The Cocktail Party (Cyclopedia of Literary Characters)
At a glance:
- Author: T. S. Eliot
- First Published: 1950
- Type of Work: Play
- Type of Plot: Comedy of manners
- Time of Work: Mid-twentieth century
- Setting: London, England
- Genres: Drama, Verse drama, Comedy, Comedy of manners
- Subjects: Twentieth century, Psychology or psychologists, England or English people, Adultery, London, Psychoanalysis or psychoanalysts, Parties, Psychiatry or psychiatrists, Psychotherapy or psychotherapists
- Locales: London, England
Characters Discussed
Edward Chamberlayne, a middle-aged lawyer. Faced with the prospect of having to meet people without the aid of his wife, who has just left him, he discovers that he cares nothing for the young woman with whom he has been having an affair and that he definitely wants his wife to return. Later, after he thinks he has had a nervous breakdown, he sees a psychiatrist and comes to realize and accept the fact that he is a mediocre man who is afraid that he is incapable of really loving anyone. From this point, he begins to build a happy life.
Lavinia...
[The entire page is 708 words long]
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