ENGL 6480/7480 | Studies in Contemporary Literature: Mad Men and the Sixties Dr. David Lavery Summer 2015

ENGL 6480/7480 | Studies in Contemporary Literature: Mad Men and the Sixties 2 2 Season two opens on Valentine's Day, 1962, fifteen months after the events of season one. The Draper marriage seems to be on sturdier footing, while Peggy has returned to work. Joan and Roger have ended their romance. Betty has taken up horseback riding as a hobby and rebuffs the constant flirtations of a male fellow rider, Arthur Case.PeggyJoanRogerBetty Sterling Cooper travels further into the "Pepsi Generation" as signing youth talent becomes a priority at the behest of "Duck" Phillips, Draper's choice as head of accounts from the previous year. Duck then convinces the firm to try and sign his old client, American Airlines, after the airline publicly announces a shift in marketing. Draper protests, as pitching for the project requires the firm to drop Mohawk Airlines, one of Draper's main clients. The American Airlines pitch fails, significantly harming Phillips' reputation at the firm and creating palpable tension with Draper.Pepsi Generation"Duck" PhillipsAmerican AirlinesMohawk Airlines Joan, having been outed to her coworkers by Paul as being 31 years old, becomes engaged to medical resident Greg Harris, who ultimately rapes Joan inside Don's office prior to the couple's wedding. In spite of this, Joan remains with her fiancé.PaulGreg Harris

ENGL 6480/7480 | Studies in Contemporary Literature: Mad Men and the Sixties 2 2 As fellow creative Freddy Rumsen devolves into alcoholism, Don has to step in to handle the obnoxious antics of his talent, comedian Jimmy Barrett, and ends up having an extramarital affair with Barrett's wife, Bobbie. Don's relationship with Bobbie is significantly more volatile than his past affairs. After Don discovers that Bobbie and other women around town have been discussing Don's sexual prowess, Don leaves her tied to a hotel bed in her lingerie. Later, a resentful Jimmy tells Betty about the affair, eventually causing her to kick Don out of the family home.Jimmy Barrett Peggy, meanwhile, strikes up a courteous friendship with her priest, Father Gill. Peggy's sister tells Father Gill about Peggy's previous pregnancy during confession, which he subtly reveals to Peggy. Flashbacks to January 1961 reveal that Don was Peggy's only visitor at the hospital after her child was born. Don had convinced her to get out of the hospital and return to work, telling her, "This never happened. It will shock you how much it never happened.“Father Gill After a short affair, Roger proposes to Jane Siegel, a secretary, and ends his marriage with Mona, causing personal and (with a looming divorce) financial pressures in the partnership.Jane SiegelMona Don takes a business trip to California during his exile from home. He ends up meeting with his best friend, Anna Draper, the wife of the original Don Draper. Anna comforts Don about his current marital troubles and identity crisis. Don returns home as the Cuban missile crisis begins.Anna DraperCuban missile crisis

ENGL 6480/7480 | Studies in Contemporary Literature: Mad Men and the Sixties 2 2 While Don is away, Roger bluntly informs Duck that a partnership is not forthcoming. Duck then meets with executives from his former London firm, Putnam, Powel & Lowe, who refuse to hire him. Duck, in desperation, informs them of Sterling Cooper's vulnerable position and pitches a buyout, with Duck being appointed President. PPL then offers the buyout to Bert and Roger, through Duck. Roger's looming divorce makes the sale especially enticing to him, and after discussions between Bert and his sister, who is revealed as a major partner in the firm, the buyout is accepted in Don's absence. Duck informs Pete that he plans to either have Draper follow his lead or be sent out the door, using the non-compete clause in Don's contract as leverage.BertPete When Don returns, Pete immediately informs Don of Duck's plans. At the initial meeting with the lead SC and PPL executives, Draper informs them that he would not work under Duck's vision of the agency. After Duck directly challenges Don, Don informs him that he is not under any contract to the agency, to Duck's petulant surprise. Betty learns from her doctor that she is expecting another child. After subtle questions about abortion, the doctor chides her to keep the child. Betty has sex with a stranger at a local bar. She returns home to find a letter from Don, begging her to let him come home. The season closes as Betty informs him of their new child.

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