The purpose of a gun is to wound or kill. Guns are used for this purpose in Betrayal in the City, but they also become a symbol of the play’s humor. During Jusper’s play, the confusion over the caliber of the weapons, and the fact that the soldiers are unsure of which is which, is ludicrous. Even worse is that Boss thinks so highly of himself that he orders his own officers to put their real, live firearms in the hands of people who wish him harm. His narcissism is so complete that he cannot conceive of a situation in which he is not beloved. He gives his enemies the weapons with which they will pronounce judgment on him.  

Proverbs are pithy sayings meant to convey simple truths. For instance, as Doga says, “a mouse does not share a bowl with a cat.” The prevalence of proverbs in Betrayal in the City has two functions. First, the folksiness of the sayings is a reminder that they are old truths that have been passed down in a simple way, whose meaning is obvious even in changing circumstances. Second, the truths behind proverbs cannot change. They are reliable, and impervious to manipulation by propagandists, specifically because they are wisdom and