Asshole with a cause: literary myth or inherent truth?

Two nights ago something tragic happened. I got caught up on Mad Men. Since then I have been carrying around a profound void and a series of nagging questions, all pertaining to what will happen next to some of my favorite fictional characters. I will not detail any of those questions here so as not to spoil the fun for those of you who are still watching seasons 1-4.

Okay, let's back up a minute to accommodate the uninitiated. First of all, everything you've heard about Mad Men is true. It is one of the best shows ever written (though, apparently, The Wire is THE best). It is dramatic and nuanced. It is extremely intelligent and well-crafted. It is superbly acted.

The main character, Donald Draper, is just another Hank Moody (what's that? You haven't seen Californication either? Get on your ass and watch some television). Draper is successful, but morally corrupt. He is handsome, but completely untrustworthy. Clichés abound. But, Don Draper, as portrayed by Jon Hamm, is one of the more complicated and engaging versions of the conflicted adulterous man. While his actions make us want to write him off as a callous dick (and early in the series you find out just how apropos a title that is for him…no, this is not as dirty as it sounds), his inner conflict prevents the viewer from ever fully discounting him. This perfectly orchestrated dance between off-putting and charming, repulsive and redeeming, is what keeps many viewers coming back to Mad Men week after week or, as in my case, hour after hour.

So, just what is so appealing about this dichotomy? Why do we all come back for more even though we know that a character like Draper can never really sack his evil ways? Well, he can sack almost everything else and of course that's entertaining to watch. However, there are more thorough ways to get a fill of sexual content if that's one's bent; and illicit content does not an intriguing show make (at least not on its own). No, there is more to the Don Drapers of the world than just their sex appeal. We, heterosexual men included, are drawn in by them. Clearly, we all like abuse and can't seem to learn our lesson about the Dons of the world: yes, they are charming and complex…and they are assholes! One does not exclude the other. But, our knowledge of this fact does not deter our fascination and our desire to watch. We seem to find allure in the morally corrupt- the devil always had the most charm, right?

Right. In fact, there is an established literary tradition that supports this contention, dating at least back to Genesis. The serpent is the archetype for charm, offering us things we all want. Let's be honest, who is the most interesting character in Genesis? It's certainly not dopey Adam or even temper-tantrum throwing God. Who is the character we might actually want to talk to? The serpent is the one who can paint world as full of possibilities. Milton later further indulged our desire to justify the villain. We couldn't just call Satan a "bad guy" and be done with him. Suddenly, the bad guy had a story to tell and, most significantly, a reason for being bad. As we've evolved, so has our story-telling and character development. As we evolve, so must our bad guys because as we evolve, the notions of right and wrong, black and white, are necessarily complicated. No one accepts an antagonist/protagonist who simply is. (By the way, the previous statement may not apply to people still watching ABC and NBC dramas). Cause and effect wins the day.

And with that said, we can see the persistent intrigue created by a character like Draper. At this point, we have been trained to expect a cause for every effect. With that in mind, we are able to obscure the often Draper's, and other characters like him, sometimes aggravating actions and focus instead on pondering what caused these actions. We want answers, and the brilliant thing that good story telling does is give out only pieces over time that the audience must put together. And all the while we are putting together pieces of the Don Drapers, and the Daisy Buchanans, and the Howard Roarks, and the Dorian Grays, we are also putting together pieces of ourselves as individuals. By dealing with their gaping flaws, we are able to inadvertently face our own.

The fact is we all want to be Don Draper- we want his charisma and his ability to get whatever he sets his sights on. And we all are Don Drapers in one way or another- we all have demons and secrets and discontent. And we are all comforted in someway by seeing that the most charming, most successful people have these problems too.

Oh, last thing- watch Mad Men.

Until next time, happy viewing,

Leena