The play The Shape of Things asks a very important question. Is Eve the villain of the play and is that a fair question to ask? Eve takes a surprising interest in Adam, a true nerd at heart. He never really had much luck attracting women, yet was able to get Eve's interest. Why was this?
Eve used her attractive looks and nature to gain the trust of Adam. Unbeknownst to him, she had decided to try and experiment on him. She had been challenged to "change the world" as part of her college work. Instead she decided to "change someone's world." Once she gained Adam's trust, she used him to alter his looks by agreeing to have plastic surgery. She got him to "dress better" than he used to. She got him to "eat healthier" than he used to. She was able to manipulate and change his physical appearance. Once she gained Adam's trust, she also used that to change his friendships. She broke up his best friends and got Adam to cut himself off from them. Her efforts were all about her self gain and self interest in accomplishing her goal. She had no regard for how Adam would feel in the process or the outcome.
Eve was not the villain of the play. Adam was because he got taken in by a beautiful woman. He lacked the self confidence to be who he really was. He was easily manipulated and deserved the outcome he got. Eve made him more attractive and a more interesting person to most people - but Adam could not appreciate these things when Eve explained that none of her feelings for him were true.
Trust in someone does not come without a price. Eve got Adam to trust her because of the things she said and did to him. He believed in her. He loved her. He asked her to marry him. One should not take another person's trust lightly. Eve did. She changed Adam to suit her needs, not his. Eve starts with the letter e and so does evil.
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