In Sure Thing by David Ives, disagreements are avoided with a ringing bell, which serves as a device to form consensus and allows the couple to fall in love in the end . Both characters are quick to judge and come close to giving up on each other dozens of times over the course of the play, casting doubt on the idea of two people falling in love the first time they meet. To satirize the concept of "love at first sight", the couple avoids talking about controversial topics such as politics and previous relationships and fall in love while discussing their taste for Brussels sprouts and crumb cake. The couple's first meeting highlights the ideal of love at first sight as an unlikely possibility due to each character's tendency to make snap judgments. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original EssayBoth Bill and Betty are quick to judge each other, and in fact almost miss the opportunity to meet because of their snap judgments. For example, when Bill tries to sit next to Betty for the third time, he tells her that he "[doesn't] know who [she] might refuse," suggesting the possibility of a relationship forming (3). The ideal of love at first sight is meeting someone and not knowing if that person will be the love of your life. Betty, however, makes a hasty judgment and decides to decline his request, giving up the opportunity to meet him. Betty's immediate disinterest in Bill dispels the myth of love at first sight because it is unlikely to happen with such quick judgments. Bill and Betty also recognize the importance of timing and coincidence, but they continue to make these judgments and disregard each other. Bill tells Betty that she "[has] to hit these things at the right time otherwise it's no good," (7) and then comments like, even if they both come to this bar? often, it must always be a “lost connection” that they never see each other (9). They are both aware of the importance of timing and coincidence, but soon after this conversation Bill and Betty lose interest in each other and Bill calls for a waiter. The speed with which the two draw conclusions about each other and give up on the opportunity for a relationship shows how love at first sight is an unlikely possibility. The concept of love at first sight is constructed in such a way that the characters believe that consent is what creates a good relationship. Every time Bill and Betty disagree about something, the doorbell rings and the two are literally saved by the doorbell, averting any conflict. The two address controversial topics such as previous relationships and politics, however the bell rings incessantly during these parts of the conversation and the dialogue progresses minimally. At one point, Betty recounts what could be considered a past personal experience with someone who used her for sex. Later, Bill refers to the "castrating bitch [he] dumped" the night before (13). Both accounts of their previous relationships are dismissed with the bell, which serves as a literary device used to force consent. When it comes to politics, four bells ring before Bill comes to the conclusion that he is “unaffiliated,” coincidentally, just like Betty (14). The bell prevents the couple from talking about previous relationships or political opinions and forces them to reach a point of agreement. The constant ringing of bells shows how an idealized vision of love at first sight requires the couple to agree on everything. Bill and Betty pledge to love and care for each other "forever" only after they have each other.
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