Gem of the Ocean is another play by August Wilson, serving as the first installment in his ten-play cycle. Set in 1904 Pittsburgh, the play follows the journey of Citizen Barlow, a young African American man seeking spiritual guidance from Aunt Ester, a 285-year-old former slave. Gem of the Ocean explores themes of history, redemption, and the search for identity in the face of adversity. It is a poetic and profound work that sets the stage for Wilson's epic cycle.
