How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Line). Every time a character talks counts as one line, even if what they say turns into a long monologue. We used Donald M. Allen's translation.
Quote #10
Stage Direction: [Mr. and Mrs. Martin are seated like the Smiths at the beginning of the play. The play begins again with the Martins, who say exactly the same lines as the Smiths in the first scene, while the curtain softly falls.] (564)
The reality of the play seems to morph and reset in its final moments. Now the Martins begin the play in place of the Smiths. This makes everything we've seen suspect. Are the Martins the Smiths? Are the Smiths the Martins? Does it matter? Is anything real at all? How do we know for sure?