As much as I hate forced comparisons between Mad Men and Matthew Weiner’s previous television hit The Sopranos, one element of “The Suitcase” is worthy of such consideration. Specifically, the suitcase motif parallels a similar use of the device in “Mayhem” from the last season of The Sopranos.
In “Mayhem,” Tony, on the brink of death, has a coma induced dream (which could be interpreted as an actual supernatural experience) where he takes on the identity of Kevin Finnerty (“infinity”). During the last part of the “dream” sequence, when he is just about to surrender to death, another character in the vision tries to take Finnerty’s briefcase. Tony/Kevin protests and, clinging to the case, explains that his entire life is held within it.
This theme is something that has certainly been explored in Mad Men as well.
Of course, the opening credits animation prominently depicts an executive setting his briefcase down before falling off the side of the building.
In the second season, suitcases played a role in three successive episodes.
“Six Months Leave” shows Freddy Rumsen reading aloud the magazine ad copy he has written while preparing his pitch for Samsonite. It describes the sadness of an imaginary customer upon discovering that their suitcase, though beautiful on the outside, is empty (much like Freddy’s own life at that moment).
When Betty informs Don of Gene’s stroke in “The Inheritance,” she mentions dreaming of a suitcase. Later, Don finds his find his wife’s suitcase (a Samsonite perhaps?) fully packed.
The last shot of “The Jet Set” focuses on Don’s suitcase being left at his front door.
In Season 4′s “The Suitcase,” Don discusses with Peggy (and the audience) the idea of a suitcase being a “metaphor” for one’s life. While working late to come up with an ad concept for Samsonite, Don and Peggy discuss throwing the suitcase off the side of the building (evoking images of the falling figure from the aforementioned opening credits).
So, I think it’s fair to say that Don’s vision of Anna’s ghost (or phantom in an episode centered around the infamous Clay/Liston “Phantom Punch” fight) carrying a suitcase has symbolic importance. IF a suitcase represents a person’s life, what is the significance of the one Anna is holding in Don’s dream? It’s been noted how much more at peace Anna seems (her limp gone). But to say that the suitcase is a symbol of her life doesn’t seem quite right. This is Don’s vision after all. Clearly, Anna’s death is yet another severing of ties for Don with his past life as Dick Whitman. It’s that past life, I’d argue, that is symbolized by the suitcase Anna carries when she vanishes (both literally and figuratively). And with her, Don may hope, the phantom pains that were left on his psyche as well.
56 Responses to “Pack Up Your Troubles”
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OMG! Kili you are so right. I don’t think I’ve read anything here about it after Suitcase, but now I am starting to remember!
So now Dr. Lyle Evans is supposed to have removed at least one of Bert’s … oh god help us all!! I am online typing about Bert Cooper’s balls.
Please refresh my memory of how she was introduced. Nobody knew who she was supposed to be right? Help please.
And why do I think Dr Lyle is a woman?
When Peggy and Don were listening to the tape, didn’t Roger speculate that Bert had HIM (Dr. Evans) killed?
Bert might still have his nads if he had visited Dr. John Brinkley and had a Goat Gland implant.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_R._Brinkley
Then again, maybe he did that and Dr. Evans thought the only way to undo the damage by Dr. Brinkley’s quackery, was to remove everything – goat glands and all!
Roger stated in the ‘C & the Sword’, when told that the agency was pitching the Honda business, that we might as well get Dr. Lyle Evans in here. More than likely meaning if the agency is going to give up their self respect they may as well have their balls cut off.
I love reading this blog after watching MM. People have so many different ways to interpret an episode. I personally think MW doesn’t have the time to cook up all the metaphors and symbolism that people see. When I hear experts talk about the work of a master like Van Gogh or Monet, they speak of the artist devising all this visual symbolism to “lead the viewer’s eye…” etc. I think the guy was just painting a lovely scene and enjoying the day and the paint. The great thing about art is that we are all free to see it through our own eyes. It’s wonderful to hear all the meanings people find in the art of MW and writers of MM. Food for thought.
#47 SmilerG My comments weren’t an attempt to end the conversation about that particular scene–they were just my observations about a single scene in the epsiode that was packed with loads of other interesting details. And I think that most people following –and contributing their thoughts and observations– on this site are interested the hidden/deeper meanings of this brilliant show.