Character Relationship Map: The Odd Couple

Characters

• Felix Ungar (played by Jack Lemmon) — protagonist

  Neurotic neat-freak divorced man, Oscar's roommate and best friend.

• Oscar Madison (played by Walter Matthau) — protagonist

  Fun-loving slob divorced sportswriter, Felix's messy roommate.

• Vinnie (played by John Fiedler) — supporting

  Regular poker player and close friend to Oscar.

• Murray (played by Herb Edelman) — supporting

  Poker buddy and friend of Oscar.

• Roy (played by David Sheiner) — supporting

  Poker player and friend of the group.

• Cecily (played by Monica Evans) — supporting

  Friend or acquaintance of the main duo.

• Gwendolyn (played by Carole Shelley) — supporting

  Friend or acquaintance of the main duo.

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Cecily → Gwendolyn (Family Sister)

  two English sisters who live upstairs in their building: Cecily and Gwendolyn Pigeon.

• Oscar Madison → Gwendolyn (Romantic Double Date Interest)

  Oscar tells Felix about recently meeting two English sisters who live upstairs in their building.

• Oscar Madison → Cecily (Romantic Double Date Interest)

  Oscar telephones the girls and arranges a double date for the following evening.

• Felix Ungar → Gwendolyn (Romantic Admiring Sister)

  Gwendolyn appears and informs Oscar that Felix has moved in with her and Cecily.

• Felix Ungar → Cecily (Romantic Admiring Sister)

  The sisters are attracted to Felix's sensitivity and invite the two men to their apartment.

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Vinnie → Roy (Social Poker Group Member)

  Both appear as regular members of Oscar's Friday night poker game.

• Murray → Roy (Social Poker Group Member)

  Both appear as regular members of Oscar's Friday night poker game.

• Murray → Vinnie (Social Poker Group Member)

  Both appear as regular members of Oscar's Friday night poker game.

• Oscar Madison → Roy (Social Poker Buddy)

  Oscar Madison and his poker playing cronies Roy have assembled in Madison's Upper West Side apartment for their usual Friday night game.

• Oscar Madison → Vinnie (Social Poker Buddy)

  Oscar Madison and his poker playing cronies Vinnie have assembled in Madison's Upper West Side apartment for their usual Friday night game.

• Oscar Madison → Murray (Social Poker Buddy)

  Oscar Madison and his poker playing cronies Murray have assembled in Madison's Upper West Side apartment for their usual Friday night game.

• Felix Ungar → Roy (Social Poker Buddy)

  Oscar Madison and his poker playing cronies Murray, Speed, Roy and Vinnie have assembled in Madison's Upper West Side apartment for their usual Friday...

• Felix Ungar → Vinnie (Social Poker Buddy)

  Oscar Madison and his poker playing cronies Murray, Speed, Roy and Vinnie have assembled in Madison's Upper West Side apartment for their usual Friday...

• Felix Ungar → Murray (Social Concerned Poker Buddy)

  Murray is concerned because their mutual friend Felix is unusually late for the game.

• Felix Ungar → Oscar Madison (Alliance Best Friend & Roommate)

  Oscar suggests that Felix move in with him, and Felix agrees, becoming roommates.

Story Analysis

Two divorced friends with opposite personalities become roommates, clash disastrously, and ultimately reconcile as better men.

Plot Progression

1. The Desperate Arrival
2. Domestic Friction
3. The Breaking Point
4. Separation and Reconciliation