Essay Questions

Why does Harry believe that men and women cannot be friends?

On their drive from Chicago to New York Harry tells Sally that a man and woman cannot be friends. She tells Harry that she has many men who are her friends. Harry tells her that may seem to be the case but the reality is she is not friends with them because every man who claims to be a friend actually wants to sleep with her whether they say it or not. And women are the same, presumably; they want to sleep with the man they are friends with as well. Sally disagrees but Harry persists in his reasoning.

What is the significance of Harry's wife scheduling movers?

Harry's wife has come to him to ask for a trial separation in their marriage. They will still date but be separated to see if they will continue to be married. Soon after Harry asks her if she still loves him, which she does not, and then movers show up. Harry finds out that she ordered the movers a week ago, meaning that she knew she was going to leave him and the whole trial separation was so that she wouldn't "ruin his birthday".

What's the irony of Harry setting Sally up with Jess and Sally setting Harry up with Marie?

Harry and Sally have become quite close and decide to set one another up with their best friends in hope that there will be a spark between them. They set up a double date and what becomes ironic is that Jess and Marie meet and fall for one another quickly. The pair eventually gets engaged to one another, and it leaves Harry and Sally with one another as it appears either they are cursed or blessed to repeatedly be matched together.