Dead Man's Cell Phone Literary Devices

Technology usually is given a negative connotation and people believe it does not connect us to others. In the play “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” by Sarah Ruhl, the author proves why and how technology connects us to other people even if they may have not known each other. Jean was able to connect herself to Gordon, a dead man and his family after his death without having ever known them. On the other hand, people can isolate themselves from everyone and live a life that leads to depression and suicide like in the poem “Richard Cory by Edwin Arlington Robinson. Dead Man’s Cell Phone is a play by Sarah Ruhl. It is about a dead man’s cell phone who belongs to Gordon. Jean is a random woman who finds him to be dead and keeps his cell phone. Through
She was able to make amends in Gordon’s name and was able to mend any broken fences Gordon left behind with his family. Jean was able to know about him, all because she held onto his phone after he died. Gordon’s family invited Jean to a dinner at their house, where she gave out presents from the diner where Gordon died and she made it seem as if they were intended for them. In the play “Dead Man’s Cell Phone”, Jean created a life when she “knew” Gordon and pretended to work with him, Jean: “Yes. In his last moments. He wanted to give each of you something. From the cafe. Before he died. He was thinking of all of you.” (Ruhl, scene 5;39). Jean gives Hermia a salt shaker, “This salt is for you, Hermia. Because he said you were the salt of the earth”(scene 5;39). Jean gives Dwight a cup, “Because Gordon said you were like--a cup. Because you can hold things. And they don’t--pour out” (Ruhl, scene 5;39). Dwight was moved that his brother thought to give him this since he believed Gordon did not think of him at all. Something that Gordon left behind for his mother Mrs. Gottlieb, a spoon for her cooking(Ruhl, scene 5;40). His mother is very upset about this and Hermia explains, “We never talk about her cooking”(Ruhl, scene 5;41). Before this encounter, Jean did not know anyone of Gordon’s family or Gordon, through his phone and the stories she heard at the funeral, she
Before Gordon died, he worked in the business of selling organs, Gordon says “I wouldn’t say that I sell organs for a living. I connect people--see..A man in Iran needs money real bad but he doesn’t need his own kidney. A woman in Sydney needs a new kidney but she doesn’t need her own cash”(Ruhl, scene 1;58). The only way Gordon can connect these two people is through technology. Since these two people do not live near each other, he would need to discuss the details of how to transport the organs and money through a cell phone. Gordon did think of his business connecting people, but he did not realize how, and that was through technology. Most people only see Gordon’s organ business as sleazy, but he really was able to link people through technology. The play “Dead Man’s Cell Phone” has a negative read on Gordon’s business. Most of Gordon’s family did not know what Gordon did for a living, his wife did suspect something, but nothing solid came about. No one in the play thought that Gordon’s business was healthy or