35 pages • 1 hour read
Sarah RuhlIn the Next Room (or The Vibrator Play)
Fiction | Play | Adult | Published in 2009A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Act IIChapter Summaries & Analyses
Act II, Scene 1 Summary
Two weeks after the end of Act I, Dr. Givings is seeing a male patient, Leo Irving, in his operating theater. After listening to Leo’s story about a woman who spurned him, leaving him feeling weak and with an increasing issue with his vision, Dr. Givings declares Leo a “rare […] case of hysteria in a man” and tells Leo to disrobe (70). In the living room, Elizabeth has just finished feeding Lotty and hands the baby back to Catherine. Catherine sings the lyrics she made up for the song that Sabrina played in Act I, jealous that Lotty smiles for Elizabeth and not for her. Dr. Givings uses an adapted version of the vibrator on Leo that is inserted into the rectum to stimulate the prostate. Leo seems anxious but experiences an orgasm. Catherine listens to him cry out, surprised to hear a man’s voice through the door. Dr. Givings exits the office to bring Leo some tea, and Catherine questions him. Dr. Givings returns to his operating theater with tea, and Leo, now clothed, seems perplexed as Dr. Givings prescribes daily treatments.
On his way out of the house, Leo meets Catherine, who is wondering how the same vibrator she and Sabrina used could be effective on a man. Leo kisses her hand, and Catherine declares him “old fashioned.” He agrees, complaining about modernity and electricity. Catherine turns off the lamp, although Leo says that his eyes feel much better after his treatment. Leo pontificates about the difference between an electric lamp and the light at sunset, describing a partially lit house as an unfinished painting and declaring his preference for both paintings and women to be unfinished. According to Leo, “A young woman on the verge of knowing herself is the most attractive thing on this earth” (79). The doorbell rings, and Catherine opens the door for Sabrina. Catherine turns the lamp back on, and Leo is taken with Sabrina’s beauty. After a moment, Leo exclaims that he needs to paint and leaves.
Once the two women are alone, Catherine asks Sabrina about their experiment with the vibrator, wondering how Sabrina could feel sleepy afterward while Catherine felt invigorated. Sabrina comments that she is more concerned that Dr. Givings will discover that they used the vibrator and bar her from treatment. Catherine exclaims that she plans to continue experimenting with the vibrator until she figures out why they have such different reactions. Dr. Givings enters to invite Sabrina into his office, clearly displeased that his wife is befriending his patients. The doorbell rings, and Leo enters, having left his scarf behind. Boldly, Catherine invites him to stay and have tea since he will have to wait for Sabrina’s treatment to be over anyways. Leo begins to talk about the weather, rambling awkwardly when they hear Sabrina start to moan. Catherine exclaims that she is tired of niceties and that she experienced something earth-shattering, demanding, “Here is my riddle: what is a thing that can put a man to death and also bring him back to life again?” (84).
Leo replies that the answer is love. Elizabeth enters and tells Catherine that Lotty ate well and is now asleep. Leo insists that he needs to paint Elizabeth while she nurses the baby, calling her, “A Madonna for our times. A Madonna after the Civil War” (85). Elizabeth asserts that no man aside from her husband has ever seen her nurse, and Leo offers to pay her $10 an hour (now equivalent to about $175). Elizabeth agrees as long as her husband never knows, and Leo disguises her face. Catherine is stunned. Dr. Givings enters with Sabrina, and Leo goes to get his scarf. The doorbell rings, and Mr. Daldry enters. In the next room, Leo eyes the vibrator, curious as to how it would work on a woman. Mr. Daldry comments on Sabrina’s progress, suggesting perhaps that she no longer needs treatment. Both Sabrina and Dr. Givings insist that she is not ready to stop. Leo and Mr. Daldry meet. Mr. Daldry has brought Sabrina’s coat since it has begun to snow. The Daldrys, Leo, and Elizabeth all leave.
Alone with her husband, Catherine announces that they should fire Elizabeth. Dr. Givings is confused since their daughter is happy and well-fed. Catherine cries that Lotty is bonding more with Elizabeth because Elizabeth provides milk. She insists that she wants her husband to treat her because she isn’t mentally healthy. Dr. Givings concedes that she might benefit from his therapy as long as she doesn’t tell anyone since it would be unscientific for a doctor to treat his wife. In the operating theater, Catherine undresses, and Dr. Givings applies the vibrator emotionlessly. Catherine begs him to kiss her, finally kissing him deeply while manipulating the vibrator herself. Dr. Givings pulls away, exclaiming that for a woman who isn’t ill, the treatment will only make her excited and promote masturbation. He declares the treatment a failure, and Catherine, who has not achieved orgasm, pleads with him to kiss her. Dr. Givings kisses Catherine chastely, prompting her to shout, “This is inadequate! You are inadequate!” (96).
