Right from the beginning of Seinfeld, it was clear that this group of friends was something different. In the pilot, George Constanza and Jerry Seinfeld discussed a woman Jerry liked who was going to stay with him for a weekend. Elaine Benes came into the picture in the second episode, and from that moment on, she was a fan-favorite.
Elaine was truly her own person, as she followed her own path and wasn't concerned about the things that made her stand out from other women her own age, such as not wanting marriage and children. While fans always loved Jerry's sense of humor and perspective on society, there are some ways to see Seinfeld as being all about Elaine.
Her Character Explores The Main Purpose Of The Show
was "the show about nothing" and in every episode, the characters got into awkward, silly, frustrating situations. The sitcom does offer up deeper questions, however, and many episodes are about the characters being "bad" people who only act based on their own selfish wishes and intentions.
Whether annoyed with the way her day was going or doing whatever she wanted, Elaine's storylines focused on everyday life and also on what kind of person she was.
She Exposes The Other Characters' Flaws
The main character has to, of course, interact with the others in the story, and when Elaine hung out with Jerry, Kramer, and George, she often exposed the things that were wrong with them. This helped move the show along, as the writers were able to examine how "good" or "bad" this gang was.
From proving that Jerry couldn't sustain a long-term romance since their relationship didn't work out to not taking George seriously as a person, Elaine's existence often proved that the others had major imperfections. She and George weren't the best of friends and she could be harsh with him. If Elaine didn't have an effect on the others, she couldn't be considered a main character.
Fans Always Think Of Her Funniest Scenes
When fans think about Seinfeld, Elaine's bad dancing and many other famous scenes come to mind. Elaine was always at the center of the series and her moments are absolutely iconic. After all, it was Elaine who asked for toilet paper and got the response that the other woman "couldn't spare a square." It was Elaine who pitched the "Urban Sombrero" and who broke up with a guy for not writing down an exclamation mark.
She Is A Completely Unique Sitcom Character
Sure, Jerry is hilarious, friendly, and likable, but is he really that unique when compared to other characters on sitcoms?
Elaine is totally different from many female sitcom characters, whether from the '90s or more recent shows. She is unapologetic about her life choices, she can't help but complain about most things, and she isn't afraid to balk at convention, from saying that a baby isn't that cute to wondering why she should be expected to procreate. Elaine stands out from the other characters on the show and from the genre in general.
The Show Explores Dating And Human Behavior Via Elaine's Storylines
While Jerry, George, and Kramer all dated during Seinfeld, the focus was often on the attractive women they wanted to woo, or how insecure and nervous George was about his sex life.
Elaine's dating life allowed the show to go in a more serious direction. She dumped many people for silly reasons, which masked her fear of true love, intimacy, and commitment. She also stayed friends with Jerry, even though many would have found that awkward and impossible. Can two people who used to date be friends? Is it possible to keep dating casually and to never want anything more? Seinfeld was able to ask these questions because of Elaine.
She's Arguably The Most Likable Character
It can be tough to like the gang on Seinfeld. Jerry sometimes insulted others and could be immature; George didn't want to work very hard; Kramer could be so wacky and out there that it was hard to understand his behavior.
Elaine can be seen as the most likable character on this '90s sitcom. She was generally game to help Jerry out, whether going with him to see his family in Florida or otherwise becoming an important part of his life.
She's The Only One With A Catchphrase
Elaine often shouted "Get out!" and it was always hilarious and well-timed. It was clean, simple, and to the point, and no matter how many times fans heard it, it still worked.
Sure, there are other famous quotes from Seinfeld, such as "yada, yada, yada," but this one was Elaine's alone. Since she has a catchphrase, it feels fair to say that Elaine is the main character on Seinfeld. So much of the show revolves around her and the funny way that she reacts to situations.
Her Inner Monologue Allows Fans Inside Her Thoughts
When Elaine was stuck on the NYC subway in the third season, fans got a glimpse of her inner monologue, as they got to hear her actual thoughts. She started freaking out as she thought, "Oh, this is great. This is what I need, just what I need. Okay, take it easy I'm sure it's nothing. Probably rats on the track; we're stopping for rats. God, it's so crowded. How can there be so many people? This guy really smells, doesn't anyone use deodorant in the city?"
This was a great creative device, and it allowed the viewer to feel like they were experiencing this tough time along with Elaine. It's another reason why she can be viewed as the show's protagonist, as her thoughts and opinions are so accessible.
She's The Character Who Viewers Connect To The Most
With George's insecurity, Jerry's successful yet carefree attitude, and Kramer's jokes and physical comedy, the other characters on Seinfeld are hilarious — but they aren't all that relatable.
In contrast, Elaine is the character who viewers connect to the most. It's easy for a fan to put themselves in her shoes and see why she does the things that she does. Whenever she was frustrated by strangers or people she was dating, she might have been a bit petty, but her reactions always made sense as anyone would find those things irritating.
She Experiences As Much Growth As She Can
Although the point of Seinfeld is that the characters didn't change much, as they embraced being self-centered, Elaine changed a little from pilot to finale. She got new jobs and tried out different relationships.
Elaine experienced as much growth as she could within the limits of the sitcom, and that makes her protagonist material, since it's good for audiences to see the main character on a path of some sort.