Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?
Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?
Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#0
Posted: 11/17/05 at 10:26pm
I know this may sound like a rhetorical question, but I thought I'd post it anyway. What are some motives for Dot to leave George?
We don't get a specific reason why dot left. It's all interpretaion. I think Dot left because she wasn't getting enough from George in bed. ("And then in bed, George, I mean he neads me, I mean like dough, George!") Another is that she probably was trying to get something out of George when she just failed, and didn't want to say she was wrong, or be reminded of that, but always wanted to look on the optimistic side of the past. (The painting of her powdering.)
Do you think it was George's obsession that drove Dot away from him, or was it Dot's restlessness? Discuss.
"I'm not in Bambi and I'm not blonde!" - Idina Menzel
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#1
Posted: 11/17/05 at 10:29pm
I think Finishing the Hat gives us Georges take on it which is that she couldn't handle his obsessive work. This is from his perspective which paints Dot in a biased and unfair light. In We Do Not Belong Together you get her perspective which is the same as George's but more sympathetic to Dot.
Broadway Legend Joined: 5/14/04
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#2
Posted: 11/17/05 at 10:36pmIn Finishing The Hat, George sings, "Stepping back to look at a face leaves a little space in the way like a window...but to see...it's the ONLY way to see." He has made his mind up completely about how art should be created -- he must be an observer to truly see, and thus cannot have the serious relationship with Dot that she wants.
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#3
Posted: 11/17/05 at 10:42pmI don't think Dot's leaving should be simplified to issues in bed, Dot simply cannot stand being ignored and be part of a painting instead of actually being part of George's life, she leaves because she needs to be loved, she needs someone who is able to connect with her and the world. Eventually, she leaves Europe because she must get away from the man she loves, and because she knows George is unable to give their daughter the love she deserves.
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#4
Posted: 11/17/05 at 10:46pmI certainly agree that the issue is not entirely a problem in the bedroom and that it can't be reduced (like many Sondheim shows) to such simple terms. It's a complex, emotional relationship. I'm not suggesting that that is entirely your theory, merely making an observation.
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#5
Posted: 11/18/05 at 4:17am
I don't think finishing the Hat is unfair to Dot. I think George looks at Dot as something that could have worked if he weren't an artist. I don't see him blaming Dot as much as regretting what can't have been. He clearly can't stop being an artist and have the relationship she wants. I think he regrets that. He says "Let her lookf for me to tell me why she left me...which I always knew she would. I'd thought she understood. They have never understood...but if anybody could. Other relationships have failed. Dot was the closest he got to a good relationship and THAT failed. I think it's George's regret.
As for Dot leaving I think she couldn't handle George's obsession. I don't think it's about sex at all. I think if there's one thing George does is have sex. Artists tend to be very passionate about that sort of thing. but when it comes to talking to her, being interested in her, taking her to the Follies, George cant deliver. I think sex is the last thing she wants from him. After all she gets pregnant with his child. I think she leaves cause she's fed up and realizes she can't have what she truly wants. Louis is what she thinks she needs. She'll have a family. She needs a breadwinner. She needs a mad with a steady job. That's why she goes to america. Louis has work there. She and marie will be taken care of. It was a practical dicision because it's clear that she always loved George, not Louis.
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#6
Posted: 11/18/05 at 7:16am
I think though you are ignoring a key line in Finishing the Hat. "She looks for me... good" I think (and I believe there is an essay on it on Sondheim.com) that George is rationalizing Dot's leaving by saying she couldn't handle the lifestyle and he is in his own way pleased that everything happened as he had predicted but at the same time disappointed that it did.
"When the woman that you wanted goes you can say to yourself 'well I give what I give'" is once again George rationalizing to himself that it isn't his fault but Dots.
I very much like your points about Louis being the "breadwinner" and I agree that it's not about sex at all, I think she loved him for their love and that ties into his intensity.
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#7
Posted: 11/18/05 at 3:56pmI didnt ignore that line. Have you ever been in a relationship that ended badly? I have and the first response is usually someting like, Well screw you or good riddence. I don't think that Good is to be taken literally, because of what he says after it. He's not glad she's gone. I DO think he faults her a bit for not understanding, but that's only because he thought she would. I don't think he's pleased by that. I think he's blaming her a bit on the surface, but the underlying reason is different. I think this is the number where he really realizes he's a flawed person and can't do anything about it. I mean depending on how you look at it. I suppose it could be seen as being unfair to Dot but I don't think he finishes the song saying it's her fault. I believe in every good song the character has a realization or change of thinking by the end.
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/3/04
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#8
Posted: 11/18/05 at 4:05pm
I think she says what she means: "you are complete, George. you on your own."
She leaves because George doesn't need her. So, she goes to someone who does. If you try to make her choice to leave anything other than that, you miss the turning point of her journey.
You can fill out the story with some of the other lines, but I think the heart of the matter is that George doesn't care about her. Sure, he says he doe sit in his way, but she doesn't understand his way -- few people do.
Leading Actor Joined: 11/17/05
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#9
Posted: 11/18/05 at 6:23pmShe left because George was too chummy with the monkeys at the zoo.
re: Sunday in the Park: Reasons why Dot left?#10
Posted: 11/18/05 at 8:59pm
Ah, Georges.
I think it's pretty obvious why she left. I mean, there wasn't much reason for her to stay. She doesn't understand Georges. They aren't on the same page, generally. It seems there's also a reputation surrounding Georges, (I hear that Georges has ANOTHER woman. (I'm not surprised). I hear that Georges only lives with tramps. (I'm not surprised.)) So, there's that. And she is just getting ignored, flat out.
So, the more interesting, or more pertinent question, is, why didn't she leave earlier?
I think that's where the show has it's most dramatic and interesting drama. You see that the relationship isn't really working, you see she's getting ignored. You see Georges being cold, and off-setting. But then there's that time when they look at each other, and they connect, for just one moment, and that makes it all better, until something else happens.
Sondheim, musically, doesn't disappoint, and we, as the audience feel there connection in Color and Light, at the section when they say, "I could look at you forever!"
And the slight sort of dissipation of the orchestra at the end of that section is a perfect reflection of their passionate, yet inconsistent relationship.
Ah, the power of Sondheim.
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