The American Dream Analysis and Summary

Author: Edward Albee. He was born in 1928, and is most commonly known for popularizing the Theater of the Absurd.

Setting: The setting of the play is not specified too much. It takes place in a living room in an apartment. He doesn’t really make anything too detailed about the setting.

Plot: The beginning of the play begins with Mommy and Daddy sitting in their living room. Mommy is going on rambling about how she bought a beige hat yesterday from the store. Throughout this elongated story, she continuously checks to make sure Daddy is paying attention to every detail she spits out. Daddy always responds with an answer that is relevant to her story. Mommy then goes on about how she ran into the head of the Woman’s board, Mrs. Barker. She then begins to tell Mommy how her hat is wheat. Mommy then goes and “exchanges” her hat for a wheat one, when really it was the same exact color as the first one.

            Soon enough, Grandma enters the scene. She enters with many, many boxes. These boxes are very neatly wrapped, and they show stand for her American Dream (the old version). In these boxes, grandma’s oldest possessions are kept. Pretty much, her life values are what are figuratively in these boxes. We learn that Grandma and Mommy don’t have a very strong relationship, and Mommy wants her to be put in a home. Mommy is more into wealth, seeing as that is why she is still with Daddy.

            Mommy has a very reversed relationship with Daddy. She is the masculine one in their case. When Mrs. Barker arrives at their apartment and rings the doorbell, Mommy tells Daddy to go answer it. Timid at first, he is then persuaded by Mommy when she tells him how masculine and decisive he is. Mrs. Barker then enters their room.  This is not what’s expected though. With many things wrong in their apartment, Mommy and Daddy were expecting them, the repairmen, to come. Instead, it was Mrs. Barker. She is commonly referred to as “them” because she represents large corporations and shows how dominant they are in today’s world.

             Soon enough, the doorbell rings again. It is the new American Dream (aka Young Man). He is brought to Mommy and Daddy through the Bye-Bye Adoption Agency. He isn’t their first child though because they had one before (another adopted son). Their other son wasn’t good enough for them though. They pretty much disemboweled the kid by hand. They couldn’t obtain satisfaction, which is another motif that is commonly brought up in this play.

            This new American Dream is strongly characterized. The Young Boy who represents it says he will do anything for money. He then goes on to tell Grandma how he can’t feel any emotions pretty much due to his separation of his twin brother when they were children. This brother is the first child that Mommy and Daddy adopted.

            In the end, the new American Dream replaces the old American Dream. The Young boy moves in, and simultaneously Grandma moves out and brings with her all of her boxes. Originally, this saddens Mommy. She is forced to think grandma stole something, but as soon as she realizes that the young boy is there to stay, she is perfectly satisfied. Solely by his appearance, the young boy is accepted into their family. Grandma is shoved out by the new dream, and at the end of the play she speaks directly to the audience, breaking the fourth wall, telling them that everyone thinks they are happy now. This is left to have us question how long their happiness will actually last.

Significant Characters:

Mommy: Mommy is a very dominant character in the play. She stands up to everyone, except Mrs. Barker. She emasculates everything Daddy does, and she knows how to manipulate him to do certain things. She can easily be called a gold digger. She married Daddy for his money, and that is solely the only thing that has kept them together. She helps show how materialism and consumerism affects today’s world.

Daddy: Mommy emasculates him throughout the entire play. He feeds off of her strong commands, and is persuaded to do things by being told how “masculine” and “firm” and “decisive” he is. At this point, he is staying with Mommy out of fear.

Grandma: As soon as Grandma enters the play, we begin to see how she is the most relatable and straightforward character. The other characters in the play do not easily understand her, except the audience understands most everything she does. She sees things that the other characters cannot see, because they live in almost a completely different world. She represents the old American Dream, and no one else can understand this version of the American Dream.

Mrs. Barker: She exerts dominance over Mommy, and makes her feel uncomfortable even in her own apartment. She is in charge of many different organizations and clubs. The most spoken about is that she is chairman of the women’s club and she is in charge of the Bye-Bye Adoption Agency (how they received both their children). She represents large corporations.

