Discussing
Ecclesiastes and the women of Mad Men

Mad Men has been asking this question all season, what is it that drives us and what do we do after we get everything we thought that we wanted? Can things really make us happy? Can one really be fulfilled in this life or is it just a quick succession of busy nothings? There always seems to be something better, just over the horizon, the grass is always greener, our friend’s wife is always prettier, our coworker’s car is always better and the list could go on forever.

I am with you on Peggy and Joan. Betty has been dissatisfied and restless this season as well. I did love her last scene with Sally. I hope it's the beginning of some sort of character arc. I am as weary with Betty as she is with herself. Megan seems to be the female character who has done some honest assessment and stepped out to pursue what she loves. The fact that she's good at advertising isn't enough. I see signs of depth in her character. She's making Don reassess his self absorbed approach. He seemed to be close to smelling he Ecclesiastes smoke in previous seasons but Don's seemed stalled this season. Everything that happened in the last episode hinted that Don is in for some more soul searching next season.

I have to admit, I've never watched a single "Mad Men" episode (my loss, I know - I need to rectify that when I find the time...). So I can't really comment on most of this post. :-)

Still, I was struck by your use of the phrase "ready for God" at the very end. I wondered what it meant to be ready for God. On the one hand, no one can be ready for God, at least on our own - I mean, good enough to stand in the presence of God under our own merit. But on the other hand, it seems strangely contrary to the Gospel to suggest anyone wasn't God-ready. In my church (Methodist) we often take of God taking us as we are and remaking us into what we ought to be.

Still, a very thought-provoking look at the series. I enjoy reading peoples' reflections on the series even though I've never watched it.

Hi Marta. Ah, I certainly agree that God meets "takes us where we're at"--we're never in some magic state "ready" (think, after all, of Saul on the road to Damascus). :) So I can see why the phrase "ready for God" would stick out--and perhaps it wasn't quite the right way to say what I meant. All meant to get at, here, was that I doubted either Joan/Peggy would soon be in a state where they were accepting God into their lives and making their decision based on their relationship with Him. It's not impossible, of course! Just seems a leap that neither of them will soon make (especially as Peggy, who grew up in a religious household, hasn't shown any signs of embracing a personal relationship with God). But again, perhaps the "ready" phrase wasn't quite the right way to say it.

In any case, glad you enjoyed the post! And yes, although Mad Men is not an easy series to watch, I definitely think it's a series worth finding the time for--and it asks valuable questions of its Christian viewer.

Thanks for your comment.