Vanegas 1

Mirian Vanegas

Prof. Jennifer Rodrick

Eng 115

11/18/18

Play It As It Lays

Abuse. There are signs and there is proof that it exists in relationships or atleast in toxic

relationships that appear in this book and in real life. In Play It As It Lays we can see how in

everyone’s relationship there is abuse whether it be physical, mental, and emotional. These forms

of abuse have influenced the type of relationship between themselves and other people. Maria is

clear example of how abuse has affected her life and her choices. Although we see Maria’s

struggle with abuse there are other characters in the book that aren’t as important but their abuse

is brought up to light because of Maria.

One of the relationships that is very toxic is the one between Helene and BZ. Although

we don’t really get much insight in their day to day lives we can see the overall picture of their

relationship. In page 48, Maria and Carter in a conversation talked about the arrangement

between Helene, BZ, and Carlotta which was that they would get money from Carlotta as long as

they would stay married. This relationship is toxic since in the book it is implied that BZ is gay

but that isn’t why this relationship is toxic. BZ and Helene’s relationship is toxic because he

controls Helene in numerous ways and he makes sure to remind her that the only reason they are

together is because they both get money from his mother. In Chapter 63 we see for the first time

that BZ hits Helene and that Maria witnessed and encouraged him to keep doing so. Overall BZ

and Helene’s relationship is fully based on BZ controlling her and doing what he pleases and just

making sure they stay married for financial matters. Not only was there physical abuse there was
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drug abuse as well. BZ’s cause of death was drug abuse since he overdosed on Seconal and the

reason why did so was because he had lost control of his life and as he put it in his words

“Someday you’ll wake up and you just won’t feel like playing any more”. Although this type of

abuse wasn’t physical, mental, or emotional these three types of of abuse led to him to end his

life by abusing of drugs.