Fortitude and Frailty

These antonyms create an important thematic struggle in Off the Map, most remarkably in Charley Groden. However, this theme is also applicable to the Groden family and their decision to live off the map. Charley Groden is a large, powerful man. He is able-bodied and intelligent. Charley is responsible for constructing, fixing and building up the Groden's home. Yet, during the summer of this play, Charley has become amazingly frail. His mind has been clouded with a thick, dark fog that has rendered him useless. The only remainder of his fortitude is his ability to withstand pain and, as if to remind himself of what he used to be, Charley welcomingly embraces a diseased tooth, a painful stone in his shoe, and a physical altercation with a friend. The Grodens live in a constant awareness of their balance between fortitude and frailty. Although they are courageous...