Analysis Of Water By The Spoonful

Quiara Alegría Hudes’s work of Water by the Spoonful follows the lives of those transitioning through different life stages and trying to figure their place out in the world. As the play develops it confronts the ideas of how society views drug addicts, the journey of recovery, and the way it affects families. Throughout Water by The Spoonful, characters struggle for human connection by performing throughout their lives to portray a different person than they really are. Odessa, Fountainhead, and Yaz yearn for human connection, which is represented by the care taking roles they take on, even though they themselves do not have their lives completely put together. Through these roles, they are able to attract the connections they are lacking. …show more content…
After Odessa overdoses he takes care of her, bathing her, getting rehab set up for her and many other things. Fountainhead compares these tasks to things women do: “I don’t know how to do this. These are things women do. Take care of sick people. Make the wounds go away” (86). Fountainhead believing that women make the wounds go away relates to his lack of connection with his wife. This is emphasized by the statement he makes, saying women “make the wounds go away”. Deep down he believes that his wife could help him get through his addiction, but he doesn’t want to disappoint her or ruin their marriage. When getting coffee with Odessa, she questions him about who his first dealer was, and he admits that it was a female and they had sexual relations. Odessa continues to question him about why he hasn’t told his wife: “Are you scared your wife will find out you’re addicted to crack? Or are you scared she’ll find out what came of your wedding vows?” (48). This complicates the situation even more, knowing that he will hurt his wife due to the fact that not only is he a drug addict, but has also cheated on her. This has created distance in their relationship because he doesn’t want her to find out. When stepping into the caretaker role for Odessa, he realizes how much emotional connection he has been missing with his wife and sons. Through this role he fills the void that has been created since he has become addicted to crack. He lives in fear that his sons will find out, which for him is the worst possible thing. He wants to be a stable father, who is there for his children. Through this distance he has become less connected, which is fulfilled when he cares for Odessa. This moment makes him realize how much he is missing out on his life,