Young Man: He is characterized by looks. He is from the West Coast, and we know that he is extremely handsome, even Grandma is swept away by his beauty. He was torn apart from his twin brother, and can no longer love or feel emotion. He will do anything for money. That being said, he represents the New American Dream.

Style: Throughout the play, Albee’s style is very obvious. He tone is very sarcastic and he is very critical. He also lets all of the characters represent very large ideas, such as Grandma as the old American Dream. By not specifically naming the characters, we can tell that he is describing the typical American family, not just one specific one. His imagery is also very strong in the play; when he describes the previous bumble of joy that they had. As we learned before beginning the play, we knew that this was Theatre of the Absurd (basically, a play about nothing). However, as we read it, we discovered there were many different symbols and meanings deep beneath the lines. If someone read this play though and didn’t go through and depict it like we did, they would probably attest that this is solely theatre of the absurd.

Important Quotes:

11)   Mommy: “You can’t get satisfaction; just try. I can get satisfaction, but you can’t” (62).

-Throughout the entire play, satisfaction is continuously brought up. Mommy seems to think that satisfaction can be purchased. First, she is satisfied by buying the “wheat” colored hat, when in reality it was the exact same hat as the beige one that she had originally bought. Then, she is unsatisfied by her original bumble of joy. She finds the simple solution to this problem, killing the kid and purchasing a new one (new American Dream).

22)   Young Man: “I’ll be happy to tell you. It’s that I have no talents at all, except what you see…my person; my body, my face. In every other way I am incomplete, and I must therefore…compensate.” (113)

-The Young Man in this play clearly represents the new version of the American Dream and how it has taken over the old version. It is almost completely about materialism, consumerism, and looks. Albee is trying to say that people don’t see the true values in life anymore, and they just want money and satisfaction.

Theme: The American Dream has been manipulated by new generations and these generations have altered societal standards.

This theme is strongly supported by two characters, as well as everyone else in the play. However, the two most influential characters for this theme are Grandma and the Young Man. Grandma represents the old version of the American Dream. She can see things that no one else in the play can see. Whenever she tries to explain these things to the other characters, they don’t even bother to listen to what she is trying to say. This shows how the generation of Mommy and Daddy don’t even care, and that they care more strongly about themselves and what is currently going on in their lives. (Satisfaction, consumerism, materialism.) The Young Man is straight up told he is the American Dream by Grandma. He represents how the new dream is almost solely based on appearance, wealth, and instant satisfaction. He tells Grandma how he has to compensate for his lack of emotion by his looks. He was torn apart from his twin brother at birth, and ever since that moment he has not been able to feel love and give emotion. All of the other characters contribute to this, Daddy doesn’t really do much to change his life because it isn’t exactly terrible; he can live well and get pleasure when he wants. Mrs. Barker helps show how standards are being changed when she takes off her dress and arouses Daddy. Though claiming she is a professional, we know that a real professional would never do that. This is part of Albee’s sarcasm and exaggeration. In the end, instant satisfaction is what is very important to the characters in the play. When Grandma comes out and speaks directly to the audience and says, “So, let’s leave things as they are right now…while everybody’s happy…while everybody’s got what he wants…or everybody’s got what he thinks he wants” (127), she is showing how these characters will not stay satisfied with themselves forever, especially with how fast everything in the world keeps changing. 

Close Reading #2: October 21

            In the article “Am I a ‘Working Dad’?” by Ken Gordon, he discusses what it takes to be considered a “working dad” and how that stereotype is underdeveloped in the Unites States today. It doesn’t only have to be women who are considered “working women”, men do the same things as women do, and they don’t get as much credit for it. Gordon pushes his opinion onto us readers effectively by using creative syntax, in depth detail, and strong diction.

            Immediately, Gordon’s unique use of syntax grabs the reader’s attention. He begins by telling us the basic overview of his life, and what his article is going to be about. When he says, “I’m a dad — two children, 9 and 7 — and I work. Hard.” we immediately understand what the following article will discuss. The way that Gordon made a one word sentence out of the word “hard” helps deliver the point that life isn’t as easy for men as it is depicted to be. And women shouldn’t be the only ones who get the title of “working women”. Gordon knows how to reach out to the reader by making the voice of his piece more “friendly”. He lets the audience know that he isn’t alone when he says, “My fellow dads and I deserve the same kind of respect, no? We dudes get up every day and make breakfast” This makes us as readers see how Gordon is just a typical “dad” along with every other dad in the world. Him and the other dads have to do what mom’s do, while adding work on top of that. After reading this article I was agreeing with most of what Gordon had to say.

