The Laundromat: Analysis of Major Characters
"The Laundromat: Analysis of Major Characters" delves into the lives of two complex women, Alberta "Bertie" Johnson and Deedee Johnson, exploring their emotional struggles and interpersonal dynamics. Bertie, a retired teacher and recent widow, embodies perfectionism and isolation, grappling with the unresolved grief of her husband's death. Her character arc reveals a gradual openness to connection, as she initially resists Deedee's spontaneity but ultimately offers support, highlighting her caring nature beneath her logical exterior.
On the other hand, Deedee, who seeks validation yet feels inadequate, navigates a challenging marriage marked by violence and infidelity. Despite her impulsiveness and self-doubt, Deedee exhibits moments of independent thought and action, particularly in her interactions with Bertie, which serve as a catalyst for both characters’ growth. The analysis brings to light themes of loneliness, emotional vulnerability, and the struggle for self-acceptance, ultimately portraying a nuanced depiction of women confronting their realities in a complex world. This examination invites readers to reflect on the characters' journeys and the societal dynamics at play in their lives.
The Laundromat: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: Marsha Norman
First published: 1980
Genre: Play
Locale: Ohio
Plot: Naturalism
Time: The late twentieth century
Alberta “Bertie” Johnson, a retired teacher and Herb's recent widow, a white, middle-aged perfectionist who initially keeps her husband's death secret because she cannot yet deal with letting go of Herb. An isolationist, Alberta is lonely and talks to herself for company. Precise and proper, she is at first taken aback by Deedee's spontaneity and is reluctant to accept help from or be close to Deedee. Bertie also is a caring person and extends herself to help Deedee with issues ranging from getting change for the machines to dealing with her unfaithful husband. Her approach to her world is predominantly logical.
Deedee Johnson, Joe's lonely wife, who addresses envelopes for a secret income and wants to be liked but sees herself as essentially inadequate. In fact, Deedee sabotages her own competence by her impulsive behaviors; she is frequently unprepared for her own actions or for others' reactions to her. Deedee believes that she lacks intelligence. A chocolate lover who belittles herself for responding to her world emotionally, Deedee has tolerated a violent, racist, and unfaithful husband because she needs to be with someone and he has been there for her. Deedee displays both independent thought and independent action in her final exchanges with Alberta in the laundry.