Within the play The Shape of Things, the ideas of morals are brought into question. Every character behaving differently and acting upon their own morals, while breaking the moral codes others hold. This is most noticeable in the character of Evelyn to any viewer with the way she manipulate and plays people. Though she is not the only person in the wrong.
One way you could see it is as the obvious Evelyn is the biggest wrong-doer. She manipulates Adam, using him for an art project, which I might add repulsed everyone who saw it. She made him make decisions to change himself for her (while trying to play it off as simple suggestions, leading him on, but truly it is his will), going so far as to make Adam choose between her and his friends. She kisses Adam's friend, defaces a statue, and lies about who she really is.
Adam is also a prime candidate. He acts entirely upon his own will throughout the play. He makes his own choices throughout the play, changing himself for Evelyn even when he doesn't like it and doesn't have to. Not only that, but he lied to his friends about the things he did, had an affair with a friend (and his friend's fiance), and checked out other girls and such. In the end, he even chose to abandon his friends for a romance that he believed was real (but in fact was not).
In my mind, the best answer is no single character though. I believe truly every character is equally lacking and full of morals, though that changes depending on one's point of view, their own morals. If one was to look and was above morals, they'd see everyone as equally wrong and right. Though since Jenny and Phillip were in the play less, they have less time to be seen lacking morals, thus showing off Evelyn and Adam as more lacking in morals than Jenny and Phillip. I believe Evelyn and Adam both do major wrong, about the same amount, and it's all just as bad as each other. They both worked off of each other, one's morally wrong decision would breed a morally wrong decision in the other, thus making them equal.
Great post, you reflected really well on who is the one to blame for all the wrong doings in the play. I agree that anyone can be arguably the worst, however I'm curious to know who you would say is the worst. I do understand that many can be the worst, but who do you believe is the worst according to the morals that you believe in?
ReplyDeleteIt's ironic. You're right that Eve lies about who she really is to Adam but I think she's the one character who is also the most true to herself and uncompromising.
ReplyDeleteAlso, think about what it means to say "everyone is equally wrong and equally right." That's a handy answer, because you're not picking sides. But aren't you ultimately saying, there really isn't any morality at all? I don't know that cheating in a relationship and lying about it is equivalent to leading someone on in a relationship.
Any way, I hope we can agree Labute's play is great art--it is uncomfortable, makes us think, and brings to light something that beneath the surface. I think the strong female character is an added bonus. I suspect if Eve was a guy and Adam was a girl, we'd take less issue with the manipulation that went on.