            The detail that is used in this article is also very gripping. Right off the bat we were placed in a situation where we were almost watching Gordon as he “fall[s] out of bed at about 5 a.m. and stumble[s] back there at about 10 p.m.” How is describes his day to day life helps the reader understand that Gordon is a hard working man who deserves a title such as “working dad” because it isn’t as easy as it seems. He dedicates an entire paragraph to describing a day in his life. He says that, as dads, “We feed the cat, take out the trash, wash the dishes, if any are left over from the night before. We can do an occasional emergency load of laundry…” and that goes on for a whole paragraph. The description of these vital tasks helps him to reach the readers and to make them realize how difficult a dad’s life can be. Similarly, he compares them to the typical “carpool-board-meeting-spaghetti-dinner-toothbrushing-book-bedtime lifestyle” of women.

            Finally, the use of strong diction help keep the readers entertained, and help to create a vision for the readers.  The diction used in this article isn’t necessarily so strong that we don’t know what the words mean, but his choice of diction is appropriate for the audience he is reaching out to, and for the style of syntax he is taking on. After he questions if the work men do is enough to win the “merit badge” he says. “if not, if we’re encroaching on sacred woman-only territory… I have another, more modest proposal.” This diction helps get the reader to keep reading, to figure out his “more modest proposal.” Finally, we see how Gordon feels when he says “the unremitting demands on our energy and time and patience, means that we’re chronically wiped out.” This is a great closing sentence because it delivered his final point. It reached the audience affectively, and in a way that all ages could understand.

            Gordon has a well written persuasive article formed demonstrating how men should win a “‘working dad’” merit badge.” His use of syntax, detail, and diction really helped to bring the piece together as a whole. Without them, the piece wouldn’t affectively persuade the reader to agree with how men, dads in particular, deserve a higher title in life.

 

Article: http://parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/19/am-i-a-working-dad/

Open Prompt #2: October 14th

2006, Form B. In many works of literature, a physical journey - the literal movement from one place to another - plays a central role. Choose a novel, play, or epic poem in which a physical journey is an important element and discuss how the journey adds to the meaning of the work as a whole. Avoid mere plot summary.

                  The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn is one of the most well known pieces of American literature. Within its’ many lines lies many different truths about the current world around Huckleberry Finn, and many different conflicts that people in the world have faced. After reading the very title of this novel, we can automatically infer that it is going to be an adventure story, of someone going out on a journey to capture something they need. And we see this very dominantly in this novel. As Huck and Jim travel up the Mississippi River we start to see what they are both in need of.  Huck, the protagonist, is on a quest merely for fun, but we also begin to see that he is getting away from his abusive father. Jim is on a quest for freedom. While reading this novel, we see the relationship that forms between Huck and Jim from being on the river, we see that they can be away from the flawed society while on the raft (not completely escaping societal problems), and that they are both on their way to greater freedom.

                  Huck and Jim were already connected from the beginning of the novel. They were a part of the same care family. Willow Douglas and Miss Watson were providing for Huck, while Jim was their slave. In the beginning, Huck thought of Jim only as a slave, of being property. As they spent more and more time together and traveled down the river, he began to realize how everything he was being taught by Willow Douglas and Miss Watson were flawed, and that Jim was in no way a slave. He was a normal human being. Just like a river, they are forced to accept each other for which they are and they and they can change their attitudes towards each other. Jim soon becomes Huck’s father figure. He makes food for Huck, he provides shelter, and he keeps harsh reality away from him. For example, when Huck’s fathers corpse shows up, Jim does his best to shield Huck from it. Jim is Huck’s father figure, and he sets an example for Huck to follow.

