Maria is tormented and depressed in Joan Didion’s novel, Play It as It Lays, but she finds a solace driving along the roadways of Los Angeles, California. When Maria attempts to ease her mind by seeing a hypnotist, he tells her to envision her mother, but she responds, “No… I’m driving here… I’m driving Sunset and I’m staying in the left lane because I can see the Havana Ballroom and I’m going to turn left at the New Havana Ballroom. That’s what I’m doing” (124). This passage reveals Maria’s mind wanders to the road. Driving feels like a safer topic for her mind to explore than other difficult avenues of her life, such as her absent daughter, her abortion, or her failed marriage.
Billy Wilder’s film, Sunset Boulevard, utilizes cars to reflect the situations of the characters. At the beginning of the film, Joe’s car breaks down and he pulls into what he believes in an abandoned garage. After he starts working for Norma, he finds himself trapped in her home. Without his car, he is stuck in her mercy. His broken car represents where Joe is in his own life as he is unable to move on from his dependency on Norma. On the other hand, Norma’s car, once beautiful then forgotten, is a perfect metaphor for Norma herself. Norma was a Hollywood star during the silent era of film, but was swept aside when talking pictures took over.
There is overlap in the use of driving between Play It as It Lays and Sunset Boulevard. Maria drives as an escape. Driving also allows Maria to isolate herself while keeping herself occupied. Similarly, Norma take drives because she finds it an appealing way to get out of her house, spend time with Joe, while remaining isolated from the rest of the world.
We'll Always Have Los Angeles 
I liked when you compared Play It as It Lays to Sunset Boulevard, you explain how without a car, Joe is trapped in Norma’s home and really has nowhere else to go. I do see how driving does becomes an escape for both characters to either keep themselves occupied or spend time with an other person. Good job!
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I really like your point that the character’s cars are used to represent their situations. The cars are able to develop the characters in each plot. Maria is very numb from the many struggles her life has brought upon her, and her car represents her desire to escape them. We also see Joe’s car representing his struggle to keep up with his demanding career in order to pay his bills. I like your analysis of Norma as well! Very good job!
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I liked how you talk about how the cars are essential in the plot and storyline. You did a good job explaining how Maria car is her means of escape while Joe feels trapped by this car because he has to pay for it. You did a good job comparing and contrasting the two characters and going into depth about the scenes the cars are involved.
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