International Journal of The Frontiers of English Literature and The Patterns of ELT ISSN : 2320 - 2505 1 Page January 2014 www.englishjournal.mgit.ac.in Volume 2, Issue 1 International Journal of The Frontiers of English Literature and The Patterns of ELT ISSN : 2320 - 2505 ATTRACTION OF OPPOSITES IN NEIL SIMON’S PLAYS Nalini Madala S.D.M. Siddhartha Mahila Kalasala Vijayawada e-mail: [email protected] Abstract The paper attempts to analyze the opposing personalities in the selected plays of Neil Simon. Further, it examines the mechanics of attraction, repulsion and reconciliation among opposite personalities in Simon’s Barefoot in the Park, They're Playing Our Song, The odd couple and The Sunshine Boys. In Barefoot in the Park and They're Playing Our Song, the incongruous characters within opposite sexes encounter with attraction, repulsion and reunion and their endings conclude with renewal of the relationships. But, in The Odd Couple and The Sunshine Boys, Simon depicts absolutely mismatched characters within the same sex and their uncompromising behaviors make them impossible to sustain relationships. Keywords: attraction, opposing personalities, repulsion, reunion. 2 Page January 2014 www.englishjournal.mgit.ac.in Volume 2, Issue 1 International Journal of The Frontiers of English Literature and The Patterns of ELT ISSN : 2320 - 2505 Introduction This paper attempts to study the opposing personalities in the selected plays of Neil Simon. It also analyses the mechanics of attraction, repulsion and reconciliation among opposite personalities in Simon’s Barefoot in the Park, They're Playing Our Song, The odd couple and The Sunshine Boys. Neil Simon is considered to be one of the finest writers of comedy in American literary history. His plays always demonstrate average people with real life settings and situations. Most of his characters are antithetical in nature and behavior. And these opposites not only attract, but also repel and some of them later compromise with each other. He creates persons that do not go together normally and places them next to each other bringing about antagonistic expression. Many of his plays deal with opposing personalities with conflict being a string used to keep the plot and characters together. These opposing personalities initially like each other but later exasperate, resulting in escalating conflict. In some characters, he brings in reconciliation to end the conflict with the renewal of relationships. But, some characters suffer incompatibility with their rigid, dogmatic and inflexible behavioral patterns which make them impossible to live together. He constructs humans with absolutely mismatched traits, tucking them in real life situations where by clash and humor rein in throughout the play. Here, this paper attempts to examine the opposing personalities in the above selected plays. Normally, the conflict arises in marriage relationships, and Simon’s comedies portray these struggles with plots of marital difficulties or fading love, sometimes leading to separation or divorce. In Barefoot in the Park and They’re Playing Our Song, the contradictory personalities with their differing attitudes and traits are paired together. Naturally, they are in clash with each other that damages their relationships. However, they finally realize the fact that successful relationships are built upon compromise and tolerance. In these plays, the devices of attraction, repulsion and reunion are perfectly used within opposite sexes and their endings conclude with renewal of the relationships highlighting the need of compatibility and compromise. But, in The Odd Couple and The Sunshine Boys, Simon depicts incongruous characters within the same sex and their uncompromising behaviors make them impossible to stay together. 3 Page January 2014 www.englishjournal.mgit.ac.in Volume 2, Issue 1 International Journal of The Frontiers of English Literature and The Patterns of ELT ISSN : 2320 - 2505 In Barefoot in the Park, the protagonists Corie and Paul appear to be complete opposites in personality and obviously attract each other. But, Simon creates conflict between Corie’s enthusiastic carefree approach to life and Paul’s buttoned-up conservatism with all sensibilities. From the very First Act, readers can understand that these two are very different characters that have very divergent set of ideas and values. However, Paul and Corie are very much in love illustrating the magnetic law of attraction. Corie is a thorough romantic young woman who likes to prolong her honeymoon as much as possible. She is an eccentric, adventuresome, and impulsive woman. She is a free spirit whose idea of fun is doing something wild, insane and crazy. Corie enjoys walking barefoot in the park in the winter, eating exotic food, and thinking of outrageous pranks to play on her neighbors. Paul, on the other hand, is practical, conventional, conservative and formal. He is understanding