Reflection on "Two Can Play"

As observed in the play “Two Can Play” by Trevor Rhone; Jim is a very complex and dynamic character whose attitude varies drastically as the story proceeds. From the beginning the reader can perceive Jim as a very coward male that hides behind his chauvinistic way of thinking as an excuse for not satisfying his role as “the man of the house” in front of her wife Gloria. Example of this coward attitude, are the gunshots he hears that scare him to the point that he has to take valium pills to ease his paranoia of being shot. The pathetical way of reacting to this matter is antagonized by the bravery of her wife which is the one that is always fixing his problems. After Jim’s father dies he drastically changes his attitude to be more like a brave man or something close to it. This fake change is still dominated by his wife since she is the one that takes care about everything in the house. Jim only takes the role of a “man” at the time he gives orders or complains about something. He is no more of a coward trying to look strong so he can make himself and his wife believe that he is something important. In the other hand we have his wife Gloria that takes the place of both men and women in the house. She cooks, she took care of Jim’s dad, she pays the bills, she buys food, and well, in sum she does everything. She is the brave one that does not succumb to the fears that his husband has. She is the example of a strong woman that works hard to make something out of her life with or without the help of her husband. She is the central pillar of the house and of Jim’s life whether or not he wants to accept it. They are not the perfect couple but they do are the only thing that each other has. Maybe that is why they are so important to each other. Even though that Jim does not show his feelings until late in the story, Gloria in her way of being show the love and compromise that she has to her husband. This story is getting really good and I wait for a fantastic ending, maybe one In which Jim becomes a man after all or accept his male inferiority as compared to his wife.