Introduction
Roger Sterling, the silver-haired fox of Sterling Cooper and its various iterations, is a character that immediately springs to mind when thinking about Mad Men. He’s the purveyor of sharp wit, the master of the perfectly timed one-liner, and the embodiment of a certain kind of privileged, old-school masculinity that dominated the advertising world of the nineteen sixties. But to dismiss Roger as merely comedic relief or a caricature of his time is to do him a great disservice. Beneath the perfectly tailored suits and the seemingly endless supply of liquor, lies a complex man wrestling with his past, his mortality, and the rapidly changing world around him. This article delves into the multifaceted character of Roger Sterling, exploring his humor, his privilege, his relationships, and his ultimately poignant search for meaning.
The Master of the Zingers Comedic Gold
One cannot discuss Roger Sterling without acknowledging his comedic genius. He’s a walking, talking joke machine, delivering zingers with effortless charm and often outrageous impropriety. His quips range from cynical observations about the advertising industry to inappropriate remarks about women and minorities, reflecting the problematic attitudes prevalent in the era. Phrases like “When God closes a door, he opens a dress” and “I hate to advocate drugs, but they’ve clearly worked for me” have become iconic, instantly recognizable as Roger-isms.
However, Roger’s humor isn’t simply a string of throwaway lines. It serves several functions within the narrative. First, it acts as a coping mechanism. He uses humor to deflect from difficult situations, to avoid confronting uncomfortable truths about himself and the world. Second, it’s a social tool. His wit allows him to navigate the complex social dynamics of the office, to charm clients, and to maintain a certain level of control. Finally, it can be seen as a defense mechanism against the existential dread that slowly creeps into his life as the series progresses. While his jokes often land with a comedic punch, they can also highlight the underlying insecurity and hollowness that pervade his character. The inherent humor, even though, at times, it brushes against the boundaries of appropriateness, contributes to why Roger Sterling is so memorable within Mad Men.
Born on Third Base A Study in Privilege
Roger Sterling’s life is defined by privilege. He was born into wealth and social standing, inheriting his father’s advertising agency and moving seamlessly through the upper echelons of New York society. He embodies the old-money establishment, with its inherent advantages in terms of education, connections, and opportunities. This privilege shapes his worldview, his expectations, and his interactions with others.
He often demonstrates a lack of awareness about the struggles faced by those less fortunate than him. He takes his wealth and status for granted, rarely questioning the systems that perpetuate his advantage. Mad Men, however, doesn’t simply celebrate this privilege. It subtly critiques it, exposing the emptiness and dissatisfaction that can accompany a life of ease. Roger’s constant pursuit of pleasure and his inability to form lasting meaningful relationships suggest that money and status alone cannot provide true fulfillment. As the cultural landscape shifts throughout the show, the audience sees how Roger’s worldview is challenged, sometimes leading to attempts to adapt, but often resulting in him clinging to his outdated beliefs and behaviors. His inherent privilege acts as both a comfort and a constraint, shaping his identity in profound ways.
Love and Loss A Tangled Web of Relationships
Roger Sterling’s romantic life is a messy and complicated affair. His relationships with women are often driven by lust, boredom, and a desire to escape the confines of his own life. His infidelity is a recurring theme, highlighting his inability to commit and his deep-seated insecurities.
His relationship with Joan Holloway is perhaps his most significant and enduring. Their affair is fraught with power dynamics and emotional complexities. While they clearly care for each other, their relationship is often defined by secrecy and unspoken expectations. His marriage to Mona, his first wife, is a symbol of the traditional expectations placed on men of his generation. While they maintain a friendly relationship after their divorce, it’s clear that their marriage was ultimately a casualty of Roger’s infidelity and his inability to fully commit. His later marriage to Marie Calvet, Megan Draper’s mother, offers him a sense of stability and companionship in his later years. This unlikely pairing suggests a desire for connection and a willingness to embrace the unconventional. However, even this relationship is tinged with a sense of Roger clinging to youth and vitality. Roger’s relationships, filled with love, loss, and complicated entanglements, showcase the complexities of human connection within the confines of societal expectations and personal desires.
