4000 Miles

     I totally agree that an incredibly strong motif in Amy Herzog's 4000 Miles is disconnection. Vera's use of the term "whaddayacallit" (her disconnect with words and memory) and Vera and Leo's disability to fully communicate with each other are among many examples of "disconnect", but I am tempted to delve into another, more specific motif - Leo's failing relationships with women. 

     Leo has a handfull of women he is struggling with during the course of 4000 Miles. He can't stand dealing with his mother, Jane. "Jane and I are at a juncture where more talking is not better than less talking," and, "...if this is gonna be about calling Jane, and a last minute hellaciously overpriced plane flight for which she has to take a Valium because she's a phobic freak..." are two examples of Leo's struggle to connect to his mom. The fact that he refers to her as "Jane" and not as "mom" is alone a strong message of the space between them (space here meaning both figuratively and literally, Leo biking across the country, very far from home.) 

     Leo's relationship to Grandma Vera is another failing relationship. I mean, really, who smokes weed with the grandmother? And on top of that, who brings up their ex-girlfriend's "weird pussy"? But hey, who am I to judge? Maybe it's a northern thing... Anyway, Vera's preliminary excitement that Leo has decided to stay for a while slowly fades to distrust and annoyance. Vera begins to think Leo isn't being truthful about his money borrowing, and suspects Leo of breaking things and not telling her. It becomes muddled whether this is Vera's old age or the strain on Leo and Vera's relationship. 

     Leo fails, dare I say epically, with Amanda, his off-putting Asian fetish fulfilling pseudo-one-night-stand. First he calls her Amelia ("Who's Amelia? Ex-girlfriend?" Amanda questions), but then really turns her off with her fearing he's a communist like his grandfather. After being caught by Grandma V, Amanda offers her number, but Leo "probably wouldn't use it? So..." Smooth, Leo, smooth. Leo doesn't even try to be polite here, almost blatantly recognizing his own struggle with women. 

     After examining Leo's relationships I realize these could also all work as examples of the "disconnect" motif, but I think the focus on the women in Leo's life is important. Herzog only wrote one male into her play but chose to include three women that are parts of Leo's life. Micah, an incredibly important male in Leo's life, is talked about and brought up, but isn't a character seen on stage. Neither is Leo's dad, or grandfather, etc. I believe the number of men to women is important here. What did Fuchs say? "Nothing occurs 'by chance,' not even chance."