God of Carnage

Benjamin and Henry will never know of the day that their parents’ lost all self control in an attempt to resolve an issue that they had caused. The stress, tension, yelling, drunkenness, and utter disappointment will forever be confined within the walls of the living room in which four adults lost control. The hamster will be forgotten and the cell phone will be replaced, but these parents (Annette, Veronica, Alan, and Michael) will live with the embarrassment of knowing the selfishness that was displayed during an attempt to resolve a conflict between their children. The parents had been too caught up in flaunting social status and culture, rather than focusing on the issue that had brought them together in the first place. After displaying such obnoxious and childish behavior under the pressure of presenting an image of being proper and formal adults, the two couples will try their hardest to forget what took place in that living room; but, what was said can never be taken back causing one marriage to grow while another crumbles.

By the end of the play, it had become evident that each of the four characters were not completely pleased with the way that they were being appreciated by their spouses. Veronica shows her frustration towards Michael as she feels that he does not appreciate her artistic interests and style enough, while Michael believes that Veronica does not support his life enough as he’s constantly working. Even though Michael and Veronica become furious a each other - Veronica goes as far as to physically attack Michael - their marriage will last. After this meeting with Annette and Alan, Henry’s parents will realize that changes must be made in order to make each other happy. Michael will make a stronger effort appreciate Veronica’s love for the arts and style, while Veronica will better understand Michael’s work load and the stress that he might feel through out the work week. After attempting to be good hosts, and failing miserably, Veronica and Michael will realize that they must do a better job of communicating in order to keep the marriage alive. There is evidence that their relationship is strong enough to make it last, one example being when they clean up Annette’s vomit together and joke around about the other couple as they do so. Once the issue between the children is resolved, Veronica and Michael’s marriage will not dissolve, as they will do what they can to communicate and make each other happy.
On the other hand, Annette and Alan’s marriage will not last. Their relationship is not as strong and Alan’s work is too important in order for him to make any adjustments for the sake of the marriage. Through out the entire meeting, Alan not only ignores his hosts but his own wife as well, in order to talk on the phone with a client of his. His mind is strictly focused on business and it is evident that he focuses excessively on matters at the office rather than on matters at the house. Alan also mentions that he was in a previous marriage, which is a sign that his mind-set in maintaining love relationships is far from determined. It is likely that the previous marriage crumbled for the same reason that his marriage with Annette will fall: business. Annette and Alan’s lack of communication will be the down fall of their marriage. It takes Annette a few glasses of whiskey before she can truly say what is on her mind, and how she feels about Alan’s phone. Alan will never be able to let that go because his phone was so dear to him. Due to Alan’s focus on his business and the lack of communication between him and Annette, their marriage will falter.
The conflict between the two boys will soon be resolved with simple apology from Benjamin and as many young children do, Henry will forgive him and they will carry on as if nothing was wrong. As they grow older, the boys will turn to each other and laugh as they remember the time when Benjamin knocked out two of Henry’s teeth with a stick. The instance that caused their parents to lose all control for 80 minutes will turn out to be nothing but a mere memory. The parents will avoid any interactions, but not as a result of hate for each other. They will pass each other in the aisles of the grocery store or bump into each other at school events, but they will only resort to awkward eye contact with the humiliating memory of the meeting resting in the back of their minds. After the lights fade out and the two families carry out their lives, one marriage will last as the other breaks, and the two boys who started this all will carry on as class mates with no knowledge of their parents’ temporary insanity.