The Theme of Free Gifts in "Friends" Series

Introduction

In an episode of the TV situation comedy "Friends," entitled "Good Deeds Do Not Exist," two characters -- Phoebe and Joey -- engage in a contest based on the theories of sociologist Marcel Mauss, particularly his analysis of the topic: "There are no free gifts; gift cycles engage persons in permanent commitments that articulate the dominant institutions." They wonder if there is such a thing as a free gift, one in which someone benefits while the person performing the act receives nothing in return. Joey states that there are no unselfish good deeds; Phoebe disagrees and sets out to prove him wrong. After several failed attempts, Phoebe goes to the park and lets a bee sting her, stating, "it helps the bee look tough in front of its bee friends." She genuinely believes this is a selfless act: Phoebe allowed herself to be hurt so that the bee could benefit. However, Joey points out that the bee probably died soon after losing its stinger in Phoebe's arm. In this instance, there is a gift cycle between Phoebe and the bee. The bee benefits from Phoebe and could look tough in front of its bee friends, but it lost its life in return. The gift phenomenon entails a juridical commitment and connects to a dominant institution of society – law.

The Theme of Free Gifts in the "Friends" Series

In a broad sense, when one person hurts another, they might receive a good feeling from exploiting others but will, in return, face a juridical penalty according to public law. This is the major point in Mauss’s discipline: “All these phenomena are at the same time juridical, economic, religious, and even aesthetic and morphological, etc. They are juridical because they concern private and public law, and a morality that is organized and diffused throughout society” (Mauss, 1925). More resolute than ever, and with the end of the episode looming near, Phoebe tries one last-ditch effort. Despite having a deep dislike for the Public Broadcasting Service, she decides to make a $200 pledge to help the kids at the local station during a fund drive in which Joey is taking calls. This act seems to represent all the marks of selflessness: Phoebe could have spent her money elsewhere, but instead, she gives it to an organization she is mad at. Even better, her phone call lands Joey, a struggling actor, praised as the sharpest dressed volunteer on TV. But Phoebe's act has an inadvertent benefit to her. She gets a good feeling that her benevolence unintentionally helped her friend, and she suddenly realizes that her act is not selfless at all. In other words, Phoebe got something out of it (a good feeling), and her selfless act is actually a representation of altruism. There is an apparent gift cycle between Phoebe and Joey. Joey was rewarded to be on camera because of Phoebe’s donation, and in the meantime, Phoebe’s deed made her happy. An aesthetic and domestic commitment is entailed in the gift phenomena, relating to their social classes as well as communities and friendship.

The Role of Friendship and Community

In general, Phoebe and Joey’s happiness from this case is based on their friendship. Living in the same community (apartments) provides them with a close friendship, in which they build a gift cycle to benefit each other. Ultimately, Phoebe figures out what Marcel Mauss has discovered: It's difficult to prove the existence of “free gifts.” In real life, we somehow ignore the importance of the gift hidden and covered under a number of symbolisms and its vital role in our society. In all societies, gifts that are supposed to be given voluntarily are actually obligatory. All social phenomena are connected with each other, through which all kinds of dominant institutions are expressed. The gift is only one part of this social whole. In archaic societies, a gift must be paid back; otherwise, this whole is broken. On the moral level, Marcel Mauss is surprised to find that not everything is wholly categorized in terms of buying and selling. He recognizes traces of the principles of the gift in the case of invitations and courtesies that must be returned and in our tendency to give back more than what we have received. Regarding these economic facts, Mauss tries to apply some of the principles of the gift to our society. Throughout his work, Mauss concluded that the gift must be reciprocated according to the legal and political principles in societies. The gift cycle exists and compels the recipient to pay the praise or blame back (Mauss, 1925).

Conclusion

The "Friends" episode cleverly illustrates Marcel Mauss's ideas on the complexities of altruism and the gift cycle in modern society. Through the interactions between Phoebe and Joey, viewers are invited to reflect on the nuanced nature of selfless acts and the inherent obligations that may accompany them. This narrative challenges us to reconsider our perceptions of generosity and the societal norms that shape our understanding of reciprocity. Ultimately, the episode serves as a reminder that even the most seemingly altruistic actions can be part of a larger social fabric, where giving and receiving are intricately intertwined.

References:

Mauss, M. (1925). The Gift: Forms and Functions of Exchange in Archaic Societies. Routledge.