Invisible entity in the form of six feet tall anthropomorphic rabbit brings visible and huge changes in lives of Dowd`s friends and family which are wittily depicted in Mary Chase`s play Harvey. In this comedy Chase presents one with hilarious chain of events that illuminates characters` nature as well as makes reader wonder whether Harvey is real. Moreover, taking into consideration Harvey`s depiction and Veta`s treatment of this creature at the beginning of the play and closer to denouement one may see that this pooka can be considered a real thing because too many people saw him. With further analysis one may see that this creature can be considered as a real entity. Furthermore, one will see that in order to make play effective and more interesting Harvey does not have to be real or imaginary.
At the beginning of this play everyone is convinced that Harvey is just an imaginary friend of a delusional bachelor who was deeply traumatized by his mother`s death. Everything indicates and points at Elwood`s mental instability. For instance, his introduction of Harvey to Aunt Ethel and other people at his sister`s party shows that Elwood sees things that only he can see. However, as the story unfolds one discovers that Veta herself has seen Harvey once but this statement gives a suggestion of stressful condition and environment she is forced to live. As can be seen bit-by-bit author sows the seeds of doubt thus materializing Harvey as well as manipulating with notion of sanity. Also, one may say that Veta`s encounter with Harvey can be explained by hereditary mental illness that makes both Veta and Elwood hallucinate but further appearance of Harvey proves that he is real. For instance, Chumley`s encounter with Harvey and his pursue of doctor make all doubts fade away; moreover, writer states “the invisible Harvey has come in” which proves that he is areal but tricky entity. (Chase, 59)
Moreover, Chase`s decision to speculate with Harvey`s character making him doubtful but feasible only contributes to this play making it more interesting and mysterious. It would have been not so effective if writer had made Harvey completely real because there would have been no room for thoughts and muses about invisible entities like pookas. Also, speculation with notions of sanity and spiritual entities greatly add to this play because at least ones in life one has witnessed or heard about something unexplainable. Thus this play speaks to reader making him/her question perception of reality as well as existence of spiritual creatures.
All things considered, Chase makes Harvey a real entity but at the same time she does not give enough evidence that this rabbit truly exists; thus depriving reader from a direct answer making her play more interesting and effective.
References
Chase, Mary. Harvey. New York: Dramatists Play Service, 1971. Print.
