One of the social elements that jumps out at me in the play Dear Evan Hansen is each character’s
ability to deal with loneliness. Evan grew up without a father and as he grew up his mother
became more and more absent as she tried her best to provide for her and Evan and ensure that
he could go to college. As Evans mother became more and more absent, he tried to fill the void
by joining Conner’s family. This theme of filling a void or lack thereof can be seen in different
forms throughout multiple characters in the play. Alana who gets close with Evan later in the
play, at first seems to be a social butterfly, very involved in extracurricular activities, but we
quickly learn she’s going thru her own struggles, when her and Evan share their prescription
drugs experiences. Shines a light on the concept of being lonely even when you’re not physically
alone, she’s the captain of multiple clubs, has surface level relationships and seems to be popular
at school yet she never really seems to make a connection with anyone until she meets Evan. As
for Zoe, I can’t imagine her at home life to have felt surrounded, absent brother, fickle mother,
raised by her stepfather who seems to really try, but no matter what can’t replace Connor and
Zoe’s paternal father.
I believe the writer’s intention was to shine a light on emotion that can trigger or be signs of
mental health issues, such as depression or anxiety. Dear Evan Hansen does a good job showing
the viewers each character’s struggle with loneliness, and how each coped with it. According to
survey conducted by NPR news, 3 out 5 Americans are lonely, and loneliness increased the risk
of depression, anxiety, suicide, and cognitive decline. Although we never hear the reason Conner
committed suicide, it’s obvious he was a lonely teen, struggling with depression. When Conor
signs Evan’s cast, suggesting they can both pretend to have a friend, let’s the reader know how
they both struggle with loneliness.