There's an old saying: "It takes two to tango." It also takes two to wear an old-timey horse costume, get married, and get divorced.
In Kramer vs. Kramer, Ted and Joanna's marriage collapses under the weight of Joanna's unhappiness and, ironically, Ted's neglect. Everybody feels the fallout; not just Ted and Joanna, but also their son Billy, and even their neighbor Margaret, who starts out as Joanna's BFF and eventually becomes Ted's most trusted confidante.
The end of the Kramers' marriage hits the reset button on the lives of everyone involved, but, predictably, it has the greatest impact on the people who were actually hitched. Joanna discovers that she doesn't have to sacrifice her identity to be a mother or partner, and Ted learns that, when push comes to shove, he's a thoroughly rad dad.
Questions about Marriage
- Describe three factors that led to the Kramers' divorce.
- Do you think Ted will ever remarry? How about Joanna?
- How would you describe Ted's relationship with Margaret?
Chew on This
Shaunessy's right: Joanna's just as much to blame for her marriage ending in divorce as Ted is.
The Kramers' marriage ended because Ted abandoned Joanna long before she left for California.