Prompt: In Scuba Lessons, there was evidence that Kelly and Dan had previously dated. What evidence from the play makes you think that they will or will not make it in this budding relationship.
When the truth comes out that Dan and Kelly actually know eachother, it becomes quite clear that they would probably not last long in their budding relationship.
Kelly's had three blind dates in row. She's trying too hard to find someone like her and she hypes up the date too much and is let down because of it.
Both Dan and Kelly are jealous and possesive people, which is obvious in their conversations even before we know they knew each other. Even at the end, when Kelly is expecting Dan to say something "flowery" about her eyes and hair to get back on her good side, she calls him a "big jerk" in anticipation. However, instead, he says her eyes look like "home." But this shows that he has said things that annoy her before and she annoys him too. This residue from their previous reltionship, won't do anything but add to their misery. Because at this point, they both cannot just get back together and act like that past hasn't happened.
If the attitudes and wrong things they say to each other aren't enough, there isn't many (if any at all) complements they pay each other, or any nice things to say. They seem to have a relationship based on bugging each other, and that is a hard thing to stop and turn into a relationship that Kelly is looking for.
Their sarcasm is also bordering on mean and not of a comedic tone most of the time. Sarcasm is anger's ugly cousin, and it rears its head throughout the play. Neither Dan nor Kelly can stop themselves. However, this may be on account of the fact that they are both on dates with other people. Their jealousy is rearing their ugly heads and may not actually be their usual reactions to eachother. But as a one-act play, we do not know exactly how they used to act around eachother. We only have what they do here and how they act. And the way they are is not helpful to any aspirations they have of having a good relationship together.
I see where you are coming from, and why they might butt heads in their future relationship, but i would also say that some couples enjoy fighting. In fact, it may be a turn on for some couples to argue, and test each others limits.
ReplyDeleteBut you do have a good point that arguing does not equal happiness, and in the long run it can be unhealthy.
Good thoughts though :)