Revised #1 (Open prompt 6)

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 readers and elicits a comparison between the fiction and their life. In Edward Albee’s The American Dream, Mommy and Daddy’s treatment of Baby is incredibly bizarre and unrealistic, this incident however is tied to realistic elements of the story. Becoming heavily responsible for the creation of meaning, illustrating what not to do and where Albee thought the current society was going.

                Many aspects of the play would strike the reader as normal. These are most important because they allow readers to relate the play to their own lives. Starting with Mommy and Daddy, Albee paints them to be obviously distant and estranged. This relationship is clearly seen in Mommy’s domineering language towards Daddy. As well his genuine lack of interest and sentiment towards her. Details such as them no longer sleeping together, their consumption of pop show how dependent both are to society and the ramifications. 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 hat, these all begin to form 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 understandable when looking at their character make-up. Mommy is the biggest offender and bigger villain, neither of them are innocent, especially in the act against the baby. The mutilation of the baby is the bizarre act. Though it first hits us as strange 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 mutilation was what Mommy saw as wrong doing towards her, “[the baby} had eyes only for his father,” something that is rare. Babies have eyes for their mothers 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.