Julie’s mother does not appear in the play, but all three characters credit her with exercising an important influence upon her daughter. How is Julie’s mother characterized by Kristine, Jean, and Julie? What is her wider significance in the play, and how does she illustrate some of the play’s key themes and ideas?

The play explores the complexities of class dynamics and social ambitions. How is social mobility (or the lack thereof) depicted in the play? In what ways are the characters different or similar in how they conceive of and experience class?

Julie has two pets in the play, her dog Diana and her greenfinch. What is the role of these animals in the play’s narrative? How do they reflect the play’s use of nature and animals as figurative commentary on human behavior?