Az Eszterházy Károly Tanárképző Főiskola Tudományos Közleményei. 2001. [Vol. 7.] Eger Journal of American Studies.(Acta Academiae Paedagogicae Agriensis : Nova series ; Tom. 27)

Studies - András Tarnóc: Entropy and Ecstasy: The Dynamics of Human Relationship in Bernard Slade's Same Time Next Year

George and Doris' ongoing relationship is an escape from the humdrum state of their comfortable marriage, it can also be argued that in a broader sense the respective spouses are substituted by their equivalents in the affair. That is the very reason George continues meeting Doris is that her internal characteristics remind him of Helen, and it is George and Harry's similarity that acts as the primary attracting force for Doris. This can be proven by a closer examination of the stories related by George and Doris concerning their spouses and the respective subsequent reaction. In fact the drama reports the story of ongoing personal crises on both sides and the reaction of the cheating spouses is definitive in this regard. When George confesses to Doris that their previous night's encounter was the first instance of adultery in his life, she reacts bathetically by inquiring whether she could eat his breakfast (248). At this point George realizes subconsciously that Doris has the same basic features, including a dry acerbic wit and a peculiar sense of humor, as Helen does. Furthermore, George's confession of a mishap during his first sexual encounter elicits an anticlimactic reply from Doris as she only expresses her concern whether George had any insurance after the accident accompanying the tryst. Doris also likes the way Helen reacts to George's impotence and upon hearing Helen's reaction to George's most embarrassing experience of walking into a closet during a visit, she expresses an open identification with Helen: "I've been meaning to tell you this for years, but I think I'd like Helen"(289). George's personal voyage into himself elicits the same reaction both from Helen and Doris, as the former throws a grapefruit at him, the latter expresses her great dissatisfaction in a verbal form. Furthermore, Doris upon learning Helen's death states that she feels as she lost her best friend. Doris appreciates the same features of George that are present in Harry as well. The stories about Harry's foiled attempt to take his son kite flying or acting as a den mother to local girls in her absence reveals him as a caring, awkward and sincere person. Harry also has trouble with adapting to Doris's awakening self-assertion and economic success. He tries many jobs, but "lacking the killer instinct"(263) he becomes a failure as a provider. His features are summed up in Doris' evaluation of George's character as she points 68