Hell-Bent fer Heaven -- by Hatcher Hughes (1924)

Description
Hatcher Hughes's Hell-Bent fer Heaven is classified as a melodrama. The play takes place in Kentucky. The families of Hunt and Lowry have had a history of feuding that had died over 50 years ago. However, when Sid Hunt returns home from war, the feud reignites. Rufe Pryor, a helper of the Hunts, rekindles the feud because he wants to be with Jude Lowry, but Jude is devoted to Sid Hunt. Rufe liquors up Jude's brother, Andy, and starts to feed Andy lies. The families suddenly fall back into seemingly random spats. Eventually, they team up and punish Rufe for his behavior-- behavior he has attributed to being a faithful follower of God.

Candid Reactions

• Wow, it is surprising to see a character over the age of 80!
• Gotta love a play that sneaks its title into the dialogue. 
• Rufe is such a passionate person, as evidenced by, "[Y]ou cain't keep me from lovin' your immortal soul" (26). 
• Thanks, Hughes for Andy's early one-liner, "If he 'us in hell he wouldn't fight fire" (33). 
• There is a great deal of foreshadowing in this play. 
• "Christian behavior" is debated. 
• Rufe is an instigator. This is not going to end well. 
• Okay, the brood level is HIGH. 
• Good one, Hughes. Just casually slipping in the question, "Is God just?" (114)
• Oh, no. Rufe is crazy. 
• Hughes is so clever to have the storm occurring during all of this. It not only reflects the emotions of the characters, but it also intensifies the fear of gunshots. 
• But it isn't a ghost, right? Right?
• Right. 
• Sid throws in a truth bomb, "[God's] almight tired o' bein' the scapegoat fer folks that do all the meanness they can think of an' call it religion" (168). That'll preach!
• Rufe is exposed. Thank heavens!
• Oh, Rufe is such a sad character. 
• Is that ending a catharsis? Down-right terrifying? Both?  

Top Two Aspects/Reasons for Winning
1. Sparking Religious Reconsideration
The play curses those who act violently and selfishly in the name of God. It is not anti-God, nor is it anti-religion, but it is anti-blasphemy.

2. Diction
I think that this piece is praiseworthy because it not only contains Appalachian dialect, but it also echoes Biblical diction. Hughes mixes high and low diction seamlessly. I am glad that the committee selected this work to help inspire playwrights to not shy away from dialects and colloquialisms.

Classroom Implications
I think this text could cause major waves at private, Christian schools. The concept of justifying murder because of an interpretation of God's voice is obviously controversial. The text could be paired with Romeo and Juliet and maybe Beloved.

Personal Takeaway
Melodramas can be entertaining.

Ranking

	Dialogue	Characters	Plot/Conflict	Symbol/Literary Devices	Overall Enjoyment	TOTAL SCORE 7.5
0	Unfollowable; unrealistic; diction does not match character	Undeveloped; does not reflect humanity	Not engaging; predictable; reader can step away from text because it isn’t gripping	Devices are apparent for cleverness and do not enhance the story	Reader has no interest in re-reading play
1	Not consistently realistic	Well-developed; most depictions reflect humanity (1.5)	Semi-engaging; some unnecessary plot-points	Devices somewhat enhance story  (1.5)	Reader would re-read with pleasure and reminded of work (1)
2	Realistic; connotative; diction matches characters (1.75)	Fully-developed; depictions reflect humanity	Engaging; unique; reader finds it impossible to put down text because the conflict is so gripping! (1.75)	Devices seamlessly enhance the story and provide rich interpretation	Reader would re-read the play on own volition, enthusiastically