I didn't actually rewatch this. I needed to write an analysis on a monologue in a movie or television show for my filmmaking class, and I chose one from this episode of Mad Men. I thought I would post it here. Writing this actually helped me appreciate this show even more, even though I am three episodes in. There will be a very minor spoiler for episode 3 in this analysis. 

“Oh, you mean love. You mean the big lightning bolt to the heart where you can’t eat and you can’t work and you just get married and run off and make babies. The reason you haven’t felt it is because it doesn’t exist. What you call love was invented by guys like me, to sell nylons. You’re born alone and you die alone and this world just drops a bunch of rules on top of you to make you forget those facts. But I never forget. I’m living like there’s no tomorrow, because there isn’t one.” -Don Draper

This monologue reveals a lot about Don Draper in the very first episode. I could be totally wrong, being that I am only three episodes into the series, but this is my take on it. Don first uses terms to describe the obsession of love; you can’t eat, and you can’t sleep. Then he describes the actions of getting married and having children. He goes from the inner feelings of love to the external actions you do when you fall in love. That is what the world view of love is. 

He then goes on to describe his view of love, and partly, his philosophy. He doesn’t believe love exists. He believes that everyone will end up alone. This shows his view of life. He feels the world is hollow and superficial. He is a married man, but in episode 3, we start to see that even that feels hollow to him. He struggles to find anything substantial in this world. This is likely why he cheats on his wife. He tries to find a real connection with someone and can’t. So, he distracts himself with superficial pleasure. He is “living like there’s no tomorrow, because there isn’t one.” He is going through the motions, but everything seems dull. And that is my take on this monologue.


Specials

Season 1

Season 2

Comments