A dynamic character is a character that changes throughout the story. A static character, on the other hand, means to stay the same all throughout the story. The play Lost in Yonkers, written by Neil Simon, tells a story about two brothers, Jay and Arty, that have to live with their Grandma during the World War II in Yonkers NY. Aunt Bella is the dynamic character that altered over the course of the play, because she was an obedient, stupid character who couldn’t defend herself in the beginning and more independent and adult-like in the end.

In the beginning of the play, Aunt Bella couldn’t guard herself, and was very ignorant.  “I couldn’t even give your mother a cup of coffee… Where is she anyway?” (pg.13) This event showed one of her ignorant behaviors, because she asked of Jay and Arty’s mom’s presence when the mom was already dead. Also, she was often helpless, when talking with Grandma Kurnitz, and often was disheartened by the Grandma. “Please don’t do this in front of the boys Momma…. (BELLA looks at the boys, embarrassed, then gives her the magazine.)” (pg. 42) This scene is when Bella went to the movies and came back late in the night with a magazine, and Grandma was angry at her and wanted to throw away the magazine. This shows the fact that Bella was docile to grandma and couldn’t defend herself, because she had to give up the magazine she bought. Even though everybody in the Kurnitz family had problems like Bella with her mind, Gert with her breathing, Bella’s problem was the worst because she was always slow and immature, and this caused her many problems with communicating and interacting with her surroundings; supported by the fact that Bella had really few friends, and always went out on her own to the movies.

Aunt Bella wasn’t ignorant all throughout the story. Towards the end, after and during the dinner with all the family, she began to change. She became more mature, wanted to be treated as an adult, and also self-defending. “Why can’t I be satisfied with dolls instead of babies? ...... I don’t want to be your responsibility,” (pg. 110 - 111) This totally contradicts the Bella shown in the beginning of the play, when she was senseless and childish. She wants to be an adult and to have her own responsibilities, like her own babies, which she didn’t have. She went through this transform because she didn’t like how grandma Kurnitz always mistreated her in the name of responsibilities. She also realized that she wants all the things she never had, so she begins to talk about marrying and getting babies.  “We’re alive, Momma, but that’s all we are … Aaron and Rose are the lucky ones,” (pg. 113) After receiving dreadful remarks from Grandma Bella began to talk back at her. This adjustment occurred to Bella probably because she was really embarrassed in front of her nephews when grandma snatched the magazine while she was helpless, and also because of the fact that she was sick of being seen as weak and powerless from everybody.

In the play Lost in Yonkers by Neil Simon, Aunt Bella was the dynamic characters because she was silly and foolish in the beginning and more adult-like and rebellious towards the end. She was changing in the story because she wanted more things, wanted to have her own responsibilities, and to defend herself so she didn’t get beaten down by her mother again.  This growth for Bella was beneficial for her because now she could look after herself. People, as they live on, make changes on their appearance, attitude and many other characteristics. These changes are important for their maturity because they are actually getting out of the young silly characters they’ve been. A person’s family has a lot of effect on how they change, for example in the Kurnitz family; all of Grandma’s children grew up with different disorders because of her style.