The Land of the Dead

The play, The Land of the Dead, deals with a sensitive subject because it touches the lives of all Americans, and more so to those who lost friends, family, or any type of loved one. It is hard to create a successful and humorous story plot when the end result is our nation's darkest day in history. However, in my opinion, we need to remember this day not just by the photos, the masses, or the annual memorials, but by creative methods too- Ways that allow Americans to take a different perspective and outlook. The play moved me more than just reading an article in The Times, or watching a nightly special about 9/11. It allowed me to recognize that most people take their lives for granted. The man in the play was cynical and uncooperative which distanced himself from the audience. Instead the audience sympathized with the woman, or his wife, who had issues that the man did not deem his problem; just her own. But when the audience realized his location, his timing, his fate, the sentiment changed. No matter the type of person who was in those towers, no matter how nice they were or bitter, they were still a person; a victim. They were a collegue, a friend, or maybe foe, but still a person who lost their life to terrorism. America is a nation under one, and when a disaster occurs we are brought closer together. We unite because that is all we can do and when a person is lost, we feel lost as well. The play is so effective because the majority of us can assimilate to that couple. We can imagine ourselves being the man who watches the city from above or that woman calling effortlessly to someone who won't pick up because most of us remember that day so clear just as the morning of September 11th was- without a cloud in the sky.