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Harvey - A Person Cannot Have Enough Friends

Uploaded by Gotskillz on May 05, 2004

A Person Cannot Have Enough Friends

Have you ever known a Pooka? Elwood P. Dowd, the main character in Mary Chase’s Pulitzer Prize play HARVEY knows a Pooka named Harvey. What is a Pooka? A Pooka is “A fairy spirit in animal form,” from “Celtic mythology.” (33) Furthermore, a Pooka is invisible to everyone except those it chooses to be seen by, which makes things very interesting for Dowd and those who come in contact with him in the play. Dowd’s Pooka Harvey is a six foot, one and one-half inch rabbit who he introduces to everyone. The problem is, when Dowd introduces Harvey to others, they think he is crazy because they can’t see Harvey. The result is a light comedy which suggests some very important themes about life. One such theme is stated by Dowd to his sister Veta, which tells her, “Veta, one can’t have too many friends.” (69)

The idea that a person cannot have enough friends is demonstrated numerous times throughout the play. Before entering a private party, Elwood P. Dowd tells his invisible companion, “ Come on in with me, Harvey-We must say hello to all of our friends.” (7) He tells Harvey this because he knows how important it is to find and maintain new friends.

Also, during a major scene in the play, Elwood informs Kelly and Wilson of what he and Harvey do when they go to Charlie’s Place. Dowd says, “ Harvey and I sit in the bars and we have a drink or two and play the jukebox. Soon the faces of the other people turn toward mine and smile. They are saying: ‘We don’t know your name, Mister, but you’re a lovely fellow.’ Harvey and I warm ourselves in all these golden moments. We have entered as strangers-soon we have friends.” (54) Elwood goes on and says that he and Harvey listen and hit the bottle with those that come for comfort. Elwood P. Dowd understands the notion that an individual can never have a sufficient amount of friends very well. This clearly is the reason for his extremely jovial and kind personality.

Myrtle Mae is another character that recognizes the significance of having plenty of friends. On account of Myrtle Mae’s inability to make and preserve friends, she and her mother, Veta Simmons, throw an enormous banquet to meet new friends. Veta talks with an associate on the phone, “That’s...

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Uploaded by:   Gotskillz

Date:   05/05/2004

Category:   Literature

Length:   3 pages (595 words)

Views:   5996

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