                  Immediately, we see that the river is a symbol for freedom. After Huck fakes his death to his father, he has a raft that safely carries him down the Mississippi River, well seemingly safe. Once he runs into Jim, they realize they both are going to the same direction, and they make their quest together. We see that they run into troubles when they are off of the water and on land. For example, one time the river floods, forcing Huck and Jim onto land where they run into criminals who have stolen money and goods. They tried to seem good and like they meant well at first, but Huck was able to tell that they were bad and that they were lying. Also, as they just began embarking on their journey, they are hit by a bad fog storm that causes them to miss the mouth of the Ohio River, which was their original plan to freedom. This shows how the societal problems are not going to go away, and they still affect Huck and Jim while they are just leaving the city of St. Petersberg. After they have traveled a bit further down the river, we see another event that shows how land isn’t exactly safe. They stay with an unknown family while Huck pretends to be someone he isn’t, and after a few days of living well, it all goes down hill. There is a mob that breaks out against the family he is staying with. In response, Huck and Jim flee and begin their travels down the river again. We see that the raft is a good source of safety for both Huck and Jim.

                  Throughout the novel, we see many ways in which Huck and Jim are struggling for personal freedom. Huck is tortured with an unloving father, who abuses him and only really cares about money; while Jim is a slave who had been torn from his real family, and is on a mission to get his family back. Originally, Huck goes on this adventure solely for that purpose; for it being a cool adventure and story to tell. But we see how he is actually escaping from something real, and we see how he is affected by society around him. The teaching of slavery and racism are not accurate, and he wants to get as far away as possible from these beliefs. That goes to say why Jim is fleeing. He wants personal freedom; he wants to find his family that he was torn apart from.

                  Overall, the meaning behind the Mississippi River is a very dominant one in this novel. But the events that occur on the river and the coming of characters are prevalent towards the plot. Both characters discover their true identities by growing a family relationship towards each other, by being away from the flaws of society, and by achieving freedom together. All of the events create these two characters, and provide for a novel depicting society and using satire to show these flaws. The former inexperienced, naïve Huck, transforms into a matured, grown “adult”, while Jim makes a huge jump in roles from being a slave, to being a freed human being.

Response to course material: Oct. 7th

     DIDLS- diction, imagery, details, language, syntax. This is a recurring word that we see every single day in AP lit. One where we just walk in the room and get asked very first thing of the day, in the early morning, and we all know it. This short acronym helps pull all literature together in AP lit, and so far after just being in school for a month, it has helped me to recognize things in writing and analyze things way better.
     How do we make something really funny? What elements need to be included? In literature, it is really hard to make people actually LOL. A total of 6 different elements have to be included. Not only do a lot of different elements need to be included, but there are also different theories that have to be taken into account when we try to be funny. For example, in the past I'm sure we have all tried to be funny in some writing, but did it really work? I know it didn't for me! Of course, I thought my writing was funny, but it takes a lot to get the reader to see exactly what you are seeing and think the same things are funny. After learning about all the different theories of being funny and learning the elements (appeal to intellect, be mechanical, be inherently human, go against societal norms, and painless or harmless to the participants), I have now noticed why things on tv, and in books and plays such as The American Dream, are so funny. They use the elements well.
      We not only learned about how to be funny, but we learned about different literary time periods as well. Last year in American lit, we learned most of these (romatiscm, po-mo, modernism, realism, colonialism) but this year a couple new ones were thrown in. Classical and midevalism were both new material to me, and I can see why. They seem to primarily be relevant to British literature and the things that they study. Coming from different backgrounds of study fields is kind of hard because both groups know so many different things, so I think it would be cool if, on certain things such as literary areas, we could help teach each other what we know best so that there is a general knowledge of what is going on.
      We also learned about critical points of view. there are many different ways to analyze literature. The one that I would say I do most is the New Critic, point. I just read things and take them how they are written on the page, and I don't immediately try to connect it to something that has already happened in literature and stuff like that. The psychoanalytic view point is one that intrigues me. Being able to read that deeply into literature is really a good skill to be able to have. Who would have thought people could think of such weird and twisted ways to convey their every day lives onto paper? All of these things make literature what it is today, and without it there wouldn't be much to study about literature, would there?