All three plays The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith and The American Dream are Edward Albee’s early plays in which he points out the deplorable state of the American society. Albee’s way of writing is provocative because his ultimate goal is to shock his audience. At the same time he wants to amuse the viewers with dialogues that are governed by sarcasm and irony. He writes in the preface of the play The American Dream: “Is the play offensive? I certainly hope so; it was my intention to offend- as well as amuse and entertain.” (p.14) Thus his plays manages to confront the audience with the harsh reality of life and the problems of modern society.
In The Zoo Story a clash of two different representatives of the modern American society takes place and ends up in an accidental manslaughter. In The Death of Bessie Smith the audience faces a society ruled by hatred, racism and frustration. The third play which is going to be examined closely in this paper is The American Dream, a sad portrait of an American family craving for something to replace the emptiness they find themselves in.
This paper will examine the social criticism in these three plays which were written between 1958 and 1960 in order to find common topics and critical issues which were present at that particular time, and are still relevant today. The topics that are going to be analyzed are the outcasts of the society and their treatment by the members of the establishment, the lack of communication and growing violence as a result of it and finally the artificial values of the modern society and the constantly present hypocrisy and double standard.
As Edward Albee sums it up:
The play [The American Dream] is an examination of the American scene, an attack on the substitution of artificial for real values in our society, a condemnation of complacency, it is a stand against the fiction that everything in this slipping land of ours is peachy-keen. (p. 13-14)
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. Social Criticism in Edward Albee’s Radical Plays
2.1. Establishment vs. Outcasts of the Society
2.2. Lack of Communication and Violence in the Modern Society
2.3. Hypocrisy and the Pursuit of Artificial Values
3. Conclusion
Objectives and Topics
This academic paper explores the social criticism embedded in three of Edward Albee’s early plays: The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith, and The American Dream. It aims to identify the recurring themes of alienation, social stratification, and the erosion of human values within the American society of the late 1950s and early 1960s, while assessing their enduring relevance in contemporary discourse.
- The clash between social outcasts and the established order.
- The breakdown of meaningful communication and the rise of systemic violence.
- The prevalence of hypocrisy and the pursuit of artificial, materialistic values.
- The critique of the American Dream as an illusionary and dehumanizing construct.
- The portrayal of the elderly and marginalized groups in an indifferent society.
Excerpt from the Book
2.1. Establishment vs. Outcasts of the Society
In all three plays the reader is faced with representatives of different groups of society. In The Zoo Story it is Jerry who is a perfect type of a man struggling for understanding and acceptance. He wants to be respected and loved by others. Jerry is looking for compassion and for somebody who can understand and relate to his problems and thoughts. When he meets Peter who is a representative of the establishment Jerry believes that it is his last chance to find somebody who can understand his point of view.
Peter is married with two daughters. His represents the average middle-class American citizen who has a not too challenging job, a family, and hobbies, for example reading in the Central Park every Sunday. He follows a certain order and never gets out of line. Peter is happy and satisfied with his way of life, at least before he meets Jerry. A. Lewis observes the clash of these two characters as “the meeting between two separate worlds in the heart of a modern city“.
Jerry is not the only one who seems to be cast out of the society. The whole building where he lives is full with people living on the very edge of the society. There, one can find a homosexual black man who never gets visitors, just like Jerry. He does not have anybody who is interested in him. As Jerry states ”He never bothers me, and never brings anyone up to his room.” (p.119)
Then, there is a Puerto-Rican family who represents the miserable life of immigrants who initially came to the USA in order to find a better life. Instead of finding the ultimate satisfaction they have to suffer from social isolation and poverty in the middle of New York.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: This chapter introduces the plays as provocative early works of Edward Albee that use satire and irony to confront the audience with the harsh realities and problems of modern society.
2. Social Criticism in Edward Albee’s Radical Plays: This section investigates how Albee portrays characters struggling against social boundaries, alienation, and the dehumanizing effects of modern American life.
2.1. Establishment vs. Outcasts of the Society: This chapter analyzes the deep divide between marginalized individuals and the middle-class establishment, focusing on the lack of compassion and social integration.
2.2. Lack of Communication and Violence in the Modern Society: This part examines the breakdown of human connection and how the resulting isolation escalates into physical aggression and tragic violence.
2.3. Hypocrisy and the Pursuit of Artificial Values: This chapter discusses how characters prioritize material goods and social status over genuine human virtue, highlighting the prevalence of double standards.
3. Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, emphasizing that Albee’s critiques remain timely as they force the audience to reflect on their own values and the underlying conditions of modern life.
Keywords
Edward Albee, The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith, The American Dream, Social Criticism, Radical Theater, Alienation, Social Isolation, Hypocrisy, American Dream, Modern Society, Communication, Violence, Marginalization
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this research paper?
This paper focuses on the social criticism within Edward Albee’s early plays, examining how he highlights the deplorable state of American society between 1958 and 1960.
Which specific plays are analyzed?
The study provides a detailed analysis of The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith, and The American Dream.
What is the central objective of the author?
The primary goal is to identify common critical issues from that era, such as social isolation, the erosion of communication, and the substitution of real values for artificial ones.
What methodology does the paper employ?
The paper utilizes a literary analysis approach, examining character development and dialogue to reveal the social commentary and underlying tensions in Albee's works.
What themes are covered in the main body of the paper?
The analysis covers the conflict between outcasts and the establishment, the breakdown of communication leading to violence, and the pervasive hypocrisy found in societal values.
Which key terms characterize this analysis?
The analysis is characterized by terms such as alienation, social stratification, dehumanization, material values, and the critique of the American Dream.
How does the author interpret the character of Jerry in The Zoo Story?
Jerry is interpreted as a desperate outcast seeking connection; his interaction with Peter and his ultimate suicide are seen as a protest against the coldness and injustice of the city.
What does the "Young Man" represent in The American Dream?
The "Young Man" is presented as the personified American Dream, representing the artificial and hollow values that Mommy and Daddy adopt as a replacement for their failed family life.
- Quote paper
- Dusica Marinkovic-Penney (Author), 2004, Social Criticism in Edward Albee's Radical Plays The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith and The American Dream, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/27689
