The Westing Game

Samuel Westing has chosen four distinct identities to play over the course of the game. How does each of these personas serve a different purpose, not only in terms of advancing the plot but also in relation to the needs of the heirs?

The last part of the will states: “Buy Westing Paper Products!” (39). This is humorous, but the reference to the company is one that occurs often throughout the book. Identify some of these references and explain how WPP operates as a motif in The Westing Game.

Judge Ford deals with a significant amount of personal history as she plays the game. By the end of the novel, she comes to the realization that if she remained at Sunset Towers, “she might smother him [Chris] with her demands” (175). What kind of transformation has occurred that leads Judge Ford to this kind of self-reflection and restraint?

The heirs find information through different methods and share it through various means. Sandy, for example, keeps his notebook and gives short, formal reports to Judge Ford. Discuss methods of information-sharing in The Westing Game. How do these myriad approaches both help and hinder the characters in terms of winning the game?

Sam Westing is an immigrant who loves the Fourth of July, and he even dresses as Uncle Sam to celebrate the occasion. What role does America play in the novel? Consider the personal lives of the characters and the themes of the novel.

Think about the many components of Sunset Towers: the driveway, the elevator, the hallways, the apartments, and the two restaurants, for example. These were all put in place by Westing. Pick three physical spaces in the book and discuss how they advance the plot of the novel.

Theo and Doug are the only two characters paired together who have a previous positive relationship. They also play relatively minor roles in the book compared to characters such as Turtle. Find three moments in their teamwork that stand out to you. Why do you think Westing chose to put them together despite all the other teams being composed of strangers?

Education plays a notable role in the book. Many characters go to college or have gone to college, and several of the younger heirs attend school as they play the game. What are some other informal types of education that are central to The Westing Game? How are these methods of learning and teaching made equally as important as degree-rewarding systems?