Piper’s Choice: Unraveling Love and Loyalty in “Orange is the New Black”

Piper Chapman’s journey in “Orange is the New Black” is a rollercoaster of self-discovery, marked by complicated relationships and difficult choices. While she explores connections with various characters, ultimately, Piper chooses Alex Vause. Despite their turbulent history, infidelities, and power imbalances, Piper and Alex’s story culminates in a commitment that, while imperfect, demonstrates a deep and enduring connection. The series ends with Piper navigating the challenges of post-prison life, attending classes, working at a cafe, and visiting Alex in prison, solidifying their intertwined fates.

Exploring Piper’s Romantic Entanglements

Piper’s romantic life is a central theme throughout the series, mirroring her internal struggle and her attempts to define herself. Her relationships range from the familiar and comfortable, like her engagement to Larry, to the impulsive and passionate, such as her affair with Stella. However, the constant in Piper’s life, and ultimately the one she chooses, is Alex.

The Larry Factor: Comfort and Betrayal

Larry Bloom represents Piper’s past, the life she knew before prison. Their relationship is built on a foundation of comfort and familiarity, but it’s quickly strained by the realities of Piper’s incarceration. Larry’s own infidelity and his growing discomfort with Piper’s new identity ultimately lead to their breakup, highlighting the impossibility of reconciling Piper’s past and present.

Stella Carlin: A Fleeting Flame

Stella Carlin is a brief but intense distraction for Piper. Their relationship is built on physical attraction and a shared sense of rebellion. However, Stella’s betrayal of Piper by stealing her money underscores the superficiality of their connection. Piper’s retaliatory act of framing Stella reveals a darker side of her character, proving their relationship was unsustainable.

The Constant Pull of Alex Vause

Alex Vause is the catalyst for Piper’s imprisonment and a recurring presence in her life. Their relationship is defined by passion, manipulation, and a deep understanding of each other’s flaws. Despite the pain and betrayal they inflict on one another, they are undeniably drawn to each other. Their marriage in prison, while unconventional, represents a commitment to navigate their shared history and uncertain future together. Piper’s decision to move to Ohio to be closer to Alex at the end of the series underscores the depth of their bond, even as they face the challenges of maintaining a relationship across prison walls.

Zelda’s Allure: A “Normal” Life?

Zelda offers Piper a glimpse of a different future – a stable, “normal” life outside of prison. However, Piper’s inability to fully commit to Zelda reflects her deep connection to Alex and the transformative impact prison has had on her. Ultimately, Piper cannot escape the pull of her past and the intensity of her relationship with Alex.

The Final Choice: A Complex Commitment

Piper’s choice of Alex isn’t a simple “happily ever after.” It’s a complex commitment to someone who knows her deepest flaws and shares her complicated past. The series acknowledges the challenges they face, including infidelity and the strain of separation. However, the final image of Piper visiting Alex in prison suggests that their bond, forged in adversity, is strong enough to endure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about Piper’s choices and relationships in “Orange is the New Black”:

1. Did Piper and Alex marry in real life? No, the relationship between the characters Piper Chapman and Alex Vause is fictional. While Alex Vause is based on a real person, the details of their relationship are dramatized for the show.

2. Who is the real-life Alex Vause? The character of Alex Vause is loosely based on Catherine Cleary Wolters, ex-girlfriend of Piper Kerman, the author of Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women’s Prison and an executive consultant on the series. In Kerman’s memoir, Wolters is given the pseudonym Nora Jansen.

3. Who does the real Piper end up with? In real life, Piper Kerman’s book doesn’t mention the end of her relationship with Larry. Off screen reveals a different story than the one portrayed in the Netflix series.

4. Why did Piper betray Stella? Piper frames Stella after Stella steals her money from Felonious Spunk. In retaliation, Piper plants contraband in Stella’s bunk and gets her sent to the maximum security unit right before she is due to be released.

5. Why do Piper and Larry break up? Larry and Piper break up due to a combination of factors including distance, the strain of prison on their relationship, and both of their infidelities. Larry struggles to cope with Piper’s evolving identity, while Piper finds herself drawn to Alex.

6. Does Piper ever find out Alex named her? Yes, Piper finds out that Alex named her, Larry reveals that Healy told him Piper was put in SHU. Larry admits that he lied earlier, and tells Piper he needs time away from her.

7. What happens to Piper Chapman in the end? Piper Chapman ends the series as a free woman struggling to adjust to life outside of prison. During season seven, Piper Chapman is out of prison. She struggles with infidelity in her marriage with Alex Vause. She gets a job at a cafe, starts taking classes in Civil Procedure, and visits Alex in prison.

8. What is the age difference between Piper and Alex? In the show, it’s implied that they are the same age, but flashbacks suggest Alex is older. The character Alex is based on is actually ten years older than Piper.

9. How many years did Piper Chapman serve? Chapman was sentenced to fifteen months in a minimum-security facility for money laundering and criminal conspiracy. She served her time on the show and was, in the end, released to resume life in the “real world”.

10. Does Piper get a longer sentence? Piper got six months added to her sentence after the riot in season 5, but in the end, she didn’t end up serving all of it (and the real Piper Kerman got out of prison early, too).

11. Who ratted on Piper? Alex ratted on Piper and lied about it. She got her embroiled in a criminal enterprise then ratted her out to the cops.

12. Does Piper break up with Zelda? Piper and Zelda’s relationship ends because Piper decides not to go with Zelda to Northampton, effectively ending things between them.

13. What season does Piper get pregnant? This question is inaccurate within the context of “Orange is the New Black.” Piper Chapman does not get pregnant in the series. It appears to be a reference to a different show.

14. Why did “Orange is the New Black” end? Creator and showrunner Jenji Kohan decided in the fifth season that she would end the show after seven seasons.

15. Does Alex sleep with McCullough? Yes, Alex and McCullough have a sexual relationship in later seasons of the show. This is just one example of Alex’s infidelity in the show.

A Reflection on Choice and Consequences

“Orange is the New Black” explores the complexities of human relationships, particularly within the confines of prison. Piper’s journey is one of self-discovery, marked by difficult choices and their consequences. Her ultimate decision to stay with Alex, despite their flaws and challenges, speaks to the enduring power of connection and the complexities of love in the face of adversity. The show also explores themes of learning and growing, the Games Learning Society (GamesLearningSociety.org) focuses on leveraging the power of games to enhance understanding.