Was Lucy Ricardo Selfish? - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Madame X · 04-06-2007, 07:28 PM

I love Lucy Ricardo, but there were times when her actions seemed selfish. What do you think, and are there more instances?

The Tour-she constantly talks over the bus driver, changes seats, disregards other passengers and demands to get off at an unscheduled stop.

Ricky's European Booking-she stages a fake raffle just so she could go to Europe.

All the times she assumed Mrs. Trumbull would watch Little Ricky at the drop of a hat (I bet she never paid her!)

Lucy Changes Her Mind-disregards others' feelings, is late, changes tables in the restaurant and is a pain when ordering her food.

Ricky and Fred are TV Fans-for goodness sake, let the boys watch the fights once a week. Don't go on the roof to cut the power cord (and plunge the rest of the building into darkness!)

Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress-of course Lucy would never give in. She expected Ethel to.

Lucy Cries Wolf-anyone who cries wolf is selfish.

Lucy in the Swiss Alps-she hid food and tried to sneak and eat it while the others were trapped and hungry too. She lied about it.

The Great Train Robbery-she pulled the emergency cord three times for her own reasons although she was warned.

Many times she treated Ethel like an inferior and bribed her to do things.

NOVARick · 04-06-2007, 09:45 PM

Was Lucy Ricardo selfish? Totally. Maybe that's why we enjoy so much seeing her get into all those messes. Serves her right! And I'm glad to only have to watch her on the TV screen; keeping that distance from her is a good thing. I'd never actually want someone like that in my own life. I would never be able to trust her!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

I love Lucy Ricardo, but there were times when her actions seemed selfish. What do you think, and are there more instances?

The Tour-she constantly talks over the bus driver, changes seats, disregards other passengers and demands to get off at an unscheduled stop.

Ricky's European Booking-she stages a fake raffle just so she could go to Europe.

All the times she assumed Mrs. Trumbull would watch Little Ricky at the drop of a hat (I bet she never paid her!)

Lucy Changes Her Mind-disregards others' feelings, is late, changes tables in the restaurant and is a pain when ordering her food.

Ricky and Fred are TV Fans-for goodness sake, let the boys watch the fights once a week. Don't go on the roof to cut the power cord (and plunge the rest of the building into darkness!)

Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress-of course Lucy would never give in. She expected Ethel to.

Lucy Cries Wolf-anyone who cries wolf is selfish.

Lucy in the Swiss Alps-she hid food and tried to sneak and eat it while the others were trapped and hungry too. She lied about it.

The Great Train Robbery-she pulled the emergency cord three times for her own reasons although she was warned.

Many times she treated Ethel like an inferior and bribed her to do things.

Madame X · 04-06-2007, 10:59 PM

Thanks, Rick!

I thought I was the only one who saw it. I guess that's part of her charm!

Yooch · 04-06-2007, 11:19 PM

Everything that's being said in this thread so far is absolutely true, of course, and yet...Lucy is a very likeable character at the same time by most viewers. If she were not liked, I don't think the show would have enjoyed the popularity it has.

Lucy's silly, and slapstick, yet she always gets her comuppance ("Lucy, you got a lot of 'splainin to do")--yet we seem to like her anyway.

It's kind of like this: Lucy=selfish as the Three Stooges=violent

When Moe, Larry and Curly are poking each other, hitting one another over the head with hammers and such, they could be said to be modeling violence, like Lucy is showing selfishness. The fact that they are 'clowns' and you know it's not real, kind of mitigates, for me at least, the bad aspect of it--as with Lucy's selfishness. In this context, I find Lucy Ricardo's antics funny rather than contemptible.

AB · 04-07-2007, 11:39 AM

Yep, she's a little selfish but we still love her.

caladon · 04-07-2007, 11:46 AM

Being selfish is only the tip of the iceberg. The character of Lucy Ricardo was an out and out sociopath. Check out this website and see how many of the traits of a sociopath have been displayed in the character:

http://www.hss.caltech.edu/~mcafee/Bin/sb.html

Ireneparalegal · 04-07-2007, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caladon

Being selfish is only the tip of the iceberg. The character of Lucy Ricardo was an out and out sociopath. Check out this website and see how many of the traits of a sociopath have been displayed in the character:

http://www.hss.caltech.edu/~mcafee/Bin/sb.html

OMG

I have a feeling we are going to be tearing our beloved Lucy Ricardo apart. We have been coming up with some great posts/threads, etc.

Who would have thought watching ILL for decades now I would come to chat with people who have the same thoughts as I ?????

