Evan Hanson IS a sociopath- Page 3

[Theatrefan2]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 12:37am

themysteriousgrowl said: "Discuss"

Why start a thread with one word and not contribute to it yourself?

[GavestonPS]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 1:05am

MollyJeanneMusic said: "To the comment about the ending, I do feel like there were a lot of factors in the Murphys' decision. If you've read the book, it does mention that the internet backlash against them died down eventually, and I don't think they wanted to cause a whole other internet storm. For them, they know that Evan is going to have to live with what he's done for the rest of his life, and maybe, in the few weeks/months that they've known him, they've come to feel for him. It was a feeling based on artificial knowledge, but it was still there. That's one of the things I like about this show - there are so many little moments and feelings that make the show whole. (And while I love a lot of the other shows from the 16-17 season, this one is one of my favorite modern musicals - it's able to create moments that are both intimate and grandiose at the same time, and it doesn't feel jarring.)"

Thank you. I enjoyed the show (on tour), but I don't care enough to read the book. I'm in this thread (and others) only because I am continually surprised that posters are so literal about a musical play and so unaccountably hostile. That someone prefers COME FROM AWAY doesn't make Evan Hansen the character a sociopath.

To your excellent account of the ending, I would just add that the orchard DOES make a nice memorial to Connor, so why should the Murphys screw that up? Zoe obviously likes it well enough she wants to make sure Evan sees it.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 2:22am

GavestonPS said: "rattleNwoolypenguin said: "...and the ending especially is so ludicrous."

Yeah, 'cause nobody ever worked a nothing job to save up for college.

Or do you mean the fact that the Murphys never reported Evan to the police? Some people just don't want to publicly admit they have been gullible.

???"

I don’t like his interaction with Zoe. IT SAVED THEIR MARRIAGE? 

I just think the premise is too ****ed up to justify how he gets absolved. Like he adds this whole other layer to their grieving process

[dotseurat2]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 12:08pm

GavestonPS said: "dramamama611 said: "They believed because it helped them cope. No matter how angry they were with him, they loved him -- and was happy to believe that someone understood him where they didn't.



it's called a coping mechanism"

Thank you, Dramamama. What is it about DEH that turns some people into such literal-minded pedants? Is it that it's set in the present day and not in some exotic locale? Because when all is said and done, really, Evan Hansen behaves no worse thanMarvin, Whizzer andMendel."

Literal minded? Suspension of disbelief? 

I have a right to find the plot ridiculous and still use suspension of disbelief. After all, its a musical. I think I have a good "suspension."

We react to theater in our own ways because of our personal backgrounds and that's the beauty of it. Doesn't make either of us right of wrong. The plot still irks me and that doesn't mean I should stop seeing theater because I can't let go of being so "literal minded" as you so label me. No need to personally attack. I gave my opinion, sorry it's wrong, but I never once called out anyone for liking it either. 

Updated On: 3/17/19 at 12:08 PM

[\_(•_•)_/]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 12:21pm

If your child died, and a kid from his school made up an entire friendship with him, and lead you and the rest of your family on about what he said/what he did, and it all turned out to be a lie, I can guarantee you would call him a Sociopath.

I however don’t see Evan as a sociopath, he just doesn't know any better, he wasn't used to the attention and when he got it, he did everything to keep it.

However, I don’t like the message the kids are getting that actions are okay if you have anexity, which seems to be the main theme kids walking out are getting. That anxiety is quirky and “in the in”

The plot however, if this was in real life, I’m sure the murphys would have tried to press charges.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 1:39pm

Except, they also need to see thier role in it....they needed it to be true and pushed him along.

[LuminousBeing]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 3:06pm

_(•_&bull_/ said: "If your child died, and a kid from his school made up an entire friendship with him, and lead you and the rest of your family on about what he said/what he did, and it all turned out to be a lie, I can guarantee you would call him a Sociopath.

"Calling a person a sociopath" doesn't mean that one is correct in one's formulation. Having an opinion based on a situation and extrapolating from that opinion other opinions about that person's worldview from a place of hurt is not a sound diagnostic process. 

I harp on this because of the uptick in the use of clinical terms by people who have no idea what they mean to the real people who carry these diagnoses. This mainstream use of clinical terms perpetuates the idea that poor behavior MUST be caused by mental illness and therefore excused or medicated. This is damaging not only because it weakens the gravity of giving someone an actual mental health diagnosis, but also because it pathologizes normative human missteps that can be addressed without drugs and labels.

I don’t like the message the kids are getting that actions are okay if you have anexity, which seems to be the main theme kids walking out are getting. That anxiety is quirky and “in the in”

I agree that the message that wrong actions are fine "if you have anxiety" is problematic and damaging to kids both with- and without mental health challenges. My real-life adolescent clients with clinical anxiety would do anything to appear and feel "normal." They don't revel in being "quirky." 

 I don't think the show presents a viewpoint that having anxiety makes wrongdoing okay (e.g. "Good for You" showing other people's perspectives on Evan's actions). Evan himself understands there is "no worthy explanation" and does not attempt to keep the spoils from his lies. An Evan with Antisocial Personality Disorder would not have regretted or apologized for his behavior and would not have given a speech at the end of the show demonstrating empathy for other kids "in trees" who "might not let go."

[Impossible2]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 8:28pm

Considering the whole concept of this show was stolen from the far superior film Worlds Greatest Dad which was about an adult who does practically the same thing. I'd be interested to see if people would have the same opinion about an adult when they are doing the lying as they do about a teenager.

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 9:17pm

But the film had the more interesting and less empowering position that the world IS better off without some people. It doesn’t work at redeeming anyone, which makes it very off brand for the self-actualizing decade.

[Impossible2]

Posted: 3/17/19 at 9:22pm

darquegk said: "But the film had the more interesting and less empowering position that the world IS better off without some people. It doesn’t work at redeeming anyone, which makes it very off brand for the self-actualizing decade."

This is true I guess. It also showed the bandwagon jumpers were actually worse than the person who told the lie which from memory Hansen doesn't really go into.