Comparison Of Dan In Real Life 'And The Leaving'

Dan from “Dan in Real Life” and Elizabeth from “The Leaving” both wear figurative masks to cover their true feelings. Dan in Real Life is centered around Dan, who is the father of 3 daughters and the family's annual road trip to see Nana and Poppy Burns, Dan’s parents. While, Dan’s out looking for a newspaper he finds Marie, who he later finds out is his brother's girlfriend. Marie and Dan instantly have a connection. Later, Dan removes his mask and he and Marie get married. Unlike Dan in Real Life, The Leaving is about Elizabeth and her trip with her daughter to Halifax. She also removes her mask like Dan. And like Dan with support she slowly loses her inner fear and earns respect in her household again. Both, Dan and Elizabeth wear a character …show more content…
This is precisely what occurred in Dan in Real Life and The Leaving. Dan lost his wife and since her death, Dan had a void inside him. Dan’s loss of purpose was a loss of love, he lost the focus in his life. When Dan and his daughters were at the house and Dan had planned to go on a car ride with them. However, that was the last thing the girls wanted to do. So he ended up taking his brothers kids on a ride instead, this was a perfect example of his loss of purpose. Since the mother died, Dan’s purpose has been to take care of the kids and now they don't need him. On the other hand, Elizabeth’s loss of purpose happened when her kids grew up and didn't need her anymore. Unlike Dan there was a visible change not just a mental change like Dan. When Elizabeth's children were young and had “cut knees or tonsillectomies, or when friends broke [their] hearts, [Elizabeth] would hold [them] and hug [them]”. This was the only time she had purpose and as they grew they depended on her less and less thus resulting in her need for a mask and her loss of purpose. The loss of purpose is what happened and destroyed both Dan and …show more content…
Dans support was his family, especially his children while Elizabeth’s support was through the book “The Feminine Mystique”. Dan wanted to go find Marie after she left for the city, however he wasn't going too until he met with his daughters. They convinced Dan to find Marie. In the end, Dan’s children ended up being his support. While, Elizabeth’s support wasn't a person it still gave her the courage and the extra push that she needed to make a change. “[Elizabeth read] a copy of The Feminine Mystique” and after Elizabeth finished, she and her daughter went to Halifax to be freed. In the end whether support is a person or a book, it is needed to take off that