I mean, I never would have thought of Lucy as being selfish, but YES! her actions speak volumes!

Let me say the identical dress episode is one that has always bugged me. ALWAYS. For the simple reason that Ricky came up with a great idea, a sister act, wearing the same dress. Now what was wrong with that? For Lucy and Ethel to gripe abt wearing the same dress was selfish on both their parts. What was so wrong with that? I mean, it was a formal dress that they would only WEAR ONCE! so why not wear the same dress for a "friendship" number? I never understood the animosity and the selfishness that was displayed here in this episode.

NOVARick · 04-07-2007, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by caladon

Being selfish is only the tip of the iceberg. The character of Lucy Ricardo was an out and out sociopath. Check out this website and see how many of the traits of a sociopath have been displayed in the character:

http://www.hss.caltech.edu/~mcafee/Bin/sb.html

Okay, clearly Lucy does have some of those characteristics. Here's one that really jumped out at me: "Criminal or Entrepreneurial Versatility: Changes their image as needed to avoid prosecution. Changes life story readily." But from what I've read about sociopaths, one characteristic they all share is an inability to love and lack of a conscience. In spite of her childish actions, Lucy clearly loved her husband and friends. And we often saw her succumb to guilt and shame for something she had done. So I really don't think she can be characterized as a sociopath.

gidgetgrape · 04-07-2007, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame X

Lucy Cries Wolf-anyone who cries wolf is selfish.

To me, people who cry wolf are seeking attention, more than they are being selfish.

tdr · 04-10-2007, 09:22 PM

But seeking attention is a form of selfishness (ain't it?).

Anyway, Yes, Lucy was a very selfish character. As someone else had alluded comparing The 3 Stooges and their violence, we can like, even love, the characters who do these things because we know it's not real, but it is funny. Most of us probably couldn't stand anything like a real Lucy in our lives, but we can invite a fictional Lucy into our living rooms to entertain us.

Another character example of this would be Fonzie from Happy Days. Would you really want someone as a friend or renter who expects girls to obey his every wish if he snaps his fingers, he thinks he is above being insulted or even not given 100% affirmation that he is the absolute coolest, and that his selfish wants must be met "Because I'm the Fonz!" We can like a fictional character like that (and some even idolize him, as he would wish), but come on... some guy who threatens violence against you if you don't do exactly as he says, who considers himself perfect, an egotist to the extreme?

Katya · 08-06-2007, 07:21 PM

Yes she is selfish and sometimes it gets to be a bit much even for me but it's also where the comedy stems from.As for the one where Ricky and Fred are watching the fights (one of my alltime favorite episodes) remember Ricky worked at night and Lucy was alone or with Ethel and Fred it's not hard to see she may have wanted to spend time with him either going to the movies or playing cards with the Mertzes or watching something that she would enjoy as well.Her solution was drastic yes but that's what makes the show-Lucy's over the top reactions.

mrs.gingerhinkley · 08-06-2007, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by annball1957

Yep, she's a little selfish but we still love her.

Right.
if she wasn't selfish, we wouldn't enjoy watching her get into the prediciments nearly as much!!

Mikado · 08-06-2007, 09:43 PM

verrrrrrrryyyyyyyy innnnnnnnnnnterestingggggg!

Janice · 08-08-2007, 02:47 PM

I like watching the show, but I would never want to have her as a friend in real life.

Scoobiedoo30 · 08-08-2007, 03:46 PM

I think I mean some where that Lucy did not get along with the other 2 cast members who played The Mertz.

04-06-2007, 07:28 PM	#1
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	Was Lucy Ricardo Selfish? I love Lucy Ricardo, but there were times when her actions seemed selfish. What do you think, and are there more instances? The Tour-she constantly talks over the bus driver, changes seats, disregards other passengers and demands to get off at an unscheduled stop. Ricky's European Booking-she stages a fake raffle just so she could go to Europe. All the times she assumed Mrs. Trumbull would watch Little Ricky at the drop of a hat (I bet she never paid her!) Lucy Changes Her Mind-disregards others' feelings, is late, changes tables in the restaurant and is a pain when ordering her food. Ricky and Fred are TV Fans-for goodness sake, let the boys watch the fights once a week. Don't go on the roof to cut the power cord (and plunge the rest of the building into darkness!) Lucy and Ethel Buy the Same Dress-of course Lucy would never give in. She expected Ethel to. Lucy Cries Wolf-anyone who cries wolf is selfish. Lucy in the Swiss Alps-she hid food and tried to sneak and eat it while the others were trapped and hungry too. She lied about it. The Great Train Robbery-she pulled the emergency cord three times for her own reasons although she was warned. Many times she treated Ethel like an inferior and bribed her to do things.

