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Chapter 5
Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Westing Game, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Solidarity vs. Individualism
Capitalism, Greed, and Inheritance
Prejudice and Bigotry
Mystery and Intrigue
Summary
Analysis
Edgar Jennings Plum introduces himself and states that while he never met Westing, he found himself appointed executor of the man’s will. He states that although the will is “eccentric,” he has verified that it has been signed by Westing and two witnesses, Julian R. Eastman and Sidney Sikes. Plum begins reading from the will to the breathless gathered heirs. The will, composed by Westing, declares that he has gathered his “sixteen nieces and nephews” together—Grace stands up and explodes in surprise, at which point Plum reads a directive from the will: “Sit down, Grace Windsor Wexler!”
This scene shows that though many of the gathered heirs don’t know Westing—and never did—he knows all of them better than they know themselves. In calling together his “nieces and nephews”—a term which surprises the others—Westing suggests that the group should act together as a family or at least a cohesive unit, foreshadowing the trials they will soon face together.
Themes
Judge Ford declares that she is also appalled. Sydelle asks Plum to continue. Plum turns back to the will. Tomorrow, the document states, Westing’s ashes will be scattered to the four winds. He wants his heirs to know, though, that he did not die of natural causes—one of them, the will says, took his life. Chris has a spasm and Sydelle shrieks. Crow looks down. Plum continues reading—the will states that the culprit is far too smart to be caught by the authorities, so it is up to the heirs to “cast out the sinner” amongst them. The heir who “wins the windfall,” the will states, will be the one who finds something—but what that something is has been cut off.
The heirs realize what the purpose of their having been called here truly is: Westing, it would appear, has been murdered, and they must find who is responsible. Some of the heirs are more shocked than others, and Raskin draws attention to some individual reactions to the will’s contents in order to cast suspicion on several people.
Themes
In the next section of the will, the fourth section, Westing praises America, the “land of opportunity” that has made him a rich man. He urges his heirs to “take stock in America” and “sing in praise of this generous land” as they begin the Westing game. Judge Ford declares the proceeding to be a “cruel trick” or the work of an insane man. Plum reads from the will: it instructs her to “Sit down, Your Honor” and read aloud the letter Plum is about to hand her. Ford puts the letter in her purse rather than read it aloud, declaring that Westing could afford to buy off anyone who might make a statement in support of his mental fitness. Plum reads out yet another section of the will which calls for a moment of silence before proceeding to the game room.
This passage shows that just as Westing is able to anticipate the words and actions of several of his heirs, so too are many of them able to see what Westing is trying to do. Judge Ford seems unmoved by Westing’s death and unimpressed by the ceremony accompanying the reading of the will, even as Plum leans into Westing’s baroque pomp and circumstance.
Themes