and a no-nonsense lawyer who has just started his career. He is so formal that Corie wonders whether he wears a tie in bed before their marriage. In her view, her husband has no spirit of adventure and is too proper and dignified to know how to enjoy life. She accuses of him ‘close to being perfect’ and expects him to be a little more colorful and flamboyant. Corie and Paul slowly begin to disagree with each other within one week of their wedded life and the rift between them quickly widens. “It’s suddenly very clear that you and I have absolutely nothing in common,” (p.178) she exclaims. Paul expects her to behave with little common sense, understanding and emotional maturity. However, she finds him boring in less than a week and feels hopeless. Their whole marriage seems to be sailing in turbulent waters and the pair is heading in different directions. The readers feel that the two of them are completely incompatible and that the future of their love nest is destined to be a disaster. As the repulsion reins high, Corie calls Paul a coward and unbearable, and asks him to leave the apartment. Paul wonders at her hysterical temperament as she seeks divorce even before receiving their marriage license. As she still insists on separation, disgusted Paul walks off in the freezing weather. Simon introduces another odd couple, Corie’s mother Mrs. Banks and Victor Velasco. The relationship between Corie and her mother also involves a clash of very distinct personalities. 4 Like Paul, Mrs. Banks is conservative and cautious. She doesn’t “jump into life” (p.131); she Page January 2014 www.englishjournal.mgit.ac.in Volume 2, Issue 1 International Journal of The Frontiers of English Literature and The Patterns of ELT ISSN : 2320 - 2505 looks first just like Paul. Victor Velasco, however, resembles the free-spirited Corie. He is adventuresome and impulsive; doing whatever gives him the most pleasure in life. At fifty-eight, Velasco enjoys outdoors, skiing and mountain climbing and likes to cook exotic food. Corie fixes a blind date between them which is marred by a variety of mishaps. The tension suddenly erupts when Corie finds that her mother is missing. However, Corie returns to Paul, fearing the worst about her mother. It seems as if every relationship in the play is self-destructive as not only Paul and Corie, but also Mrs. Banks and Velasco are quite opposing personalities. The compatibility problems of the newlyweds, and Mrs. Banks and Velasco seem to be mounting unless the personalities give up something for the sake of unity. Thus, persuaded by her mother’s advice, “give up a little of you for him. Don’t make everything a game”(p.207), Corie rushes for Paul. She is astonished to find that Paul is completely drunk. She becomes even more flabbergasted at the outrageous way her husband is behaving. Against his usual and unruffled nature, he retorts her back in equal measure. When Corie enquires about his lack of socks, Paul answers “I've been walking barefoot in the goddam park.” (p.209) Frightened by her husband’s bizarre behavior, Corie suddenly realizes that she wants “the old Paul back” (p.211), that she needs him to take care of her, and that she loves him for being strong and dependable. However, Corie has recognized the error of her impulsive and intrusive behavior and the need for forethought, while Paul has shed some of his inhibitions and managed to ‘let loose’ for his personal life. However, all the hidden events have been revealed, and the divergent aspects of the all four characters’ personalities that lead to complications are realized. The play ends happily as Paul and Corie have both demonstrated an ability and willingness to compromise and win back their love and relationship. Thus, here the opposites attract, repel, compromise and again attract each other. Simon’s another play, They're Playing Our Song also exemplifies the male and female lead roles - Sonia and Vernon, with differing personalities. Sonia is an upcoming lyricist with a peculiar behavior. She appears to be a quirky, indecisive and struggles with self imposed problems. She speaks her mind without thinking of consequences, wears bewilderingly weird clothing, very disorderly and never maintains time. 5 Page January 2014 www.englishjournal.mgit.ac.in Volume 2, Issue 1 International Journal of The Frontiers of English Literature and The Patterns of ELT ISSN : 2320 - 2505 She collaborates with Vernon, a famous composer who has two Grammies and an Academy Award to his credit. While Vernon is aloof, punctual and focused, Sonia is disorganized and distracted. She is late when she comes to meet Vernon for the first time. She never bothers about the time, while Vernon is so prompt and counts on every minute. Though they have personality conflicts, they decide to team up. Sonia is so out spoken that in their first meeting itself she tells him about herself and bluntly asks him about he being engaged three times.