Two for the Seesaw: Analysis of Major Characters
"Two for the Seesaw" explores the complex dynamics between its two central characters, Jerry Ryan and Gittel Mosca. Jerry, a thirty-three-year-old attorney from Nebraska, grapples with the emotional fallout of his failed marriage as he seeks to rebuild his life in New York City. His relationship with Gittel, a twenty-nine-year-old aspiring dancer, serves as both a refuge and a source of turmoil. Gittel struggles with her past as a victim in relationships and her reluctance to accept help, which complicates her burgeoning romance with Jerry. Their nine-month relationship is marked by tension stemming from Jerry’s lingering feelings for his ex-wife and Gittel’s insecurities about her worth.
As they navigate their emotional challenges, Jerry’s desire to assist Gittel contrasts with her fear of dependency, leading to pivotal moments of vulnerability and growth for both characters. Ultimately, Gittel recognizes that Jerry's heart is still bound to his past, prompting her to make the difficult decision to part ways. This analysis highlights themes of love, personal growth, and the struggle for independence, offering a poignant look at two individuals searching for connection amidst their personal struggles.
Two for the Seesaw: Analysis of Major Characters
Author: William Gibson
First published: 1959, in The Seesaw Log
Genre: Play
Locale: New York City
Plot: Tragicomedy
Time: The late 1950's
Jerry Ryan, an attorney from Nebraska. A melancholy man of thirty-three, he fled Omaha and an unhappy marriage to start over in New York City. Jerry owes much of his success to the intervention of others, especially his father-in-law, but he is now determined to do things for himself and for others. After meeting a young woman named Gittel at a party, the unlikely duo begins a nine-month-long rocky romance that is complicated by Gittel's unwillingness to let Jerry help her financially and by Jerry's emotional ties to his wife, which remain even after their divorce is granted. In the end, Jerry realizes that he still loves his wife and returns to Nebraska for another chance at life with her on his terms, not hers or her father's.
Gittel Mosca, a twenty-nine-year-old aspiring dancer who lives on unemployment insurance and income from various temporary jobs. She has spent much of her adult life as a victim, playing that role in a failed marriage and numerous doomed relationships. At first, she resists Jerry's willingness to help her, including his offer to pay rent on a loft Gittel wants to use as a rehearsal hall for a dance recital that could be her big break. Jerry eventually changes her mind about accepting help from others, and he makes her think, for the first time, about setting specific goals. When Jerry suspects her of sleeping with another man, they almost break off their relationship. Gittel's bleeding ulcer acts up, however, and Jerry nurses her back to health. Even though Gittel loves Jerry, she knows that he will never love her as he loves his former wife, so she decides that they should go their separate ways.