In How I Learned to Drive, Vogel uses a Greek chorus to help tell the
story. The three members of the chorus play every character other than Uncle
Peck and Li’l Bit. I think she chose to do this to emphasis that the only two
who really matter in the play are indeed Peck and Li’l Bit. The other
characters are simply helping the story along, much like a Greek chorus does in
classical plays. Vogel is telling us that while these relationships between the
other characters help shape the story, it is the relationship between Peck and
Li’l Bit that really matters. I like the idea of there being a Greek chorus
because it adds a new element and a more theatrical element to a very
naturalistic story. It almost makes what’s happening in the play easier to
stomach because we are reminded by the chorus that it is not real; especially
when they randomly burst into song.
Another
choice Vogel makes that I found interesting occurred at the end when Li’l Bit
sees Peck in the rear view mirror before the end of the play. I think it is
interesting that Li’l Bit smiles at his appearance, because it shows her
finding more of a comfort in him than being disgusted by him. To me, this helps
the audience see that Peck is not a villain. He is a real person with a
problem, and unless we are Li’l Bit, we have no idea how it really felt to go
through that no matter how the story is told. I believe Vogel is telling us not
to make any assumptions, even at the end. Our natural inclination is to hate
Peck by the end of the play, but if Li’l Bit doesn't hate him, how can we?
I've always thought that the point of the story is that Uncle Peck isn't a bad guy, actually. When I first read through it, I didn't hate Uncle Peck, even when he actually touched her and she told him No. In my opinion, the play is structured in such a way that by the time you get to that scene, you have this lens through which we can see and understand their relationship, and suddenly that isn't really as horrible as it would be if we simply saw that scene right at the top of the play. In a way the play numbs us with all the kind of cutsie flirting they do. (Just like every Ryan Gosling Movie Ever. Dude is a creeper!)
ReplyDeleteI mean... Yeah he's likable, but he was feeling up a child. No matter what, that's inappropriate. I agree that the structure of the script absolutely softens the blow of this scene, but one thing thats really important to remember is that these scenes were completely out of sequence. We see what occurs between them later in life and somehow it makes you acclimated to his creeper's behavior before Vogel drops the hammer with this scene.
ReplyDeleteI found the ending interesting as well. The fact that she smiles shows that she does appreciate Uncle Peck in some way. Even if it is only for the fact that he taught her to drive and gave her that freedom to get away from her family, which is all she wanted really. If you look at the play before you find out about the molestations starting when Lil Bit was 11 you can see that their relationship isn't that bad (I feel dirty saying that, because it's obviously bad, but...), they have somewhat of a healthy relationship when she's older, except for the fact that they are a good amount apart in age. Lil Bit loves Peck and she always will because for a long time he was the only kind person in her life.
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