Dr. Givings tells his wife that attempting to treat her was not a good idea and suggests that she lie down. Angrily, Catherine announces that she is going to take a walk instead. When they first met, Catherine describes, she wrote her name in the snow outside of his window because a gift or a gesture ought to be frivolous and romantic, but Dr. Givings was always too practical. Dr. Givings attempts to apologize again, but she storms out into the snow without a jacket. He calls to her to take her coat, wondering, “Did you really write your name in the snow?” (98). Dr. Givings pauses for a moment, splashing his face at the sink. He calls for Annie and tells her that he has an idea for a vibrator made of water, since the water would be calming and therefore useful to women who are excitable like his wife. Annie leaves. Catherine enters the living room with Leo, laughing. Leo discovered Catherine making snow angels and brought her home because she wasn’t properly dressed for the cold.
Catherine exclaims that the cold makes her feel alive. She asks Leo how her husband’s treatment works for a man, wondering where on his body he inserts the vibrator. Leo refuses to tell her as it would be impolite. Catherine touches his cheek, and Dr. Givings enters, still barking orders at Annie. Dr. Givings sees Catherine touching Leo’s face, and Catherine lowers her hand. Leo explains that he took Catherine home so she would not get sick. Dr. Givings expresses appreciation, and Leo leaves. Dr. Givings asks his wife about what he walked in on. Catherine admits that she was touching Leo’s cheek and is exasperated that her husband isn’t jealous or upset. Dr. Givings asserts calmly that it is his fault that she is acting this way because he made the mistake of giving her the treatment, so he doesn’t mind. Catherine replies, “Oh. I had hoped that you would mind” (103). Furious, Catherine exits, ordering her husband not to speak to her tonight or tomorrow and slamming the door.
Act II, Scene 2 Summary
A few days have passed, and Elizabeth is in the living room, nursing the baby and dressed as the Virgin Mary while Leo paints her. Agitated and envious, Catherine paces. She tells Leo that she is anxious because Dr. Givings will return soon and he would disapprove. Leo argues that as a scientist, Dr. Givings would not be bothered by something as natural as nursing. After Lotty finishes eating, Catherine tries to take her, but Leo insists that he needs to finish painting Elizabeth’s hands. Dr. Givings enters, aghast at what is happening. Then, pretending nothing has happened, he tells Leo to meet him in the operating theater. Leo asserts again that Dr. Givings wasn’t concerned because he is a scientist. In the operating theater, Dr. Givings is terse with Leo, commenting that he seems to have become friendly with Catherine. When the treatment is finished, Dr. Givings tells Leo that he is cured and does not need to return.
The doorbell rings, and the Daldrys enter. Sabrina asks her husband to take a walk and allow her to speak alone with Catherine about needlepoint. Once Mr. Daldry leaves, Sabrina brings up Catherine’s question about how they could have had such different experiences of the vibrator. Sabrina has an idea as to how they might experiment again but becomes quiet when Elizabeth enters. As Elizabeth leaves, Catherine stops her and asks if Elizabeth has ever felt anything like what Sabrina and Catherine describe feeling while using the vibrator. Elizabeth replies that what they’re saying sounds like either some kind of fever or simply what women might feel during sex with their husbands. Sabrina and Catherine are shocked at this thought, and Elizabeth is surprised to learn that they aren’t talking about sex. Sabrina comments that she would be ashamed if her husband saw her in such a state. Leo enters, and Elizabeth says goodbye. Leo offers to walk her home several times, but Elizabeth declines.
