Power Struggle in Goodbye Columbus

Eric Allen
Dr. Stanley
English 120
3/27/13
There are many things that can be dissected from any novel or novella as long as the time and effort is put into it. There is also personal interpretation which is different amongst all people. The thing that would be most apparent in the novella, “Goodbye Columbus”, is that there is an obvious focus around power struggles. These power struggles could be anything physical, mental, or emotional between separate parties that could result in one being supreme over the other. All parties wish to be supreme of the others. The novella, “Goodbye Columbus”, is written on the premise of constant power struggles that resonate throughout the novella expressed through family, social class, and the relationship of Brenda and Neil. The most obvious of the power struggles are presented to the reader through Brenda and Neil. The entire relationship between Brenda and Neil, as portrayed in the novella, was a series of power struggles. The first encounter Brenda and Neil have with one another was the first power struggle where Brenda tries to establish dominance. Brenda does something subtle but powerful at the same time. Neil is at the country club by the pool when Brenda walks up to him and tells him to hold her glasses and she dives into the pool. By telling and not asking, Brenda was acting as if she was better like her needs were more important than his feelings or thoughts. Also, she plain expected him to hold it with Neil being a total stranger. To add insult to injury, when she took back the glasses she refused to put them on infront of him so she waited until she turned her back to him. This is interpreted as a flaunting, or “how do you like that” kind of attitude. This was a show of social status and hierarchy between the two. Brenda being a member of the country club and from upper class that was once lower class, and Neil a non-member being from a lower class. This put the foot in the door of what would become Brenda and Neil’s relationship as well as the first shot fired in battle. A battle started for social dominance with a hint of interest and attraction from Brenda to Neil. Although Neil was resisting her being dominant by not caring for watching her sister, Brenda strikes the second major blow to the battle by playing the “Love” game by the pool. The “Love” game was presented by Brenda after having a conversation with Neil. Brenda was asking Neil if he loved her when he replied saying no. He asks if she is worried and she replies saying that when he loves her then there will be no reason to worry. She then proceeds to suggest that Neil and she play a game. They each would take turns lying down with their eyes closed while the other takes a dip in the pool. Each would try to stay away longer than the other had previously stayed away to see who could stay away the longest. Brenda did this to get more control of Neil. After a couple rounds, Neil comes back and kisses Brenda hard. After he did, she said it was her turn to go into the pool and he told her he wanted her to stay and he inevitably told her that he “loves” her. By Neil doing this, he has allowed for complete control to be shifted over to Brenda. This is because by confessing what he did and acting the way he did shows that he has a dependency or attachment to Brenda which allows more control to Brenda because he will want to keep her. Brenda had not showed much of a dependency to Neil because she had no problem being away from Neil, even when he craved her, and she did not confess any real feelings for Neil. Now that Neil did, she wielded the power because Neil is going to want Brenda to feel the same for him as well as have the same physical craving for him that he has for her. Brenda had complete control in the relationship between Neil and her until Neil struck back with a “winner takes all” attack. At the time the novella was written, society was very different than it is today. A social standard will forever exist in human society; however it can change over time. In this case, unlike today in society, the society was less accepting of other people that were unlike them. It was a society that was much stricter than today. In this strike from Neil to Brenda, it was something that would not be as serious today, but in the 1950’s was a huge thing. Neil and Brenda had been promiscuous with one in another and to gain control in the relationship, Neil asked for Brenda to get a diaphragm. A diaphragm being a ring shaped form of contraception that woman can use that would allow for the guy to be able to eliminate wearing a condom. This was significant because this was a time where it was socially unacceptable to eliminate wearing a condom until marriage. Therefore, by asking Brenda to get a diaphragm was a way of getting Brenda to go all in on Neil. Doing this would completely commit Brenda to Neil and Neil would be able to claim her for his own. Brenda agreed to get the diaphragm. She gave in to Neil. By doing so, the power and control between Neil and Brenda was now relatively even. This was not a ring of engagement but a ring of sex that will also tie them together. The blow from Neil and cave-in of Brenda was a huge momentum shift but not quite enough to give Neil the control and power in the relationship. The relationship of Neil and Brenda had been equalized but it was not going to last and it was directly related to the very item that had leveled the playing field. The final strike in the power struggle, however, came from a third party to Brenda and Neil. The final attack of the power struggle came from the Patimkin’s, Brenda’s family. Brenda’s mother had found the diaphragm because Brenda left it in one of her drawers. Once Brenda’s mother had found it, they left a note for Brenda and her parents were forbidding Brenda to see Neil any longer. The 1950’s was a time were pop culture was becoming big in the youth movement however it was still a time where most people were afraid of disappointing their parents. Family played a larger role in social status than it does today. Brenda could not fight against her parents. The 1950’s time as a daughter it is as father says is what will be done. Brenda was left no choice. It was her family or Neil. Family cannot be trumped against just about anything. The battle started with Brenda, added to by Neil, and then finished off by the Patimkin Family. Power struggles are something that is going to occur throughout one’s lifetime. It is and inevitable and un-avoidable aspect of life and relationships that will be constantly reoccurring. A power struggle can go on forever without ever having a victor. Unfortunately, in this case neither primary party was able to be victorious or even get what it is that they want. A third party was able to take the helm. This novella had power struggles throughout the entire text. These power struggles were displayed through mostly Brenda and Neil but included factors the were physical, emotional, social, and family oriented. In the novella, “Goodbye Columbus”, is a display of constant power struggles that become repetitive throughout the novella and is primarily expressed through family, social class, and the relationship of Brenda and Neil.

Works Cited
Roth, Philip. Goodbye, Columbus. New York: A Division of Random House, Inc., 1993. Print.

Cited: Roth, Philip. Goodbye, Columbus. New York: A Division of Random House, Inc., 1993. Print.