Introduction:
Larry in “The Iceman Cometh” is the most important character for he is active from the opening of the play to the end of it. He is among the drunkards but not the dreamers. He is the man with awareness of the reality but at the end of the play he declares that Hickey has converted him.
Larry Slade is sixty. He is tall. His hair is white, long and roughly cut. His face is thin with a big nose. His cheek bones are high with week’s unshaven beard. His thoughtful pale blue eyes are filled a gleam of sharp bitter humour. His clothes are dirty. His gray sport shirt is open at the neck. It seems it has never been washed. His long fingered hairy hands scratch his body.
Satire on Pipe-dreamers:
Larry points out the bitter irony of human life that reality is full of miseries. Therefore, nobody wishes to be in his senses. He finds it better to have a drink and be lost in a pipe dream. It is a dream of golden tomorrow but that tomorrow never comes. The truth is cruel. To forget it dreams are the best means and they cost nothing. It is philosophic wisdom to be lost in them. Larry remarks that all mad people like him pass their time in the bar- house and remain free from the worries of life.
The lie of a pipe dream is what gives life to the whole misbegotten mad lot of us, drunk or sober. And that’s enough philosophic wisdom to give you for one drink of rot-gut.
Larry claims that he drinks like others but he differs from them in the sense that he has no pipe-dream. He does not believe in tomorrow. His hopes are dead and buried. He does not even think about them. He does not fear death. He regards it as a long sleep. He feels he is tired of life and death will be a boon to make him free from that tiredness. It is therefore, he does not need a pipe dream to transport his mind from reality to imagination.
“Mine are all dead and buried behind me. What’s before me is the comforting fact that death is a fine long sleep, and I’m damned tired, and it can’t come too soon for me.”
Satire on Movements:
According to Larry every movement is a pipe-dream for it believes in a bright tomorrow. It aims at improvement in human beings but the reality is otherwise. It is a great irony that men do not wish to be improved. They are not ready to give up their greed. It makes them unjust and corrupt. Without giving up evils of this nature no improvement is possible and true liberty for mankind is not possible. Therefore, every movement is reduced to be a pipe- dream that is never turned into reality.
“I saw men didn’t want to be saved from themselves, for that would mean they’d have to give up greed, and they’ll never pay that price for liberty.”
Larry laughs at his own fancy and shakes Hugo’s shoulder asking him to confirm that he is speaking the truth. Rocky warns Larry not incite Hugo to speak. Raising his head Hugo stares at Rocky and rebukes him. He calls Rocky a capitalist swine. Then Hugo changes his fury into a giggle and makes a fun of him.
Larry As a Churns Character:
Rocky accounts for his sincere duty and hard work done honestly. Larry hears it all patiently and calls him a shrewd businessman who does not miss any opportunity to point out his qualities. It pleases Rocky and he offers another drink to Larry. Larry finishes it without delay. Rocky asks him to think about the bankrupts who should sleep on beds in place of chairs. Both of them praise Hickey for making a joke of everything to amuse others. Rocky remembers Hickey’s joke about the iceman.
Willie Oban jerks and they watch him. He is awakened from his dream. He speaks miserably that it is a lie. Larry pities him and call him an unfortunate person. Rocky remarks that Willie is dreaming about his old man. Willie’s father surely earned a lot but Willie has nothing. Larry calls it a great game that all are busy in pursuit of happiness. Rocky remarks that Harry is asleep and he does not know what is happening around him. Harry can’t get his payment from poor Willie whose mother is not willing to help him even a bit. Larry watches Willie and appreciates Harry’s humanity.
When Joe points out difference between an anarchist and a socialist, Larry appreciates his wisdom.