04-06-2007, 11:19 PM	#4
Yooch Member Forum 3000 Club Member Join Date: Apr 07, 2006 Location: California Posts: 3,180	Everything that's being said in this thread so far is absolutely true, of course, and yet...Lucy is a very likeable character at the same time by most viewers. If she were not liked, I don't think the show would have enjoyed the popularity it has. Lucy's silly, and slapstick, yet she always gets her comuppance ("Lucy, you got a lot of 'splainin to do")--yet we seem to like her anyway. It's kind of like this: Lucy=selfish as the Three Stooges=violent When Moe, Larry and Curly are poking each other, hitting one another over the head with hammers and such, they could be said to be modeling violence, like Lucy is showing selfishness. The fact that they are 'clowns' and you know it's not real, kind of mitigates, for me at least, the bad aspect of it--as with Lucy's selfishness. In this context, I find Lucy Ricardo's antics funny rather than contemptible.
	__________________ "The true meaning of America, you ask? It's in a Texas rodeo, in a policeman's badge, in the sound of laughing children, in a political rally, in a newspaper...In all these things and many more, you'll find freedom. And freedom is what America means to the world. And to me." --Audie Leon Murphy June 20, 1924-- May 28, 1971

08-08-2007, 03:46 PM	#15
Scoobiedoo30 Member Forum Superstar Join Date: Jun 27, 2002 Location: KENNER, LOUISIANA Posts: 27,654	I think I mean some where that Lucy did not get along with the other 2 cast members who played The Mertz.
	__________________ Who Dat

04-06-2007, 10:59 PM	#3
Madame X Member Senior Member Join Date: Sep 15, 2006 Location: Oregon Posts: 1,831	Thanks, Rick! I thought I was the only one who saw it. I guess that's part of her charm!

04-07-2007, 11:39 AM	#5
AB Member Eternal Member Forum Icon Join Date: Dec 26, 2006 Location: The South Posts: 59,428	Yep, she's a little selfish but we still love her.

04-07-2007, 11:46 AM	#6
caladon Member Senior Member Join Date: Jun 30, 2001 Location: Massachusetts state home for the bewildered Posts: 1,151	Being selfish is only the tip of the iceberg. The character of Lucy Ricardo was an out and out sociopath. Check out this website and see how many of the traits of a sociopath have been displayed in the character: http://www.hss.caltech.edu/~mcafee/Bin/sb.html

04-10-2007, 09:22 PM	#10
tdr Member Senior Member Join Date: Mar 23, 2001 Posts: 1,454	But seeking attention is a form of selfishness (ain't it?). Anyway, Yes, Lucy was a very selfish character. As someone else had alluded comparing The 3 Stooges and their violence, we can like, even love, the characters who do these things because we know it's not real, but it is funny. Most of us probably couldn't stand anything like a real Lucy in our lives, but we can invite a fictional Lucy into our living rooms to entertain us. Another character example of this would be Fonzie from Happy Days. Would you really want someone as a friend or renter who expects girls to obey his every wish if he snaps his fingers, he thinks he is above being insulted or even not given 100% affirmation that he is the absolute coolest, and that his selfish wants must be met "Because I'm the Fonz!" We can like a fictional character like that (and some even idolize him, as he would wish), but come on... some guy who threatens violence against you if you don't do exactly as he says, who considers himself perfect, an egotist to the extreme?

08-06-2007, 07:21 PM	#11
Katya Member Occasional Poster Join Date: May 05, 2006 Location: California Posts: 72	Yes she is selfish and sometimes it gets to be a bit much even for me but it's also where the comedy stems from.As for the one where Ricky and Fred are watching the fights (one of my alltime favorite episodes) remember Ricky worked at night and Lucy was alone or with Ethel and Fred it's not hard to see she may have wanted to spend time with him either going to the movies or playing cards with the Mertzes or watching something that she would enjoy as well.Her solution was drastic yes but that's what makes the show-Lucy's over the top reactions.

08-06-2007, 09:43 PM	#13
Mikado Main st bridge Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 06, 2005 Posts: 25,886	verrrrrrrryyyyyyyy innnnnnnnnnnterestingggggg!

08-08-2007, 02:47 PM	#14
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,388	I like watching the show, but I would never want to have her as a friend in real life.