 "Defiance" is the second of three plays of a planned trilogy.Shanley explained that the trilogy "... 'explores specifics of my life story as it overlaps with major changes in the social fabric of this country'..." Shanley had military duty at Camp Lejeune from 1970 to 1972.Shanley commented about the play that "In short, "Doubt" turned into "Defiance", which is my second play about American hierarchy".