Parritt’s Devotion to Larry-Larry’s Disappointment with Movement:
Parritt claims that only Larry can understand him. He remembers how Larry was friendly with his mother. All were busy in the Movement. Larry used to take him on his knee and tell stories. Since then, Parritt has been regarding Larry as his father. All the important members of the Movement have been arrested. Parritt is saved being in disguise. Parritt informs that only Burns men kept him out of it. Larry claims that most of them are foolish and greedy for power. Parritt tells that he got Larry’s address from his mother. Larry says that he had asked her not to tell it to anybody. Perritt clarifies that he got the address from her letters. It surprises Larry that Parritt’s mother kept letters. He says that he did not answer her last letters. He has got beyond the desire to communicate with the world. He is fed up of world’s greedy madness. Parritt tells about his mother’s devotion to the Movement.
Larry tells him that she never forgives him. Parritt asks why Larry left the Movement. He asks why Larry had a quarrel with her before departing. Larry says that it happened eleven years ago. Don Parritt was of seven. Larry told her that the Movement was only a beautiful pipe dream. It made her furious. Don says that he does not remember in this way, Larry accuses Parritt’s memory for that.
LARRY. Then you can blame your imagination—and forget it. (He changes the subject abruptly) You asked me why I quit the Movement. I had a lot of good reasons. The material the ideal free society must be constructed from is men themselves and you can’t build a marble temple out of a mixture of mud and manure. When man’s soul isn’t a sow’s ear, it will be time enough to dream of silk purses. (He chuckles sardonically—then irritably as if suddenly provoked at himself for talking so much) Well, that’s
why I quit the Movement, if it leaves you any wiser. At any rate, you see it had nothing to do with your mother.
Saying it Larry claims that he did not leave the Movement because of his mother. Parritt says that his mother thinks in this way. Larry asks Parritt not to think in this way after knowing her fate. Parritt says that he has tried his best to tell it to her but she thinks otherwise. Changing the subject of conversation, he asks what Larry has been doing after leaving the Coast. Larry replies bitterly.
LARRY. (sardonically) Nothing I could help doing. If I don’t believe in the Movement, I don’t believe in anything else either, especially not the State. I’ve refused to become a useful member of its society. I’ve been a philosophical drunken bum, and proud of it.
Larry-A Bitter Critic of Hickey:
Larry does not approve Hickey’s manners and marks him minutely. He thinks Hickey has something secret in his mind that he is not disclosing because of fear. He marks that Hickey is not drinking. Just then Hickey appears. He looks the same as in the previous act. It is the only change that now his face is beaming. His arms are piled with packages. In his speech Hickey clarifies that he has no secrets as Larry claims. He calls Larry old cemetery for he always waits for death and says that he has no interest in life. He asks Larry to get rid of it.
HICKEY. (watching LARRY quizzically) Beginning to do a lot of puzzling about me, aren’t you, Larry? But that won’t help you. You’ve got to think of yourself. I couldn’t give you my peace. You’ve got to find your own. All I can do is help you, and the rest of the gang, by showing you the way to find it.
Larry accuses Hickey for becoming either mad or a liar. He asks Hickey to mind his own business. Larry advises Willie to drink and forget it all what Hickey has told. Willie protests saying it is not a friendly advice. It makes Larry dejected and he sits down.
Larry asks Hickey what did his wife die of. Hickey says that it was a bullet through Evelyn’s head. Larry accuses that Hickey forced his wife to commit suicide.
LARRY. (revengefully) You drove your poor wife to suicide? I knew it! Be God, I don’t blame her! I’d almost do as much myself to be rid of you! It’s what you’d like to drive us all to— (Abruptly he is ashamed of himself and pitying) I’m sorry, Hickey. I’m a rotten louse to throw that in your face.
Hickey asks Larry to understand the whole matter.
HICKEY. (quietly) “Oh, that’s all right, Larry. But don’t jump at conclusions. I didn’t say poor Evelyn committed suicide. It’s the last thing she’d ever have done, as long as I was alive for her to take care of and forgive. If you’d known her at all, you’d never get such a crazy suspicion. (He pauses—then slowly) No, I’m sorry to have to tell you my poor wife was killed.”
