Act 2; Scene 2

• The scene opens in the office interior where Winemiller is saying a prayer, or in John's words, "worn-out magic."
• John is hesitant to go in and see his father. He doesn't think his father would want to see him. John probably feels guilty about what happened. Alma should feel a little guilty too. She selfishly called in the doctor to discourage John from being with Rosa, mostly because she wants John for herself. If Alma hadn't have done so, the doctor would not have been shot by Gonzales. If John had not been fooling around with Rosa in the first place, none of this would have happened.
• Alma blames the catastrophe on John's weakness. Alma says, "Sometimes it takes a tragedy like this to make a weak person strong." This angers John, and he does off into a bitter tirade about religious people spewing their worn-out magic. I see why John got so upset. No one wants to hear that their suffering or someone else's suffering is for some sort of logical reason or that they are destined to grow from it. It is like hearing that "everything happens for a reason" after you lose someone you love. Though that may or may not be true, at the time, you are too upset to be caught up in deriving meaning from a tragic accident. John is not in the mood to be lecture on the good that will come out of his father being shot, and possibly dying. Alma seems to understand John's anger, and doesn't retaliate.
  
• John tries to show Alma the anatomy chart. John tells Alma she is weak for being too afraid and ignorant to learn about what her insides are actually like. John has this incredible monologue where he explains the parts of the body to Alma. He explains that the brain is hungry for truth, the belly is hungry for food, and the sex is hungry for love. John claims to have fed all three while Alma has fed none. Alma argues that John has it wrong and that his anatomy chart is missing something very important-a soul. Alma confesses that she loved John with her soul. John confesses that he never would have made love to Alma that night at the casino because he is more afraid of her soul than she is of his body. He admits that he doesn't feel decent enough to touch her. I'm really glad John admits to this. It makes him seem more human and less beastly. He does care after all.
• John and Alma's conversation is interrupted by Winemiller. He tells Alma that the doctor wants her to sing for him. Alma goes and John eventually follows. He can finally face his father.
  
• I really like this scene! So many wonderful moments occurred for Alma and John. The confessions were exciting and realistic. I have a fear that the doctor will die. I am also afraid that Alma and John will not end up together as I would like. I don't believe Tennessee Williams likes happy endings-after all, how realistic are they? Tragic situations are hardly ever tied up with a bow at the end. Some way or another, everyone loses something.