I wrote this প্রবন্ধ after a সাম্প্রতিক viewing of the Season Three episode, (3.11) "The Gypsy and the Hobo":


"MAD MEN": Acts of Violence

The Season Three episode of "MAD MEN" called (3.11) "The Gypsy and the Hobo" featured a scene in which former Sterling Cooper office manager Joan Holloway had bashed a vase against the head of her husband, Greg Harris. He had been whining over failing to acquire a new job as a psychiatrist during an interview. Frustrated and angered দ্বারা his lack of professional success and his bouts of whining, Joan took a vase and bashed it over his head. Then she marched into their bedroom and closed the door.

Ever since (3.11) "The Gypsy and the Hobo" had aired, many অনুরাগী have been expressing স্বতস্ফূর্ত over Joan's violent acts. And whenever someone protested against Joan's actions, many rushed to the redhead's defense. The আরো excuses I read, the আরো I find interesting that so many of these অনুরাগী are drumming up excuses for what was obviously an act of violence perpetrated দ্বারা Joan against her husband.

While thinking about it, I realized that Joan really had no excuse to attack her husband, anymore than Greg had for his attack upon her, last season's episode, (2.12) "The Mountain King". Both had been acts of violence perpetrated দ্বারা the couple's emotions. Greg had felt threatened দ্বারা Joan's sexual history and potential lack of control and raped her. Joan felt frustrated and angered দ্বারা Greg's inability to become a professional success and his selfish whining and bashed him over the head with a vase. Both were wrong.

Yet, because Joan is a)very জনপ্রিয় with fans, b) a woman, and c) had been attacked first; many অনুরাগী have been condoning her actions, while continuing to condemn Greg's. I get the sense that many অনুরাগী are taking an "eye for an eye" attitude toward Joan's attack, as retaliation for what Greg had done to her.

Frankly, I think Joan should have broken her engagement with Greg after he had raped her in "The Mountain King". She really had no excuse for failing to do this. She was not married to Greg. Another nine months অথবা so would pass before she finally left Sterling Cooper. She was a 31 year-old woman at the time. Granted, society in general may have deemed her an "old maid", but she certainly had no problems with living with that stigma before 1962. Greg had not been the first man to propose marriage to her. And even at 31 years (last season), she was still young and beautiful enough to attract another man. Look at হাঁস Phillips' ex-wife. She managed to find another man and she must have been in her 40s at the time of their divorce.

I hate to say this, but Joan blew her chance at a better life অথবা a better husband, when she went ahead and married Greg following the rape. Joan is supposed to be this smart and savy woman. And yet, she could not see that he might not be the right man for her after he had raped her? Had she been so determined to acquire a successful husband that she failed to realize there was something wrong with Greg?

Joan really had no obligation to marry him, after what he had done to her. And hitting him over the head with a vase out of anger and frustration was not going to change anything.