Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen Song Analysis (Free Essay Sample)

The song Requiem from Dear Evan Hansen is a display of the Murphy’s reaction, and emotions after the death of their son Connor, it reveals the impact of Connor’s death and how it has impacted the perspective of the family, and shines a light on the connection between each member of the family to Connor. After the discovery of a letter written by Evan Hansen to whom they believe to be Connor, they create a fictitious relationship between the two, which later effects their perspective on Connor. Throughout the song we hear from Zoe, Cynthia, and Larry after the death of Connor and the discovery of the letter. Although they all have different insights on the death they all share one common opinion, none of them will sing a requiem for Connor. In spite of the similar line from everyone there is very different meanings coming from each character. Zoe’s reasoning for her not singing a requiem for her brother, is because she is angry from the letter and feels like he had in a way pinned his death on her, she believes he of her emotions, so she has none. The lines “Cause when the villains fall, the kingdom never weeps.” “ Remembering through secondhand sorrow.” “ Don’t say it wasn’t true, that you were not the monster I knew.” clearly display her opinion of Connor and his death, and represents her distaste for her brother. In the line “Cause when the villains fall, the kingdom never weeps” it shows that Zoe honestly believes that her brother is a villain constantly she compares him to a monster, or bad guy. “Remembering through secondhand sorrow” represents that she feels nothing about her brother, only that people are mourning them; it shows that she had no emotional connection to her brother. “Don't say it wasn’t true that you were not the monster I knew” says that the letters are showing a completely different Connor then the one she has been disconnected to her whole life. Zoe won’t sing a requiem for Connor because he was emotionally unavailable and brought to light his disconnection to his sister, so she in turn believes he is unworthy of her affection. While Zoe feels like the death of her brother has had no effect on her, Cynthia’s feelings completely contradict those of her daughter’s. 

Cynthia won’t sing a requiem for Connor because she feels like she only has a connection to him through the letters. She is in denial and doesn’t believe Connor is actually gone. She exposes her relationship with her son in the lines “I hear your voice, I feel you near.”  “ Within these words finally find you.” “ Now that I know you are still here.” Cynthia won’t sing a requiem for Connor because she is in denial about his passing and does not truly believe he is gone now I know you are still here” makes a clear point to her perspective on her on Connor’s passing and how Evan’s letters have helped her find what she believes to be her son’s true self. “ I hear you voice I feel you near'' displays the effect of the letters on her, and how she was made a connection to her son strictly through fictitious letters supposedly written to Connor. It exposes how she had never been able to make much of a connection to Connor much like the other members of the family. '' Now that I know you are still here” projects how she is in denial about Connor’s death, she believes that he is not truly gone, and will continue to live on within Evan’s letters. Cynthia doesn’t believe her son is gone, so she doesn't believe he needs a requiem from her. Regardless of Larry and Cynthia’s similar reactions due to the small connections between them and Connor, Larry’s reaction is less caring. Larry clearly displays his absent connection to Connor and utter disappointment towards him. Larry can’t sing a requiem for Connor because he doesn’t have an actual connection to him and feels like he can’t sing a requiem. The clear disappointment and disconnection with Connor becomes apparent in the lines“ I gave you the world you threw it away.” “Leaving these broken pieces behind you, everything wasted, nothing to say.” “ So I can sing no requiem.” Larry cannot sing a requiem for Connor because after all of his attempts at forming a connection with his step son, he was rejected and ignored by him. “I gave you the world you threw it away” clearly states that Connor has neglected and ignored Larry’s attempts at giving him a successful life. It shows that Larry is disappointed. The line “ Leaving these broken pieces behind you. Everything wasted, nothing to say” represents Larry’s disappointment in Connor and highlights the destructiveness in their lives caused by Connor, and how he has wasted countless opportunities. As opposed to the other member of the family Larry feels that he can not sing a requiem for Connor because of his lack of connection with him, it is made obvious in the line “so I can sing no requiem.” Both Cynthia and Zoe have a deeper connection with Connor than Larry does, so he believes he is incapable of signing a requiem for Connor. I personally believe that the reactions of Zoe, Larry, and Cynthia within their understanding of the situation were perfectly valid. It’s clear that none of them had truly known Connor or understood what he was going through. I believe that the clear disconnection on multiple levels between Connor and the rest of the family was a key factor that led to his death. As you can see, although the reactions and perspectives are completely different between each person they all state multiple times they will not be singing a requiem for Connor.