On the Surface “Sure Thing” by David Ives is a play about two strangers who meet, fall in love, and live happily ever after. When analyzed more deeply, the work is actually about the struggle that exists between the desire to be an individual and the need to conform, to some extent, to be part of a couple. The show exposes and discusses the tension that exists between the value of being an individual and the value associated with being in love. Love holds the promise that you will always have someone there for you and that you will always have someone to share everything with. However, to realize this love one must make sacrifices in the process and potentially change who they are. At the beginning of the play Betty and Bill are conflicted about their individuality. As their conflict develops, Ives demonstrates how individuality can sometimes be detrimental to the formation of a healthy relationship. Indeed, the work demonstrates that individuality can hinder the ability to be congruent in a couple. Ives uses the bell that rings every time Bill or Betty makes a comment or shares an interest that was not well received by the other, to demonstrate this fact. An example is Bill's love for sports and his statement: “I'm a Mets fan too” (643.49). You get the feeling that Bill's love for sports is a bit extreme and therefore isn't received well by Betty. The point made by the author is that having such a passion for sports, or any individual interest, could take away the amount of time he has to focus on the relationship. Furthermore, Betty doesn't seem to share her passion, therefore making it difficult for her to engage in a conversation on the topic. Interestingly, individuality is present even when both… middle of the paper… happy ending? To become part of a happy couple, both Betty and Bill had to give up a part of who they were as individuals to find love. This refers to the dramatic element of the stage as a metaphor for life. Betty and Bill take on personas that are only mirror images of who they really are, completely deceiving the other. Ultimately Ive's “Sure Thing” demonstrates the conflict between individuality and relationship congruence. On a broader level it demonstrates how individuality, at all levels, can be in conflict when two people come together. However, it also reveals how sacrificing a certain measure of individuality can enable conformity and lead to love and companionship. In short, the show reveals that there is a natural interplay or balance between individuality and conformity in the relationship building process.