Leo tells Catherine that he has been pronounced cured, and Dr. Givings enters to see Leo hold his wife’s hand and promise that they’ll meet again. Leo exits, and Dr. Givings sends Sabrina into the operating theater. He confronts his wife, asking if she is trying to humiliate him. Dr. Givings states that Catherine hasn’t eaten breakfast with him for the last five days, and Catherine complains that he is always silent at breakfast anyway. Dr. Givings exclaims, “My God, woman, we are married, a man needs to be quiet at least once a day” (119), and Catherine explodes that she will be “quiet as a mouse” (119). Mr. Daldry enters as Catherine goads her husband by talking about what Leo told her about breakfast in Italy—that Italians eat little if any breakfast, just enough to “recover from the great passions they spent during the night” (119). Oblivious, Mr. Daldry comments that a person ought to have some meat at breakfast for energy, and Catherine replies that she already has more energy than she needs. Annie calls for Dr. Givings, and he exits to the operating theater.
Dr. Givings, preoccupied, places the vibrator on Sabrina’s stomach then apologizes. In the living room, Mr. Daldry attempts to kiss Catherine, who slaps him. Befuddled, Mr. Daldry explains that he misinterpreted Catherine’s comment about energy, exclaiming that Sabrina is always tired and he “long[s] for a woman of energy” (122). Catherine berates him for speaking badly about Sabrina and orders him to leave. He does. In the next room, Dr. Givings points out to Sabrina that it has been taking a long time for her to reach orgasm, and Sabrina suggests that Annie might try. Dr. Givings agrees and leaves the room, encountering his wife sitting at the door. Dr. Givings calls her a “madwoman,” and Catherine accuses him of giving Sabrina what he is withholding from his wife. Dr. Givings argues that what he does is medicine, and Catherine disagrees. Dr. Givings asks about the slap he heard, but Catherine tells him nothing.
Dr. Givings and Catherine listen as Sabrina has an orgasm, even more loudly than usual. Catherine exclaims that his job is finished, and he can go to his club now to listen to lectures about the differences between alternating and direct currents. Dr. Givings asks whether Catherine prefers alternating or direct current, and Catherine says, “Direct. From here to here” (124), pointing at his heart and then her own. Dr. Givings replies that he would have predicted that she would say alternating since it’s so much more complicated and constantly changes directions. He leaves.
Catherine walks toward the operating theater. Sabrina asks Annie if she has ever tried the vibrator herself, and Annie replies that she hasn’t because she rarely gets sick. Sabrina offers to hold it for her so she can try it, but Annie says that Dr. Givings wouldn’t like that. Catherine enters and tells the two women that both Dr. Givings and Mr. Daldry left. Catherine offers to leave them alone, and for a moment, it seems as if the three of them could potentially experiment with the vibrator together. They look to each other and then the machine.
After a moment, Sabrina states that she should put her clothes back on. Catherine offers to help Annie clean up, but Annie declines. Catherine leaves, and Annie helps Sabrina with her clothing. Sabrina suggests that she and Annie continue with their lesson about the Greek philosophers, and they talk about Thales for a moment. Sabrina compliments Annie’s eyes, curious why Annie never married. Annie replies, “One day, I woke up, and it was too late” (127). Sabrina wonders if there might be a version of the vibrator that she could use at home. Annie offers to ask Dr. Givings because Sabrina is too timid to bring it up. They say goodbye, and Sabrina thanks her for teaching her about the Greeks. After Sabrina leaves, Annie looks at the vibrator as if she is considering trying it but decides against it. In the living room, Sabrina is concerned that Catherine doesn’t look well. Catherine asks Sabrina if the experience of love and marriage has been anything like she imagined. Sabrina says is hasn’t, and Catherine agrees.
Sabrina plays the piano. Lotty cries offstage, and Catherine exits to take care of her. Annie enters and sits next to Sabrina at the piano. After the song ends, they kiss. Both women seem confused for a moment. Sabrina says that she should not see Annie again, and Annie agrees. They say goodbye, and Sabrina exits. Catherine enters to find Annie crying. Annie insists that the music brought her to tears and leaves even though Catherine begs her to stay.
The doorbell rings, and Elizabeth enters, out of sorts. She tells Catherine that she has to quit. Catherine pleads with her not to leave, but Elizabeth insists that Lotty no longer needs her. Catherine replies that she isn’t only asking for the sake of food. Elizabeth explains that Leo walked her to her door. Her husband saw Leo and the painting, and although he loved the painting, he insisted that Elizabeth stop working in the Givings house. Catherine says that she understands, but Elizabeth responds, “No—you don’t” (132). Elizabeth wants to say goodbye to the baby, but before she exits, Catherine asks about Elizabeth’s dead son.
