The Odd Couple: Analysis of Major Characters

Author: Neil Simon

First published: 1966

Genre: Play

Locale: New York City

Plot: Comedy

Time: 1965

Oscar Madison, a carefree, good-natured, divorced sportswriter who lives alone in a messy eight-room New York apartment. He is completely oblivious to dirt, clutter, and the overdue child-support payments about which his wife telephones weekly. He has his male cronies in for a weekly poker game with refreshments that invite food poisoning. Oscar's lifestyle is abruptly turned around when he takes in one of the members of the group, Felix Ungar, whose wife has thrown him out. Everything is now antiseptically clean, the food served to the poker players is appetizing, and there is money to pay his former wife, Blanche. Felix is so compulsive, however, that Oscar cannot live with him and forcefully requests that he leave.

Felix Ungar, a fussy man who knows that he is difficult to live with but cannot—or will not—make any concessions or compromises. His wife, unwilling to continue their marriage, asks him to leave the family despite his suicide threat, and he then moves in with Oscar. Made comical by his exaggerated behavior, Felix is persuaded by the end of the play to live temporarily with the Pigeon sisters, who pity him, but it is probable that they too will find him exasperating.

Gwendolyn Pigeon and Cecily Pigeon, English sisters who live in the apartment building. Attractive, intellectually lightweight, and somewhat flirtatious, they accept Oscar's invitation for dinner. As he leaves the room to make drinks, they speak blithely of their divorces to Felix, who then shows them snapshots of his family, breaking into tears and encouraging them to join him in his sorrow. Because the London broil that Felix has prepared is ruined as a result of Oscar's casual lateness in coming home, the Pigeon sisters invite the men to their place for potluck. Felix will not go, despite Oscar's pleading, but later they feel sorry for “the poor tortured” Felix and persuade him to stay at their place until he finds one of his own.

Murray, an atypical New York policeman, a good-natured clod who will never become a detective. He is one of the weekly poker players.

Roy, Oscar's accountant. Somewhat critical of Oscar's behavior, Roy routinely loans him money to “stay in the game.” He is another of the weekly poker players.

Vinnie, a cheapskate who goes to Florida in midsummer to take advantage of low rates and who leaves the poker game when he is ahead.

Speed, a man of simple tastes who enjoys the male camaraderie of the weekly poker sessions. He is disgusted when Felix turns their poker nights into “tea parties.”