1978. Choose an implausible or strikingly unrealistic incident or
character in a work of fiction or drama of recognized literary merit. Write an
essay that explains how the incident or character is related to the more
realistic of plausible elements in the rest of the work. Avoid plot summary
The addition of an utterly bizarre incident in
a play or novel strikes us, as readers,
but it also prompts us to make the connection to our lives and in doing so
achieve what the author desired. In Edward Albee’s The American Dream, Mommy
and Daddy’s treatment of the baby is incredibly bizarre and unrealistic, this
incident however is tied to realistic elements of the story. However this
addition is heavily responsible for creating the meaning of the play, illustrating
how not to live one’s lives and where Albee thought the current society was
going.
Many
aspect of the play would strike the reader as normal and not at all out of the
ordinary. These aspects are the most important because these are what allow the
readers to relate the play to their own lives. Starting with the Mommy and
Daddy, Albee paints them to be obviously distant and estranged, though they
live together. This relationship is clearly seen in the domineering language of
Mommy towards Daddy, and his genuine lack of interest and sentiment towards
her. The author also adds in that they no longer sleep together. It also shows
that they are both very consumed in the culture of the present times , and
follow very much the expectations of Society. This is seen first with Mommy
during the hat fiasco and even more through the fact that they are in an
assortment of clubs showing their need to belong. Knowing their other
characteristics: needing to appear rich, wanting to have a family—seen in them
calling each other Mommy and Daddy sans the presence of a child—and having to
have the right color hat, these all begin to form a certain picture. A particular
one that shows a couple who prizes materialism, outward appearances, and
ultimately themselves before any others. These are all things that we see
everyday even now; it’s the new american culture.
Mommy
and Daddy’s dissatisfaction is obvious and understandable when looking at their
character make-up. Though Mommy is the biggest offender and big villain,
neither of them are innocent, especially in the act against the baby. The
mutilation of the baby is the bizarre act that Albee has added. Though it hits
us as strange at first through further reflection and examination of the
characters and morals of both Mommy and Daddy it no longer seems so
unrealistic. The reason for the baby’s mutilation was what Mommy saw as wrong
doing towards her, “[the baby} had eyes only for his father,” something that is
rare. Usually babies have eyes for the mother’s which molded society to expect
that the baby would prefer the mother. Because the baby went against society’s
norms and in doing so embarrassed her she punished him, by ordering Daddy to
mutilate the child and emasculate him.
The technique
of linking the normal with the bizarre makes for a well relatable play; one
that will enable audiences to learn from it. This was indeed Albee’s purpose in
writing the America Dream. By pointing out the normal elements of the play in our everyday world such as the
obsession with materialism, estranged couples that no longer love each other,
and the valuing of a group acceptance it makes it easier to relate the bizarre
to our lives as well. The ordinary elements of the play lead to the unrealistic
act that caused tragedy, so by not living our lives in that way we can
ourselves avoid that tragedy and dissatisfaction.
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