We saw that each character has their own individual strengths and weaknesses, but the way they carry out their lives shows complete disregard for their own true needs and the needs of others. Martin Luther King said that “All that is needed for the triumph of evil is for good people to do nothing.” Well, in the final episode of the show, we see how much damage these characters have done by not looking at their own selves and working on a positive growth goal. As my friend put it, “It’s funny to see all those other people have their day in court.” So in the spirit of the Chris Rice song, “What if Cartoons Got Saved?”, I will offer up this light-hearted look at what the issues might be if they were to get in a growth group.

Jerry

We’ll start with Jerry. He is very funny, aware, observant, and not overly concerned with the little details of life. He doesn’t get bent out of shape about vain things like money, career ambition, or showing off his success. His humor is not used as a malicious weapon as it could be. Once, when George turns down a pilot offer because it was too low and therefore insulting and Jerry could be totally enraged, he simply says, “Well, I think you’re wrong!” instead of something much, much worse that could be said. It was a very diplomatic thing to say.

However, he is unable to make a commitment to a woman in the show. He dates around with multiple women but always finds something about them that he cannot tolerate, a little thing that gets on his nerves (like her big hands, the way she eats her peas, that she likes meat). This eventually forces the break-up of the relationship. All of this is related to his childishness, which is manifested by his requirement for cereal and his fawning love of Superman. His growth goal is simply he needs to grow up. This childishness is also manifested in his fear of conflict. He runs from people on the street or from childhood bullies. He never enters into conflict or deals with it straightforwardly. He typically tries to come up with a plan to get out of it as painlessly to him as possible. He has found out that he comes out “even” in life, and thus has no real desire or motivation to work through conflict.

Elaine

Elaine also is a very amusing woman, charming and intelligent. She shows her aptitude and intelligence by acquiring good jobs in publishing. She is also capable in other areas as well. She can hold her own around guys, which she is required to do on nearly every occasion. (This may say something about her in her inability to relate to women.) She is on the whole a very likeable person. Even the way she has managed to be a successful person in the shadow of her famous but distant and rigid father is admirable.

Her particular issue seems to come up with how she handles people who think differently than her. On a number of occasions, she forces conflict that is totally self-centered with those who she perceives as threatening to her rights. The Soup Nazi, the restaurant owner who doesn’t believe in pro-choice, a woman who wears fur, the list goes on and on. This is where people who fight for “causes” need to wake up. Elaine is a classic bit-city liberal woman, who values all of the typical liberal causes. But all she ends up doing is causing trouble. She simply directs her hatred to all the people doing these “horrible offenses” and never even begins to affect meaningful change in either that person or anyone else. She is simply out to air her own opinions, doing a lot of people innumerable harm in the process. Wake up, environmental idiots. You’re not doing the world any good. If a person doesn’t deal with the stuff in their own hearts, all they end up doing is hurting people from that woundedness. Why don’t you work on your own self rather than focusing your rancor on everyone else??

Elaine sleeps with hundreds of men. She has a selfish relationship with David Putty just out of convenience, because they don’t want to leave each other and have to keep pursuing the sexual end of the relationship.

She needs to figure out a way to actually help people with her talents and do right by them, rather than selfishly advancing her own rights and causes.

Kramer

Kramer is totally absorbed with himself. He is a complete moocher. He doesn’t work, he doesn’t do anything, he just mooches off other people’s stuff. Kramer is a man entirely devoted to the sensual gratifications of his flesh. His particular immaturity is reflected in how he starts on projects (Kramerica Industries, hosting the Cubans, doing the “levels” in his apartment), but he never finishes them. He starts one and then immediately quits to do something else.

He sees the sole purpose of life as getting enjoyment out of it for himself. He doesn’t have many external relationships where anything is required of him. However, in one situation that he does, he continually violates the trust put in him by the lawyer Jackie Chiles when he takes the first deal that comes along from the parties they are suing. One of his particular moments of ridiculousness is where he objects to the prohibition of cussing in the dental office. He wants complete freedom to express himself in any way at any time in front of any one (no boxers, no jockeys . . .).

Kramer’s positive virtues are a spirit of fun, the ability to have a good time. He also like Jerry doesn’t get too wrapped up in silly things like vain ambition or success at the expense of others, or take himself too seriously. He has ideals and holds values for community that he would like to see. He is actually trying to do a part to make the world a better place.

George

George is very insecure as a person, constantly fretting around in his little battles and paranoias. He gets into conflict with others when he finds himself in a situation where he can’t get out without a little bit of sacrifice or cost. He also has hilarious issues with his parents. Part of this is based on that fact that he is not independent and can’t grow up. One of the comic scenes showing both his and Elaine’s character is what happens when they are forced to be together without Jerry. They can only talk about him and eventually when he comes around they try to hang on to him to give themselves something interesting to talk about.

Like Kramer, George is focused on the flesh and sensual gratification. He uses all of his powers to figure out how to get around problems rather than work through them legitimately. Thus, he has no resources for people that need help (kids or elderly that he pushes out of the way in a fire; an old man who survived the accident of the Andrea Dorra, etc.).

Like the other characters, George has many redeeming virtues as well. Like Jerry, George is very smart and creative. He can analyze things from a number of different angles. He is masculine. He is easily amused and very funny. He is aware of all the maddening circumstances of daily life and can make light of them with humor.

So, we see that all of them just need a little growth group (a little Christ!) and they could be just fine, just like all the rest of us dysfunctional people. They are like me, they are like us. Just thankfully we can work through this growth stuff with other people who can shine the light of day up to us, and we have a Savior who actually cares about us and can help us with whatever grace we need. It’s funny to consider the show in this perspective!!!!