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

a mother and homemaker. Whereas the extramarital affair is clearly motivated by an escape from the onset of entropy, the liaison's time frame and spatial arrangement suggest a closed system as well. George and Doris meet every year at the same time and at the same place. The predictable schedule of the encounters indicates temporal closure and the enclosed meeting space suggests spatial limitation. While George and Doris function in a closed system, their marital relationships also display signs of entropy. The entropic nature of the marriage is suggested by the exchange of stories between George and Doris concerning their spouses' best and worst deeds framing the personalities of Helen and Harry into a bipolar system respectively. Helen's almost supernatural ability to sense George's potential disloyalty keeps George in a closed system, figuratively limiting his movement. Doris' story concerning Harry's best feature also suggests entropy. Harry, intending to spend some quality time with his son Tony by flying a kite, took him along to a public park. As there was not enough wind to fly a kite. Tony's initial excitement subsided and Harry alone spent all his energies trying to make the kite fly. It can be argued that Harry and Tony formed a closed system, and as a result of limited stimulation due to the low wind, the original fervor decreased and Tony with his energy level dropping to zero fell asleep. The upheavals of George's conscience over his absence during his daughter's loss of a baby tooth create a personal crisis. When in order to ease his troubled mind, George wants to leave earlier, Doris insists on him staying. Thus foils his breakout attempt from this closed system. This i s the first indication that the relationship between George and Doris tends to develop into a restrictive framework. Also Doris's reminder of George's commitment within their relationship functions as another reference to figurative enclosure. Scene 3 of Act One offers further indications of the enclosed nature of both characters' marriage. George suffering from temporary impotence blames his wife for his sexual misfortunes. George's association of sexuality with guilt suggests entropy. The description of George and Helen's sexual desire level also reveals entropy as the former's increased, the latter's decreased, bringing Maxwell's demon and its ability of classifying or separating molecules commensurate to their heat emission capability to mind. Another reference to closed systems 63