Chasen and her cronies, though he’s not skilled enough to prevent Maude from fulfilling her desire to end it all. Harold’s desire to marry Maude is stronger than his ability to satisfy the needs of Mrs. Overall Story Thematic Conflict Desire vs. Harold’s incapable of enjoying a date with the superficial women his mother selects for him Harold likes playing dead, but-unlike Uncle Victor-has no talent for killing people for his country. Chasen arranges dates for Harold to make his life more meaningful Uncle Victor wants to “make a man” of Harold Harold pretends to enjoy killing, in order to escape the draft the psychiatrist puts down Harold’s desire for Maude as an Oedipus complex, and the priest is sickened by it Harold wants to marry Maude. Maude is always looking for the new experience she prefers to end her life at 80 rather than “just marking time” Mrs. Chasen wants him to marry a nice young woman and drive a nice sports car Uncle Victor wants him to “take on a man’s job” in the Army and die for his country “like Nathan Hale” the priest wants Harold to marry someone who can give him children the psychiatrist thinks Harold’s “alienation from the regular social interaction” can be isolated and coped with Maude encourages Harold to embrace life and growth and love, like her.

6-7) Being Overall Story ConcernĮveryone wants Harold to live his life in the way they recommend: Mrs. HAROLD: I don’t think I’m getting through to mother like I used to. Maude shows Harold her upbeat view of life, which includes embracing its end. Chasen and her helpers are concerned with turning Harold around to their way of thinking. ''Playing Dead'' Psychology Overall Story Throughline Harold learns to love and be loved-to embrace the new (playing the banjo) and to end his fascination with death-finally driving his hearse over the cliff, destroying it.

Chasen, the psychiatrist, Uncle Victor, and the priest fail to persuade Harold to adopt a conventional lifestyle that they would feel comfortable with-and which he would have to pretend to enjoy. Harold exhausts the potential marriage partners his mother supplies, holding out for Maude Maude feels that she’s lived her life to the fullest, and that the options life has left for her are not worth living for, and so she finally chooses death. Maude decides to end her life, bringing the story to an end. HAROLD: (thinks, decides, reports his conclusion) No. Chasen decides the answers to the dating questionnaire herself Confronting Maude in the nude, Harold starts to make his own decisions: In short, Harold, I think it is time you got married. CHASEN: I only have a few minutes, Harold, but I do want to inform you of my decision. Chasen tells Harold what she’s decided to do with his life: Decision Story DriverĪfter the Chemistry lab explosion, Harold decided he liked being dead, and took up faking suicide Mrs.

When Harold sees the effect his supposed death has on his mother, he causes it to happen again and again in a bid to get her attention to avoid being drafted, he causes his uncle to think he has psychotic tendencies. Harold reacts to his mother’s domineering ways by pretending to be dead, instead of fighting her or leaving home when Maude steals his hearse, he passively lets her drive him home he modifies his new sports car into a hearse like his old one etc. Harold must lose his fear of change, and stop alienating those who try to get close to him by faking suicide. Through Maude’s influence, Harold loses his obsession with death and destruction and embraces life-driving his hearse (without him inside of it) over a cliff. 8 of the 12 essential questions Change Main Character Resolve

A story about my uncle ending