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The Columbus Record
The diaphragm represents Neil’s desire to take the upper hand in his and Brenda’s sexual relationship. A diaphragm is a type of contraceptive device; it is a cap that is used during sex to block a woman’s cervix and prevent pregnancy. At this time in the 1950s, diaphragms were usually only given to married women by doctors. In Goodbye, Columbus, Neil insists that Brenda get a diaphragm as a way of demonstrating her commitment to him. Brenda is hesitant, knowing she will have to lie about her marital status to get one, but ultimately relents, giving Neil power over decisions about Brenda’s sexuality and affirming that she is serious about him. However, when Mrs. Patimkin finds the diaphragm in Brenda’s dresser, she is scandalized that her daughter is having premarital sex and sends Brenda a distraught letter. This forces Brenda to break up with Neil, feeling that she will not be accepted by her family unless she does so. Thus, the diaphragm illustrates how the power struggle between Neil and Brenda ultimately ruins their relationship.
Diaphragm Quotes in Goodbye, Columbus
The Goodbye, Columbus quotes below all refer to the symbol of Diaphragm. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 3
Quotes
When I began to unbutton her dress she resisted me, and I like to think it was because she knew how lovely she looked in it. But she looked lovely, my Brenda, anyway, and we folded it carefully and held each other close and soon there we were, Brenda falling, slowly but with a smile, and me, rising.
How can I describe loving Brenda? It was so sweet, as though I’d finally scored that twenty-first point.
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Chapter 6
Quotes
“Okay,” I said. “I just wish you’d realize what it is you’re getting angry about. It’s not my suggestion, Brenda.”
“No? What is it?”
“It’s me.”
“Oh don’t start that again, will you? I can’t win, no matter what I say.”
“Yes, you can,” I said. “You have.”
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Chapter 7
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God, I said, I am twenty-three years old. I want to make the best of things. Now the doctor is about to wed Brenda to me, and I am not entirely certain this is all for the best. What is it I love, Lord? Why have I chosen? Who is Brenda? The race is to the swift. Should I have stopped to think?
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Chapter 8
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What was it inside me that had turned pursuit and clutching into love and then turned it inside out again? What was it that had turned winning into losing, and losing—who knows—into winning? I was sure I had loved Brenda, though standing there, I knew I couldn’t any longer. And I knew it would be a long while before I made love to anyone the way I had made love to her. With anyone else, could I summon up such a passion? Whatever spurred my love for her, had that spawned such lust too? If she had only been slightly not Brenda…but then would I have loved her?
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Diaphragm Symbol Timeline in Goodbye, Columbus
The timeline below shows where the symbol Diaphragm appears in Goodbye, Columbus. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 6
...have dinner at the airport. Neil then asks Brenda, hesitantly, if she would get a diaphragm from a doctor. She assures him that they’re safe and that she doesn’t need one....
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...with her. She agrees, then explains that she just doesn’t feel old enough for a diaphragm, and that she’d have to lie to the doctor to get one. Neil says that...
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...understand her side of the argument. Neil counters that Brenda is not angry about the diaphragm, but is instead angry about him. She dismisses this argument, saying that she can’t win...
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...her to get him something, she balks and gets upset, thinking that he means a diaphragm. He assures her that he wasn’t even thinking about that.
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...she called the Margaret Sanger Clinic when she was in New York to get a diaphragm, and they asked if she was married. She said no and then she hung up,...
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Chapter 7
...that Brenda might have disobeyed him. But then Brenda tells Neil that she’s wearing the diaphragm. Neil says that he loves her. That night, they make love very tenderly, nervous about...
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Chapter 8
...out about her and Neil sleeping together over the summer, because her mother found her diaphragm at home. Both Mr. and Mrs. Patimkin had sent her letters, which she shows to...
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After reading both letters, Neil asks Brenda why she left the diaphragm at home. Brenda says that she didn’t plan on using it at school and thought...
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Neil again returns to accusing Brenda of leaving the diaphragm for Mrs. Patimkin to find, implying that Brenda wanted to ruin their relationship. She says...
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