Sunset Limited Plot Analysis

Most good stories start with a fundamental list of ingredients: the initial situation, conflict, complication, climax, suspense, denouement, and conclusion. Great writers sometimes shake up the recipe and add some spice.

Exposition 

Dodging Death

After Black rescues White from his suicide attempt, they settle in at Black's apartment. They try to gain their footing around each other and the conversation quickly turns to religion. The pair doesn't mess around—right off the bat they're talking about whether there's a meaning to Black saving White or not. However, fairly early on, we learn some basic background details about each of them: White's a professor who didn't visit his dad on his deathbed, and Black's a Christian ex-con with two dead sons. 

Rising Action

Dancing with Death

As the argument heats up, Black tries to get White in the "trick bag," a.k.a. get him to believe in life, and maybe even in God and Jesus. Black seems to be making some headway, since whenever he makes a good point, White appears nervous and says he needs to get going. Maybe he's worried he'll get convinced if he sticks around? Black gives major speeches on what everlasting life and the part of God that exists in everyone. They eat dinner together and Black just might be getting somewhere…

Climax

Throwing in the Towel

Just kidding—Black's attempts are eventually totally frustrated. White blasts back with speeches eloquently defending his own despair, attacking the world's suffering, and honing in on the pointlessness of it all. He refuses to give life a second chance, and desires only death. With no options left, Black caves.

Falling Action

Into the Night

Without really wanting to, Black lets White out of the apartment. As White walks away, Black calls after him, saying he'll be there to save him again at the train station, and that White must not have meant the things he said.

Resolution

Keeping the Faith

As the play ends, Black breaks down weeping in the doorway. He asks God why he didn't give him the words he needed to convince White to live. Although he gets no divine answer to his question, he says that's okay: He'll stay faithful to God's word, even if God doesn't speak to him.