Betrayal In The Cryptrogram

10 Pages 2574 Words

h Donny. She is the mother to John, good friend of Del, and Robert’s wife in the beginning of the play. During the course of the play Donny is betrayed by each of her loved ones. Donny continuously has a hard time getting John to go to bed; she says “It’s grown into his minuet. . .” (1002). the first night as she was coaxing him up the stairs, he picked up a white envelope. When Donny inquired about the envelope, John said “… It’s a note for you. (She takes it, opens it.)” (1015). Donny then finds out through the letter that “[her] husband’s leaving [her]” (1016). Interestingly enough Donny is unaware of the letters origins asking “. . . when did this get here . . . ?” (1015). Oblivious to the letter present in her own home, almost seems as though she is in denial of the situation, which is a feeling often experienced by someone who has been betrayed (Brewer 4).


The following night, Donny starts questioning Del about when Robert gave Del his pilot’s knife. She catches Del in a series of lies, “You said he gave it to you when you were camping. (Pause.) How could he give it to you when you were camping when it was here in the trunk when you both came back? (Pause.)” (1022). Del continues to lie and back track, “I thought. . .isn’t it funny? I was sure he gave the knife to me while we were camping. I guess I’m mistaken. (Pause.) Huh. (Pause.) Unless, no . . . Huh!. . I . . . I don’t know. (pause.) It’s a mystery to me.” (1023). Donny finally gets Del to fess up only to find out that they didn’t go camping and Del let Robert use his room. When Donny asks him the meaning of that, Del tells her “To go there with a woman. (Pause.) And now, and now you know the truth, How weak I am. How “Evil” I am. . . . I knew that I should tell you, This is the only bad thing I have ever done to you. I’m sorry that it came out like this. Indeed I am.” (1024). Not only did her good frien...