In the play, the phone symbolizes Mrs. Stevenson’s connection with the outside world. She cannot leave her bed, and her only human interaction is with her maid, Eloise, and her husband, Elbert. Aside from the two of them, she is only able to speak with people over the telephone. Fletcher plays with literary irony in the play as she twists Mrs. Stevenson’s security and lifeline into a reminder of her approaching death.

The phone is important, too, in that its symbolism supports the theme of Communication in Relationships. The crossed wires, busy signal, and even the hushed whispers at the end (when the receptionist can’t make out what Mrs. Stevenson is saying) are all indicative of a character who lacks communication skills. Fletcher uses the phone to demonstrate that Mrs. Stevenson is incapable of compromise and insists on doing things her way. Likely, she was the same off the phone as she was on it, resulting in literal mixed signals and ignoring important information.

The time of 11:15 PM is a motif that reinforces the literary device of the ticking clock. This is the time when the planned murder is set to occur, and