Throughout this whole scene Teddy “stands, with Ruth’s coat”. Not only has Teddy been relegated to the position of Ruth’s coathanger, but his moral degradation is seen in that he makes no attempt to stop his brother. He is so far removed that he stands by while his brother takes advantage of his alledged wife of 7 years. The only dialogue Teddy has in this scene is when he asked about his critical works. He breaks into a long monologue about how the others would not ‘understand’ his work, and that they are incapable of being able to ’see’. This is confusing for the audience, as on one level Teddy is so morally corrupt that he stands by while his wife and Lenny caress each other, but at the same time he takes an intellectual high ground over the others.

However, one could challenge the question by saying that Teddy doesnt necessarily degradate in Act Two, but in fact becomes stronger than the other characters. This could be supported by his response to Ruth’s suggestion that he should show his family his “critical works”. He states “You wouldn’t understand my critical works…. I can see, I am able to see… You’re lost in it all”. This could signify a change in Teddy’s mindset, which contrasts with the way he is portrayed in the Act One.