Compare and Contrast Essay

What does it take for a marriage to be successful? Many people have their own different opinions. Although, in the cases of birthday woman and Frances, both married women who; in fact, have the passion and commitment in their relationship. But both need to work on their insecurity to be more assured of themselves. Therefore, there is several similarities between the birthday woman in, A Birthday Party, and Frances, in The Girls In Their Summer Dresses. One similarity between birthday woman and Frances is passion because birthday man “the husband was not pleased” he was ashamed of what his wife put him through in a public place. Birthday woman shows her passion emotionally as she was “crying quietly and heartbrokenly and hopelessly, all to herself.” Birthday woman is also passionate about making her relationship work by not walking away from their problem, as he insults her. Meaning no matter what they go through she will not risk their relationship. Likewise, with Frances she insist for Michael to tell her why he is always staring at other women. Michael tells Frances “I love the way women look,” and goes on about the different wonderful women that walk down Fifth Avenue in New York. Frances is in denial, as “she began to cry silently into her handkerchief.” Furthermore, Frances is also passionate about working on her relationship by talking to Michael about their situation; besides, allowing the conflict develop into a greater extent. Instead, Frances tells Michael “keep it to yourself. I’m not interested.”

Another similarity between birthday woman and Frances is commitment to their husbands. Birthday woman is married which demonstrates loyalty towards her husband. As she had “planned a little surprise for him” on his birthday going out of her way to show him importance. The surprise which is a “glossy birthday cake with, one pink candle,” representing the arrival of a new baby; as the result, of birthday woman ready to start a new family with her husband .In comparison, Frances is married as well proving her devotion to Michael and says “let’s just hang around with each other. You and me” trying to work on their quality time together. Frances also shows commitment when she pleads to her husband, “I’ve made a good wife, a good housekeeper, a good friend. I’d do any damn thing for you.” Frances taking care of the household shows the dedication she puts to the relationship.

A third similarity between birthday woman and Frances is insecurity. Birthday woman is insecure of her fadingly pretty complexion. It is almost as if she hides “under the gay big brim of her best hat.” Other insecurities also come from the way her husband saying “some punishing thing, quick curt and unkind” and she just cries. By her crying and not saying or not doing any gestures of bothersome means she is insecure in the relationship. For example, she is not communicative with her husband on talking to him about his disrespectful words that affect her. In comparison, Frances feels insecure when Michael stares at other women; in fact, it is shown in the comments she insinuates to Michael. For instance, while walking on Fifth Avenue she tells him “You’ll break your neck,” and he just laughs. Frances believes she is not good enough for Michael; therefore, she says “I feel rotten inside, in my stomach [and] makes me feel terrible.” Passion, commitment, and insecurity are three similarities between birthday woman and Frances. Regardless of the passion and commitment they have I would never want to be like neither of the women. They are both insecure in their relationship which is not something I would like for myself.