''I don't want to kiss you, Martha.''
George in Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf
This turns out to be quite a significant statement by George in Edward Albee´s drama Who´s Afraid of Virginia Woolf , giving an idea of the unemotional and passionless relationship between him and his wife Martha. By investigating the play, many scenes and indication to hidden sexuality can be encountered. In addition to that the lack of communication within the two couples, originating from two different generations, result in a complete incapability of managing their relationships.
This paper examines how Edward Albee, by highlighting themes of sexuality, reveals general frustrations in life. Frustrated, unsatisfied marriage is a central theme in Albee's Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf and will be investigated by means of dissecting scenes and certain passage of importance.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Language Style
3. The sexual context of the Setting
4. Analysis
4.1. Acts
4.2. The characters’ attitude towards Sexuality
4.3. Selected Scenes with sexual connotations
5. Conclusion
7. Bibliography
Objectives and Topics
This paper explores the role of sexuality in Edward Albee’s drama "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf", examining how the playwright utilizes sexual tension, frustration, and hidden desires to expose the deep-seated emotional voids within the central characters' marriages. It investigates the interplay between the characters' aggressive communication styles, their reliance on fictionalized narratives, and the societal pressures of the era.
- The intersection of sexual frustration and emotional emptiness in long-term relationships.
- The linguistic devices and "games" used by characters to manipulate and humiliate one another.
- The significance of the setting as a backdrop for moral and social disillusionment.
- The role of the imaginary child as a manifestation of the characters' psychological survival mechanisms.
- The performative nature of gender roles and competitive masculinity within the drama.
Excerpt from the Book
4.3. Selected Scenes with sexual connotations
MARTHA: "Hello. C'mon over here and give Mommy a big sloppy kiss." GEORGE:"....oh, now..." MARTHA: "I WANT A BIG SLOPPY KISS!" GEORGE: "I don't want to kiss you, Martha. Where are these people?Where are these people you invited over?" MARTHA: "They stayed on to talk to Daddy......They'll be here...Why don't you want to kiss me?" (Albee:15)
As already indicated in the introduction this excerpt is quite groundbreaking for the understanding of sexuality in Albee’s Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf. In this scene Martha is just asking her husband for a usual marital tenderness but George isn't even aware of the importance of such a kiss. Throughout the play it seems as if he doesn't acknowledge Martha as his sexually attractive wife. Understandably George's inactivity gives Martha the feeling of being sexually unattractive.
In Albee’s play not desire, but frustration is the dominating emotion (cf. Clum:59). Another indication for this can be observed in the scene where Martha, after having shown Honey the house, suddenly comes down to the two men having changed her dress and George reacts very disrespectfully.
Chapter Summary
1. Introduction: Outlines the focus on sexuality as a lens to understand the emotional failure and lack of communication between the couples in the play.
2. The Language Style: Examines how irony, sarcasm, and aggressive sexualized language function as weapons within the characters' psychological "games".
3. The sexual context of the Setting: Analyzes the post-war college setting, contrasting the Puritan heritage of the location with the underlying rebellion against American societal norms.
4. Analysis: Explores the three-act structure and provides a detailed character study of Martha, George, Honey, and Nick regarding their attitudes toward sexuality.
5. Conclusion: Synthesizes how sexual frustration serves as a broader metaphor for the characters' spiritual emptiness and their reliance on illusions to endure their reality.
7. Bibliography: Lists the academic primary and secondary literature as well as film and internet resources referenced in the paper.
Keywords
Edward Albee, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, Sexuality, Marital frustration, Emotional emptiness, Psychological games, American drama, Gender roles, Masculinity, Adultery, Illusion, Communication, Post-war era, Character analysis, Literary criticism.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this term paper?
The paper examines how sexuality is presented as a thematic pillar in Edward Albee’s "Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf" to highlight the frustration and communication failures within marriage.
What are the primary thematic areas covered?
Key themes include sexual frustration, the use of illusions to mask life's emptiness, competitive masculinity, and the performative nature of the characters' interpersonal "games."
What is the main research question of the work?
The research explores how Albee uses themes of sexuality to reveal the deep-seated life frustrations and the complete incapacity of his characters to sustain functional relationships.
Which scientific methodology is applied here?
The author employs a literary analysis approach, dissecting specific scenes, dialogue patterns, and character dynamics to draw connections between individual psychology and societal criticism.
What does the main body focus on?
The main body breaks down the play's structure, examines the sexual attitudes of the four central characters, and analyzes key scenes where sexual tension or allusions are used to provoke the audience and expose character secrets.
Which keywords best describe this study?
The work is characterized by terms such as sexual frustration, marital conflict, illusion, psychological games, American drama, and interpersonal performance.
How does the author interpret the character of Martha?
Martha is depicted as an angry, sexually frustrated woman who embodies an "omnipotent matriarchy" and uses aggression and drinking as outlets for her deep-seated emptiness.
What is the significance of the "imaginary son" in the context of the paper?
The paper views the imaginary child as a fictional tool created by George and Martha to mask their sterility and to preserve the appearance of familial success within their struggling marriage.
How is the relationship between Nick and Martha analyzed?
The analysis defines their interaction as a blend of sexual attraction and strategic ambition, where Martha seeks to escape her stagnation, while Nick acts out of opportunism to advance his career.
What is the author's final conclusion regarding the ending of the play?
The author concludes that the destructive exposure of the couple's illusions—effectively 'killing' their fantasy child—is a painful but necessary step toward achieving potential reconciliation and honest communication.
- Quote paper
- Mag. Katharina Kirchmayer (Author), 2009, Sexuality in Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/152056
