“'Night Mother,” by Marsha Norman, is a play that dives into the struggles of a mother and daughter. First performed in 1983, the play became a huge success both on Broadway, winning the Pulitzer Prize for drama, and for the first time performed as a play. (Spencer, pg. 1) Jessie is a middle-aged, divorced woman who has moved back in with her mother and struggles with what she believes is a failed life. Thelma, Jessie's mother, realizes that Jessie wants to commit suicide because of comments Jessie makes. Thelma desperately tries to convince her daughter not to commit suicide; however, he fails to convince Jessie. Jessie believes he hasn't reached the potential his family wanted him to; therefore, making her a failure in her marriage, in her relationship with her son, and throughout her life. After Jessie and Thelma talk about funeral arrangements, Jessie leaves to commit suicide. The show ends with Jessie saying, "'Night Mother." and a shot is fired, as Thelma realizes there was nothing she could do. (Norman, p. 18) The script of the play is very precise about how the actors should act, what the setting should look like, the tone the actors should have when playing the role of Jessie and Thelma, the atmosphere and the atmosphere the show should have. The script gives every detail of what the house should be like and states that the house should be more "...comfortable than messy". Making the set feel like a comfortable home creates an atmosphere that many in the audience would consider a familiar feeling. (Norman, page 1) With the guidance of Marsha Norman, the play's author, he shows how he imagines the play to be performed and brought into the lives of the public... middle of paper.... ..tp ://www.gaston.k12.nc.us/schools/ngaston/faculty/jslee/Course%20Outline%20and%20Syllabus/'night%20Mother.pdf>.Rich, Frank. “THEATRE: SUICIDE TALK IN ''NIGHT MOTHER'” The New York Times. TheNew York Times, March 31, 1983. Web. April 27, 2014./04/01/theater/theater-suicide-talk-in-night-mother.html>.Rosefeldt, Paul. Main plots. 4th ed. Np: Salem, 2010. ACC Library Services. Network. 27 Apr.2014.40cdbe7d79bdfb1e263a%40sessionmgr4005&hid=4210&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#db=lfh&AN=103331MP4236398200001 91>.S pencer, Jenny S. "Norman's Night, Mother: Female Identity Psycho-Drama." Norman's Night, Mother: Psychodrama Female Identity. Publisher unknown, 3 September 1983. Web. 27 April. 2014. .