Behrani Vs. Dubus's The War Of The Roses

The type of relationship that exists between two people can easily be identified by the words they use when addressing each other. As an example, the degree of comfort among individuals can see been either by the use of the surname, or the first name. However, word choice can also be very powerful and define the relationship exists between two individuals. The chances of Behrani and Kathy working towards a peaceful agreement seemed to shatter once the type of langue used to describe one another was one of a contemptuous nature. “I lift the whore [Kathy] and pull her onto the seat and bend her knees…” (Dubus, 338). “But then I remembered his story of planting coke in the wife beater’s [Behrani’s] bathroom…” (Dubus,299) In both instances, Kathy and Behrani could have referred to each using their actual name. …show more content…
Kathy and Behrani both know they have to find some common ground and work together if they want any type of fair for the house resolution. Unfortunately, the langue used leads to quite the opposite occurring. Behrani referring to Kathy as the whore, and Kathy referring to Behrani as the wife beater, drives them further apart from any possible agreement. Similar scenarios take place in “The War of the Roses” as Oliver and Barbara bicker with Barbara speaking first “Dumb Bastard!” “Slut!” “Scum!” “Filth!” “Faggot!” No person uttering such langue to another would ever want to work with that same person to create a resolution. Moreover, such word choice dehumanizes the other person which in turn, devalues their evidence and reasoning in a fight. This finally then leads to the worst problem of all; the failure of each character in the movie or novel to empathize and see the other’s