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Neuroses
in Three Days of Rain It is clear throughout the second act of the play, that Ned suffers some sort of neurosis. The two neuroses that are most strongly supported are: 1) an inferiority complex and 2) habitual dependency. It is quite probable that Ned felt the effects of both and that each fed the other. Ned’s sense of inferiority is most clearly seen in his often comparing his work to Theo’s. “He’s a genius,” (54) Ned says of Theo to Lina. Later, Ned tells Theo, “You have more talent. That’s . . . a given” (62). Ned clearly feels that his work is poor in quality: he is apprehensive to even begin plans for the house he is to build despite his clear vision of it and always tears up his work after completing it because he feels it to be not worth serious consideration. He “went to . . . architecture sc-school to . . . kill time” (56). He didn’t really have a career interest in designing buildings; he simply “liked to draw” (56). Ned also goes to great lengths to assure himself and Theo that Theo’s work is truly genius and worth whatever time, resources, and effort were put into it. For example, when Ned reviews Theo’s copy of the Farnsworth house, he assures Theo that though it is completely unusable as a design for the house they are building, “the . . . thing will be useful t-to completely . . . discard. That’s progress” (60). Even though the design is worthless to them as such, Ned must make Theo’s time seem well-spent, because Theo is a genius. This is necessary to maintain his exalted image of Theo, so that Ned can place himself well under Theo. Ned also claims that he “will t-take responsibility for” (59) what seems to be a forgery. Theo must not be brought down in the light of the public or even in Ned’s eyes. It will be Ned’s fault, Ned’s mistake, Ned’s downfall. Ned will do anything to protect his image of Theo the genius and that of Ned the inferior, even dependent. In a direct statement of his dependency, Ned tells Lina that he would die without Theo. His life depends upon Theo’s part in it. Ned depends on Theo’s work to make a living. Ned’s dependency is enforced by his inferiority: he could never considering using one of his own plans and therefore could not break free of Theo had he the desire to do so. It has been decided between the two of them that Theo would be the talent in their partnership, and Ned “would be . . . the other” (60). This idea comes from an essay by Reynolds of which the theme is “talent is divided into genius and . . . taste.” However, Ned does not claim to be the “taste” in the relationship, rather he simply plays the part of “the other.” In fact, he hesitates before saying “taste,” as though the word did not really apply. What applies is the division, but it is a division of talent into genius and its dependant. Ned’s dependency on Theo probably made Theo seem almost deity-like. Theo was the instrument of his survival. His blessings ensured Theo’s life, but there always existed the possibility of Theo removing himself from Ned. To someone with so much power, it is easy to understand why Ned felt inferior. Because of his inferiority, Ned would never dare to make a living from his own work and was therefore bound to Theo for survival. top – discuss – essays
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All original material © 2003 Erika Salomon.
