Brighton Beach Memoirs Essay

Living with a large family can be both a blessing and a curse, especially when one member feels constantly overlooked and undervalued. In Neil Simon’s play Brighton Beach Memoirs, the main character Eugene knows this struggle all too well. The play follows the dynamics of the Jerome family as they live together in a crowded New York apartment in the 1930s. Through humor and drama, the play explores the themes of family relationships, identity, and money struggles. Despite being the main character, Eugene is often dismissed by his family and struggles throughout the play to find his importance within his family. He is treated unfairly and is often the punching bag of the family. This challenge is shown in the first few pages of the play as

(rushes into the house) I didn’t leave it there. KATE. No? Then who? Laurie? Aunt Blanche?...Come here! EUGENE.(approaches, holding the back of his head) Don’t hit my skull, I have a concussion (11).

Simon characterizes Eugene’s mother as an abusive figure in her relentless treatment of him. Even as he tries to explain that he has done no wrong, her character lacks any empathy and understanding towards him. She readily places blame on him for any mistakes, leaving Eugene accustomed to feeling like the scapegoat of the family. Overall, Simon uses the characterization of Eugene’s mother and aunt to illustrate how family dynamics can be complex and how they contribute to Eugene feeling isolated and rejected from his family. Simon employs stage directions to demonstrate Eugene’s alienation from his family as well. As the scene plays out, Eugene repeatedly breaks the fourth wall to express his thoughts about his family to the audience. After witnessing a kind exchange between his mother and cousin, Eugene comments: EUGENE. (He’s been listening…then turns to audience again.) …She gets all this special treatment…I got hit with a baseball right in the back of the skull, I saw two of everything for a week and I

Simon utilizes the element of breaking the fourth wall to unveil Eugene’s sense of disconnection from his family. Following his mother’s display of affection towards his cousin, Eugene complains about the unequal treatment receives but only expresses this to the audience. This highlights the fact that Eugene feels so alienated from his family that he has no one to turn to with his problems except the audience. Simon’s use of the audience as a confidant for Eugene is shown yet again as Eugene pauses on the steps into his home and says: EUGENE. (to audience) …Listen, I hope you don’t repeat this to anybody …What I’m telling you are my secret memoirs…It’s called, “The Unbelievable, Fantastic and Completely Private Thoughts of I, Eugene Morris Jerome…”(11).

By sharing his “secret memoirs” with the audience, Eugene seeks a level of care and understanding that he cannot find within his household. Simon’s choice to have Eugene break the fourth wall persistently throughout the scene serves to emphasize the divide Eugene feels between himself and his family. The use of Simon’s stage directions creates a unique perspective on Eugene’s character, allowing the audience to fully understand his feelings and how is family affects him. All in all, Simon effectively conveys how Eugene considers himself an outsider in his own family through stage