Elizabeth tells Catherine that Henry Douglas died at 12 weeks from cholera. Catherine replies that the grief would have killed her, but Elizabeth says that she had to live for her other two sons. Elizabeth explains that she was taught that everyone she loved was just on loan from God but that Henry Douglas felt like he belonged to her. Elizabeth confesses that she resented Lotty at first because she wanted the milk that was supposed to be for him to dry up. After a while, she developed affection for Lotty. Elizabeth tells Catherine to always remember that the milk that fed Lotty and kept her alive came from the blood of Elizabeth’s son. The women say goodbye, and Elizabeth goes into the nursery.
Catherine starts to go to the operating theater, but the doorbell rings again. Leo enters and tells Catherine that he has decided to move to Paris tomorrow. She begs him to take her with him because she has fallen in love with him, but Leo explains that he doesn’t love her back. Leo is going to Paris because he is in love with Elizabeth, and Elizabeth had rebuffed him. Catherine begs again for Leo to take her to Paris, but Leo can’t understand why she is lonely when she has a family. Leo leaves.
Catherine goes to the operating theater, but she is crying too hard for the vibrator to be effective. Dr. Givings enters, and Catherine weeps, “I am alone” (138). Dr. Givings insists that he is right there. Catherine wonders if he really loves her and admits that she fell a little bit in love with Leo. Dr. Givings is jealous, a feeling that he isn’t familiar with. Catherine begs him to quit his practice and tells him that she was told that some women experience the same sensations with their husbands. They have a moment of intimacy and tenderness, and Catherine asks her husband to take her out to the garden to make love, even though it is winter. The house falls away, and they are outside. They undress, and Catherine says that she has never seen him fully naked, just in the dark and under blankets. Dr. Givings is shy, but Catherine tells him that no one will be able to see them because the streetlamps aren’t fully electric. They lie down together, and Catherine cries out as the lights go dark.
Act II Analysis
In the first act, the characters fantasize about intimacy. In the second act, they each discover that their fantasies were grander than reality. Catherine, who has been longing for romance, meets Leo and imagines that she and the artist might run away together. Sabrina, who calls out Annie’s name when she orgasms in the first act, finally kisses Annie only to decide to go back home to her husband. Elizabeth, who has become attached to Lotty and allowed Leo to idolize her, goes home to her husband. Mr. Daldry, who has become lonely while dreaming about the younger version of his wife, projects those fantasies onto Catherine, but Catherine makes Mr. Daldry feel like a fool when he attempts to act on those fantasies. Leo is bewildered when Catherine confesses her own loneliness because she is far from alone, and in the end, Catherine must show her husband that he has been denying her intimacy while performing intimate acts on his patients.
The introduction of Leo in the second act shows that emotionality and ennui, which Dr. Givings diagnoses as hysteria, are not solely female traits. Leo’s brand of romanticism seems exciting to Catherine, who imagines a burgeoning love affair with the painter, but what Catherine takes for intimacy from Leo turns out to be nothing more than empty drama and performance. He places Elizabeth on a pedestal, idealizing her as the Virgin Mary and histrionically proclaiming that he is escaping to Paris and married to his own solitude when she predictably refuses to leave her husband and children for him. Leo is the opposite of Dr. Givings, who is practical and dispassionate and proclaims this emotionlessness as a necessary trait for a scientist. When Dr. Givings finally agrees to use the vibrator on Catherine, he is immediately afraid of losing control when his wife attempts to mix passion with his “medical treatment.”
While Dr. Givings seems to imagine that he has essentially invented the female orgasm, the conversation that Sabrina and Catherine have with Elizabeth demonstrates that the two women’s inexperience with sexual gratification is just a consequence of upper-class White repression. Since emotional and physical control are necessary aspects of propriety, enjoying sex is inappropriate for a woman in polite society. Dr. Givings’ major medical breakthrough is the discovery that sexual fulfillment is beneficial for a woman, but it is only permissible for women to feel sexual pleasure if it is called something else. A medical procedure is cold and clinical, so as a doctor, Dr. Givings can witness women as they experience something that they would be too embarrassed to experience with their husbands. At the end of the play, Catherine doesn’t tell her husband to make love to her. She says, “Open me.” Dr. Givings yields to Catherine’s desire for intimacy, and she sees her husband fully naked for the first time in their marriage. For the first time, they are vulnerable and open to each other.
