The Contrast: Maria vs. Dimple

            The Contrast is quite the appropriate title for the name of this play by Royall Tyler.  There are many contrast elements going on in the play.  There is the contrast between the people of Europe, or Britain to be more specific, and the people of America, the contrast between genders, and the contrast between several different sets of characters.  The female characters in general are portrayed as less in control and passive while the men are dominant, which aligns with the time period that the play was written in.  Although this could be discussed in more detail, the specific contrast that I noticed and enjoyed the most throughout the play is the contrast between Maria and Dimple. 

            As was told by Letitia at the beginning of the play, after learning the death of his father Dimple traveled to England to see the world “and rub off a little patroon rust”.  So Dimple is shown as a man who has the means and wants to travel.  This is contrasted to Maria who chose to stay at home representing women as more subdued and less adventurous.  Maria, at home, began to delve into books, and became aware that she did not care for Dimple at all. The way the other characters, including her father, react to this, I feel like this was not common for women to do.  It seemed as if looking and finding knowledge was not almost acceptable for women. 

            The most obvious characteristic between the two that contrasted during the play could be examined directly through their relationship.  Maria, who no longer wanted to be in the relationship, stays due to loyalty to her father and the unwavering need to please him; whereas, Dimple, who wanted to escape the relationship as well, began to be snide to force Maria to break off the arrangement.  Maria acted out of selflessness, and Dimple out of selfishness.  As well it can be applied to the lack of interest in others that Maria showed, and Dimple’s two ladies that he had lined up.  Rather the contrast shown in this couple could be applied to the two different genders is another topic to be discussed.  It also could be argued that the genuinity Maria shows rewarded her in the end with a lover, and Dimple punished.