logo

43 pages 1 hour read

The Clean House

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2004

A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.

Book Brief

logo
Sarah Ruhl

The Clean House

Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2004
Book Details
Pages

92

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Northeast America • Contemporary

Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Roundup icon

Super Short Summary

The Clean House, a play by Sarah Ruhl, follows Lane, a busy doctor, who hires Matilde, a young Brazilian woman mourning her parents' deaths, to clean her home. Matilde befriends Lane's sister Virginia, who loves cleaning, and they uncover Charles, Lane's husband, is having an affair. The plot delves into love, loss, and complex human emotions, as the characters navigate their intertwined lives. Topics of infidelity and coping with terminal illness are present.

Contemplative

Bittersweet

Humorous

Romantic

Fantastical

Reviews & Readership

4.5

2,765 ratings

82%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Roundup icon

Review Roundup

Sarah Ruhl's The Clean House receives praise for its whimsical yet poignant storytelling, blending humor with themes of loss and love. Critics appreciate Ruhl's unique voice and imaginative approach, though some feel the play's tone shifts can be jarring. Overall, it’s recognized for its emotional depth, clever dialogue, and inventive narrative structure.

Who should read this

Who Should Read The Clean House?

A reader who enjoys The Clean House by Sarah Ruhl would appreciate witty, bittersweet narratives that blend humor with profound themes of love, loss, and human connection. Fans of The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde or Wit by Margaret Edson will find similar charm and depth.

4.5

2,765 ratings

82%

Loved it

13%

Mixed feelings

5%

Not a fan

Book Details
Pages

92

Format

Play • Fiction

Setting

Northeast America • Contemporary

Publication Year

2004

Audience

Adult

Recommended Reading Age

18+ years

Continue your reading experience

Subscribe now to unlock the rest of this Study Guide plus our full library, which features expert-written summaries and analyses of 8,000+ additional titles.