His relationship with his daughter, Margaret, is strained. He struggles to connect with her, often dismissive of her aspirations and her unconventional lifestyle. He seems unable to understand her desire for independence and self-discovery. This strained relationship highlights the generational divide and Roger’s difficulty in adapting to the changing values of the younger generation. He carries the weight of regret, knowing that he could have been a better father. Throughout the series, we see glimpses of Roger attempting to bridge the gap with Margaret, ultimately showcasing his longing for connection and reconciliation, even amidst the challenges of understanding her evolving identity.
From Account Man to Advertising Legend Business or Pleasure
Roger Sterling’s role at Sterling Cooper is multifaceted. He is an account man, relying heavily on his charm and personal connections, yet his strategic brilliance is sometimes called into question. While he can be shrewd and perceptive when it comes to securing clients, he often delegates the details to others, preferring to focus on the social aspects of the job. Roger’s success isn’t solely due to his business acumen. He excels at building relationships, fostering loyalty, and navigating the complex social dynamics of the advertising world. He understands the importance of appearances and the power of influence.
His relationship with Don Draper is a complex mix of friendship, rivalry, and respect. They are fundamentally different men, but they share a deep understanding of each other and a mutual appreciation for talent. Roger recognizes Don’s brilliance, but he also envies his creativity and his ability to connect with people on a deeper level. Don, in turn, appreciates Roger’s experience and his ability to navigate the business world. As the advertising landscape evolves, Roger struggles to keep up with the changing trends. He resists new technologies and clings to the old ways of doing things, sometimes hindering the agency’s progress. Despite his resistance to change, Roger remains a valuable asset to the agency, bringing experience, connections, and a certain level of gravitas to the table.
The Shifting Sands of Time Roger’s Journey
Roger Sterling undergoes a subtle but significant character arc throughout Mad Men. While he remains fundamentally the same charming and irreverent figure, he gradually confronts his own mortality and the consequences of his actions. Moments of vulnerability and reflection reveal a deeper understanding of himself and the world around him.
His heart attack serves as a wake-up call, forcing him to confront his own mortality. It prompts him to re-evaluate his priorities and to consider the legacy he will leave behind. His experimentation with psychedelic drugs opens him up to new perspectives and allows him to connect with his emotions in a way that he previously avoided. This experience, while unconventional, marks a significant turning point in his journey.
As the cultural landscape shifts throughout the series, Roger finds himself increasingly out of step with the times. He witnesses the rise of feminism, the anti-war movement, and the growing awareness of social injustice. While he initially resists these changes, he eventually begins to adapt, albeit slowly and reluctantly. By the end of the series, Roger seems to have found a sense of peace and contentment. He embraces his relationship with Marie Calvet, accepts his past mistakes, and finds a way to make amends. While he may never fully escape his own flaws, he demonstrates a willingness to grow and to learn from his experiences. Roger’s journey is a testament to the human capacity for change, even in the face of ingrained habits and long-held beliefs.
The Martini Glass Half Full Final Thoughts
Roger Sterling is more than just a comedic relief or a stereotype of the privileged ad man. He’s a complex and flawed character who embodies the contradictions of his time. He’s a product of his era, shaped by the expectations and limitations placed upon him. But he’s also a surprisingly relatable figure, wrestling with the same universal questions of love, loss, and the search for meaning.
His character represents the anxieties and uncertainties of a generation grappling with rapid social and cultural change. He’s a reminder that even those who appear to have it all can still struggle with feelings of emptiness and dissatisfaction. Ultimately, Roger Sterling’s significance lies in his ability to both entertain and provoke reflection. He forces us to confront our own biases and assumptions, and to consider the complexities of human nature. Is Roger a fundamentally flawed character, a product of his time, or a surprisingly relatable figure? Perhaps he’s a combination of all three. He is a complex cocktail, mixed with wit, privilege, regret, and a surprising amount of heart. His character leaves a lasting impression, reminding us that even in the world of Mad Men, where appearances often deceive, genuine humanity can still shine through, albeit with a sardonic smile and a perfectly crafted one-liner.
