Summer of the 17th Doll

The journey of discovery often results in one finding out their true identity and recognising the world around them for what it really is. These breakthroughs can occur due to many reasons, including relationships and a change in circumstances, but nonetheless, the significance of these can certainly be determined by the impact it has on those around them. Ray Lawler’s “The Summer of the 17th Doll” is an effective example of this, as the relationships between Roo and Olive, Barney and Roo, lead to important self realisations which ultimately affect other characters. Similarly, in Lauren Oliver’s “Before I Fall”, the main character Samantha Kingston has a change in circumstances and through relationships; she begins to discover herself and the world around her. “Moulin Rouge” directed by Baz Luhrman also conveys discovery, as Satine and Christian both discover love, and their forbidden relationship has a major impact on the other characters.
In “The Doll”, Olive and Roo are in a dysfunctional relationship, which ultimately leads to self- discoveries for each of the characters. The lay-off season is different this time round which is evident in the ironic statement of “Glorious Nights”. Roo is unemployed, and his “dirty lousy rotten pride” has forced him to go job searching during the lay-off, despite the fact that this time has previously been dedicated to Olive. The tradition of the layoff is what Olive lives by as it provides her with “five months of heaven every year”, and her immaturity, which is evident through her dependence on the symbolic kewpie dolls, blinds her from reality.   Whilst their relationship is slowly falling apart, Roo is becoming more worked up over young Johnny Dowd beating him at his own job, and Olive is busy trying to replace Nancy with Pearl. As a result, there is an immense strain put on their relationship with Roo’s pride and Olive’s vision of the lay-off and her love for him conflicting. In Act 3, Roo’s dream of being “top dog” in a...