Mrs. Stevenson
Mrs. Stevenson is an anxious woman whose health does not permit her to leave her luxurious yet lonely bedroom. The first stage direction to describe her notes that she is a “querulous, self-centered woman” (7), and she proves this to be true as the play unfolds. In true noir fashion, this protagonist is not necessarily a character people typically root for, but her self-centeredness makes her more interesting and complex. She is unpredictable and temperamental, a character that keeps audiences on their toes, subverting expectations at the time that a woman with disabilities would be exclusively vulnerable or helpless. Mrs. Stevenson’s physical disabilities prevent her from seeking safety by leaving her apartment, but it is her selfish temperament that prevents her from securing the help she needs.
Fletcher implies that Mrs. Stevenson has leveraged her health manipulatively over the years and has grown entitled. She frequently says phrases such as “I’m a sick woman—I’m entitled—” (18) or “I’m an invalid, and I’m very nervous, and I’m not supposed to be annoyed” (16) to guilt and/or pressure others into doing what she asks. She is dependent on her husband, and panics when she can’t reach him. Fletcher is careful not to suggest that Mrs.