Larry remarks that she was murdered. Parritt belongs Larry for being a liar. According to him Larry is crazy. He claims that she is alive. Rocky asks
if she was murdered then who was the murderer. Larry fixes his eyes on Hickey with fascinated horror and says that it is Hickey’s personal matter. Hickey remarks that the police is investigating the case. It is hoped the killer would be caught very soon. He remarks that now he is feeling free from guilt. But later on, when Larry comes to know the truth, he changes his opinion about Hickey.
Parritt’s Charge on Larry:
Parritt claims that his mother really loved him. He claims Larry too loved her. Larry advises to forget what is dead in its grave. Parritt says that he had been marking it since carly childhood. She was a free Anarchist woman. She had relations with many. Parritt accuses Larry for calling his mother a whore. Larry protests that he never used such words for her. But Parritt goes on saying that she still respected Larry. It was Larry who left her. She didn’t care for anybody else. She kept lovers only to prove that she was free. Parritt admits that he too used to feel that he was living in a whore- house. Larry rebukes Parritt for speaking such things for his mother. Parritt requests Larry to hear him patiently. He assures that he will not mention his mother again. He asks Larry to leave this place and go to his room. They can talk there quite freely. Larry says he has nothing to talk about. Parritt asks if he should talk to Hickey. He will not allow him to be alone. Parritt does not like him. He is rather frightened. It surprises Larry. Parritt says he has decided his course. He will tell that to Larry.
Larry calls him a liar and claims that he can’t befool him. Parritt that he never thought that his mother would be arrested. But Larry speaks in sadness.
LARRY. (his face haggard, drawing a deep breath and closing his eyes-as if he were trying to hammer something into his own brain) All I know is I’m sick of life! I’m through! I’ve forgotten myself! I’m drowned and contented on the bottom of a bottle. Honor or dishonor, faith or treachery are nothing to me but the opposites of the same stupidity which is ruler and king of life, and in the end they run into dust in the same grave. All things are the same meaningless joke to me, for they grin at me from the one skull of death. So go away. You’re wasting breath. I’ve forgotten your mother.
Parritt asks Larry if he is his father or not. Larry is enraged and declares that he never laid his eyes on Parritt’s mother. Parritt believes in whatever Larry says.
LARRY. (violently) You damned fool! Who put that insane idea in your head? You know it’s a lie! Anyone in the Coast crowd could tell you I never laid eyes on your mother till after you were born.
Hickey’s Effect on Larry:
Larry. But Larry does not pay attention to him. Hickey’s confession affects Hickey’s confession of guilt inspires Parritt to confess his own guilt to Larry too. He feels sympathy with Hickey. All dreamers declare Hickey was insane therefore, he suggested all these people to transport their minds from imagination to reality. Now once again they restore their delight by forgetting reality.
Hope decides to celebrate his birthday party once again in full joyfulness. Suddely he marks that Larry is missing.
Rocky remarks that Larry’s eyes are shut. He seems asleep. He ought to be given a drink. But Larry comments in a sad tone:
LARRY. (torturedly arguing to himself in a shaken whisper) It’s the only way out for him! For the peace of all concerned, as Hickey said! (Snapping) God damn his yellow soul, if he doesn’t soon, I’ll go up and throw him off! —like a dog with its guts ripped out you’d put out of misery!
The sound of something hurtling down is heard. It is learnt that Parritt has committed suicide. No one gives importance to it but Larry remarks:
LARRY. (in a whisper of horrified pity) Poor devil! (a long-forgotten faith returns to him for a moment and he mumbles) God rest his soul in peace. (He opens his eyes—with a bitter self-derision) Ah, the damned pity—the wrong kind, as Hickey said! Be God, there’s no hope! I’ll never be a success in the grandstand—or anywhere else! Life is too much for me! I’ll be a weak fool looking with pity at the two sides of everything till the day I die! (With an intense bitter sincerity) May that day come soon! (He pauses startedly, surprised at himself—then with a sardonic grin) Be God, I’m the only real convert to death Hickey made here. From the bottom of my coward’s heart I mean that now!
Hope is lost in delight. All other people are enjoying themselves in their pipe dreams. Only Larry stares in front of him.