the class. When John again answers a phone call from his wife and calls her “baby,” Carol immediately tells him to desist from using that term with his wife. Carol remains superior and defiant even when John beats her and knocks her to the floor.