Gender Roles in the Odd Couple
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon is one of the most classic comedic plays in history. It is one of Simon’s most famous plays, and arguably one of his best works. The main characters, Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, are complete opposites who come to live together under one roof and are forced to point out each other’s flaws. This opposite nature of the two characters causes complete chaos, creating comedic genius leaving the audience laughing at almost every line. In the play, the idea of marriage is completely satirized, where Felix is seen as the stereotypical cleanly wife, and Oscar is seen as the untidy husband. Because of Simon’s authentic yet comedic development of both characters, gender role norms are completely mocked, and the line between heterosexuality and homosexuality is questionably crossed.
To begin, Neil Simon created characters that depicted two different extremes, clean and messy. The character of Oscar Madison has come to be known as the slovenly half of this odd couple, literally and metaphorically. Oscar portrays a stereotypical straight man (and husband) of his day. He is forty-three years old, pleasant, and enjoys living his life. He partakes in a weekly poker game with his good friends, likes to drink excessively, and smoke cigars. He works as a sportswriter for the New York Post, which means he makes good money, but he never seems to have any. His luxurious upper west side apartment that was once beautifully decorated and well kept by his ex wife, has now become a complete man cave. Strayed throughout the apartment are dirty dishes, clothes, old mail and newspapers, ashtrays, and empty bottles. His carefree attitude is the most evident in the extreme disorder of his apartment. As the play opens in Madison’s apartment, the weekly poker game is taking place. In short conversation with his friends, the reader gets a quick insight into Oscar’s personality.
“Oscar: [Looks under bread] I got brown sandwiches and
The Odd Couple by Neil Simon is one of the most classic comedic plays in history. It is one of Simon’s most famous plays, and arguably one of his best works. The main characters, Felix Unger and Oscar Madison, are complete opposites who come to live together under one roof and are forced to point out each other’s flaws. This opposite nature of the two characters causes complete chaos, creating comedic genius leaving the audience laughing at almost every line. In the play, the idea of marriage is completely satirized, where Felix is seen as the stereotypical cleanly wife, and Oscar is seen as the untidy husband. Because of Simon’s authentic yet comedic development of both characters, gender role norms are completely mocked, and the line between heterosexuality and homosexuality is questionably crossed.
To begin, Neil Simon created characters that depicted two different extremes, clean and messy. The character of Oscar Madison has come to be known as the slovenly half of this odd couple, literally and metaphorically. Oscar portrays a stereotypical straight man (and husband) of his day. He is forty-three years old, pleasant, and enjoys living his life. He partakes in a weekly poker game with his good friends, likes to drink excessively, and smoke cigars. He works as a sportswriter for the New York Post, which means he makes good money, but he never seems to have any. His luxurious upper west side apartment that was once beautifully decorated and well kept by his ex wife, has now become a complete man cave. Strayed throughout the apartment are dirty dishes, clothes, old mail and newspapers, ashtrays, and empty bottles. His carefree attitude is the most evident in the extreme disorder of his apartment. As the play opens in Madison’s apartment, the weekly poker game is taking place. In short conversation with his friends, the reader gets a quick insight into Oscar’s personality.
“Oscar: [Looks under bread] I got brown sandwiches and