hristmas." He hangs up promising Ruth he will not smoke again. Then he is tempted for another cigarette and decides to go for it. Right when he is about to get the cigarette his new hearse is hit by an oncoming bus.
             Then the scene changes to Ruth and she slices her finger as she is slicing the vegetables, and Dave exclaims the new hearse was a total waste of money. Both of the incidents symbolize the death of Nathaniel. So far, the characters are unaware of Nathaniel's death, but the audience knows of the tragedy, which will befall on the characters. This is another element of Greek drama referred to, as dramatic/tragic irony due to the fact the audience is aware of the eventual outcome of the characters. Ruth then tells Dave she thinks Nathaniel is going through a mid life crisis. She continues by telling Dave she is afraid Nathaniel is cheating and will leave her for a younger or a same aged woman or if all comes to worst for a man. This conversation foreshadows the flaws of Ruth and Dave. Ruth's flaw is the affair she is having with a man she met at church and Dave is a closet homosexual who, ironically, met his lover at church too. Feeling uncomfortable at the direction the conversation was heading Dave decides it is time for him to get ready for the open casket which was going to be held for his client later that night.
             Then Dave receives a phone call from Claire the youngest out of the three. She calls to get out of family's Christmas Eve dinner so she could go to a party, but Dave responds by saying, "This is the few time of the year when we are all together." This statement is ironic because the family will never be together again due to Nathaniel's death. The exposition part of the plot will end here. This part was where all the major and minor characters were introduced and the audience has a feel of the personality of each character. Then conflicts will arise. The risi...