Westing game theme

This Newbery winner is a great way to introduce young readers to the mystery genre with plot structure, point of view, and the elements of mystery. Read More. The Westing Game Characters.

Plot Diagram. Elements of Mystery. Themes, Symbols, and Motifs. Wanted Poster. Create a Storyboard. Rather than marry someone she did not love, Violet decided to commit suicide to avoid the arranged marriage. Later in the novel, it becomes apparent that Angela Wexler is involved in a relationship that almost feels like an arranged marriage. While Angela's mother, Grace, eagerly encourages Angela to marry Denton for his future wealth and social status, it is clear to the reader that Angela does not desire to marry Denton.

Angela often leaves when Denton enters the room, and it is common for her to barely say more than two to three sentences to her future husband. Angela obviously feels societal pressure from her mother and other members of the Westing Game to marry Denton, but one can assume that Angela does not want to marry Denton whatsoever.

Even though Angela's engagement is not arranged by her parents, it certainly feels like an arranged marriage; Angela seems to have no choice in finding her significant other, as society has decided that a pretty, young woman such as herself must marry a man like Denton Deere, who will certainly climb social ladders in the future.

Both of the aforementioned relationships act as arranged marriages, and they showcase how Raskin may perceive arranged marriages from her perspective.

There are no positives to be gained from either of these two relationships displayed in the novel. One theme present in The Westing Game is the theme of revenge. However, this theme only truly applies to two characters in the novel: Samuel Westing and his ex-wife, Bertha Erica Crow.

Halfway through the novel, it is revealed that Violet Westing, Sam's daughter, committed suicide after she learned that she could not marry her sweetheart, George Theodorakis, but instead had to marry a crooked politician. After Violet's death, Sam Westing's wife became an alcoholic, and she later divorced Sam before seemingly disappearing.

Later in the novel, though, the reader discovers that Samuel Westing had no issue with Violet marrying George, but his wife was the one who attempted to force Violet to marry the crooked senator. At the beginning of the novel, Sam Westing states that the point of the Westing Game is to find the person who murdered him. Although the characters take it as a literal murder, Sam is actually referring to the person that murdered him emotionally: his ex-wife.

Near the end of the novel, Turtle Wexler and J. Ford begin to realize that Samuel Westing is making the characters participate in the Westing Game, so he can bring emotional distress to his ex-wife, who is actually Bertha Erica Crow in disguise. Moreover, at the end of the game, Bertha Erica Crow is revealed to be the "winner" of the Westing Game, as she is the one who truly killed Samuel Westing with her decision to force Violet into marriage. In fact, the whole point of the Westing Game is to make Bertha Erica Crow feel the shame, pain, and embarrassment that Samuel Westing felt when his daughter committed suicide.

Even though it seems minuscule in comparison to his daughter's suicide, Sam obtains his revenge with Bertha Erica Crow's suffering throughout the Westing Game. The theme of identity also plays a large role in The Westing Game. Throughout the novel, many of the characters go to great lengths to obscure their true identities.

Moreover, Otis Amber , the delivery boy in the novel and one of the Westing heirs, frequently conceals his identity in the novel by acting as if he is unintelligent and foolish throughout the novel. However, it is later revealed that Otis Amber only acted as if he was ignorant to shroud his true identity as a private investigator.

While some of the characters hide their identities in The Westing Game to avoid suspicion, other characters actually struggle to decipher their real identities as a human being. Angela Wexler, the daughter of Grace and Jake Wexler, does not have an identity for most of the novel as she is simply known as the beautiful girl marrying the intelligent intern, Denton Deere.

Within the portal, all users can view and copy all storyboards. More options. Activity Overview Themes, symbols, and motifs come alive when you use a storyboard. The Westing Game Themes to Look For and Discuss Friendship The real purpose of the Westing game is not the inheritance, but the relationships that the game creates and strengthens. Template and Class Instructions These instructions are completely customizable.

Click "Start Assignment". Identify the theme s from The Westing Game you wish to include and replace the "Theme 1" text. Create an image for examples that represents this theme. Write a description of each of the examples. Rubric You can also create your own on Quick Rubric. Themes, Symbols, and Motifs Grades Illustrate instances of each and write a short description that explains the example's significance.

All themes are correctly identified as important recurring topics or messages in the story. Symbols are correctly identified as objects that represent something else at a higher level in the story. Motifs are correctly identified as important recurring features or ideas in the story. Most themes are correctly identified, but others are missing or incomplete.

Most symbols are correctly identified, but some objects are missing or incomplete. Some motifs are correctly identified, but others are missing or incomplete. Most themes are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. Most symbols are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. Most motifs are missing, incomplete, or incorrect. Descriptions contain inaccuracies in their explanations, or do not highlight their significance to the story. They reflect time and effort put into placement and creation of the scenes.

The depictions may be rushed or show minimal effort, time, and care put into placement and creation of the scenes.