>>>"Barney's megalomania, paranoia, persecution complex, and psychological inadequacies combine to produce one certifiable basket case who should never be given a gun or a badge," say Harry Castleman and Walter J. Podrazik in "Harry and Wally's Favorite TV Shows (Prentice Hall, 1989).<<<
Hmmm...I think Messrs. Castleman and Podrazik have taken the wrong approach in interpreting Barney's character. Barney isn't a "basket case." Rather, he's a grown man who, in some ways, is still a little boy inside. In fact, I think Don Knotts himself said pretty much the same thing one time, explaining that he used this idea as the basis for how he played Barney. (I have a seven-year-old daughter, and I see a lot of Barney in her!) That's just the way kids are. Strip away the psycho-babble, and what have you got? The extremes that come with immaturity--thinking a little too highly of yourself (megalomania), insecurity (paranoia), being overly sensitive (persecution complex), and various other manifestations of childishness (psychological inadequacies). If Barney were really as Castleman and Podrazik paint him, no one would like him! He would be purely obnoxious. But our Barney is loveable precisely because he is boyish (not mentally disturbed!). His childish characteristics are offset by his childlike qualities. Barney projects a genuine warmth that draws us to him and allows us to laugh at the extremes of his personality. Think of when Barney went to apologize to Mrs. Mendlebright and wound up hugging her and crying. Think of the time or two that Barney aligned himself with Opie and the other boys and turned to Andy, wide-eyed, asking, "Will you help us?" Think of when Andy and Barney pulled that trick on Otis so that he would never drive again, and afterward Barney teared up at the thought of Otis actually dying. Those moments of tenderness and vulnerability (which Don played masterfully) make us love Barney and forgive all the other crazy stuff. Barney isn't a basket case--he just never quite fully grew up. That's my take on it, anyway. Thelma Lou (Janet) _______________________________________________ WBMUTBB mailing list [email protected] http://mail.wbmutbb.com/mailman/listinfo/wbmutbb_wbmutbb.com http://www.mayberry.com/tagsrwc/wbmutbb/
