The American Dream Summay/Analysis

• Author: 
• Edward Albee

• Setting: 
• 1960s? (published in 1961, NYC, York Playhouse)
• Set in an apartment (NY?)
• Main action happens in living room, rest = off stage (implies more bedrooms, a bathroom, a kitchen)
• A living room. Two armchairs, one toward either side of the stage, facing each other diagonally out toward the audience. Against the rear wall, a sofa. A door, leading out from the apartment, in the rear wall, far stage-right. An archway, leading to other rooms, in the side wall, stage-left
•  Characters enter/exit through main door
• Mrs. Barker, Young Man enter; Grandma exits
• Also = power struggle for Daddy when Mrs. Barker arrives
• Social environment: 
• Power struggles (Mommy over Daddy/Mrs. Barker/Grandma)
• Vulnerability (Grandma connecting w/Mrs. Barker, Young Man)
• Dominant impression: seems very generic - characters/furniture seen very non-descript (Only character w/actual name is Mrs. Barker & all livings rooms would have chairs, a door, etc.)
• Time: commentary on consumerism/materialism of the times
• Passage of time: 
• Marked by Mommy/Daddy waiting for Mrs. Barker, old stories (Grandma talking about Mommy's youth, telling Mrs. Barker about the bumble
• Passage of time doesn't seem very concrete
• Plot: 
• Freytag's Pyramid: The Elements of Plot
• Status Quo: intro of characters, setting, conflict at beginning
• Introduced w/Mommy & Daddy sitting in living room, complaining about waiting for Mrs. Barker
• Rising Action: events that complicate/intensify the conflict
• Mrs. Barker's arrival (Daddy's response to her sexuality) --> Mommy's power struggle
• Grandma arguing w/Mommy
• "The Bumble" discussion
• Climax: point of greatest tension
• Is there really a climax? It seems to wander

• Resolution: where conflicts may/may not be resolved

•  Arrival of Young Man...bumble resolution
• Grandma's departure

• What conflicts does it dramatize? --> Consumerism, materialism

• Significant Characters:
• Mommy - static, power, greedy, authority, childish
• Daddy - static, emasculated (but sticks up for Grandma)
• Grandma - dynamic, voice of reason, "Old American Dream"
• Mrs. Barker - static(?...bonds w/Grandma but seems to remain the same), higher class, power position, on an adoption board, interacted w/Mommy & Daddy before (bumble)
• Young Man - static, "New American Dream" good looks, vanity, money, power, little/no values

• Narrative voice/author's style:
• Point of view:
• Obviously displays Albee's opinion of society
• Tone:
• Theater of the Absurd
• Nonsensical
• Satirical
• Imagery:
• 
  
• Symbolism: 
• Baby/bumble - being formed/discarded if not fitting standards
• Door - being "born again" when walking through, power to face future
• Grandma's boxes - containing all "important" things
• Absurdist techniques:
• Characteristics: 
• pattern of images (people = bewildered human beings in an incomprehensible universe)
• anti-heroes (plus: role reversal - Mommy/Daddy)
• humor masks horror of meaninglessness
• Elements of Structure
• Sense of repetition (verbally, Mommy's threats against Grandma, Daddy's protests, etc.)
• Lack of apparent progression
•  No cause/effect (characters don't really change/develop)
• Static quality (characters)
• Freud's ID --> EGO --> SUPEREGO
• Subjects of Theme
• Lack of values in modern world (Old vs. New American Dream)
• Ridiculous situations
• Breakdown of communication (...the whole play!)
• Destruction of individualism (first baby, Mrs. Barker is made to conform to Mommy's household standards)
• Civilized people acting uncivilized (first baby, Mrs. Barker undressing)

• Quotes:
• "I'm sure that must be all very true, Grandma, but what does it have to do with why...pardon me, what is that name again?"
  (Daddy, page 86 when talking about Grandma's boxes)
• Insincerity when asking about boxes, forgetting Mrs. Barker's name (even though she's the only character who has a name)
• "You ungrateful - Daddy? Daddy you see how ungrateful she is after all these years, after all the things we've done for her?...to Grandma...One of these days you're going away in a van, that's what's going to happen to you!"(Mommy, page 88)
• Shows Mommy's petulant behavior, empty threats (foreshadows Grandma' departure)
• "You see? I told you. It's all those television shows. Daddy, you go right into Grandma's room and take her television and shake all the tubes loose."(Mommy, page 89)
• Again, shows Mommy's childish attitude/authority. "tubes loose" could also be referring to Daddy's "tubes" when he had his "operation"

• Thesis/Discussion: 
  
•  Thesis: 
• Through techniques utilized in the Theater of the Absurd, Edward Albee communicates the change in America's values in his play, The American Dream.
• Discussion:(setting, plot, title, narrative voice, author's style, tone, imagery, symbolism)
• The generic setting offers a backdrop that could house almost any American family. Names like "Mommy", "Daddy", "Grandma", and  "Young Man" leave room for interpretation. Almost everyone has or knows a mommy or a young man. The only character with a name is Mrs. Barker, representing the upper class/the government. The reader/viewer also picks up on symbols - doors, boxes - to represent what they interpret. With incoherent dialogue, plot, and time progression Albee translates the timelessness of the American struggle with consumerism.

Close Readings #2 (10/21/12)

http://www.declineoftheempire.com/2012/08/mean-and-stupid-politics-as-usual.html


Politics are riddled with opinions - emotions run high, tempers flair, and arguments get personal. What better way to find something with voice than a political commentary? Through diction, and syntax, the author or "Mean and Stupid Politics As Usual" makes their opinion on Republican political campaign policies very clear.

"Mean and Stupid Politics As Usual"  opens with syntax, the author pulls many quotes directly from published editorials, placing their own personal comments directly below each one. For example:
"One of the more sobering aspects of our nation’s crippling polarization is that issues on which Americans found consensus in the past have become fodder for political partisanship.
Fodder, indeed — these well-stocked politicians are tampering with programs that keep poor families from going hungry."

 Furthering their point powerful choice of diction. "Today I am going to hold my nose and look at politics as usual from the Republican side." Right the bat, the author has conveyed their disparaging tone through an insulting phrase. "Today I am going to hold my nose..." expresses the opinion that Republican policies, quite literally, stink. The criticism is carried through into the next sentence with "Their tried and true strategy - attack/blame the poor - is still as popular as ever..."As an obvious jab at the Republican party, the author really doesn't agree with their views. Sarcasm is utilized in the next paragraph "I think it would be exceedingly generous to say we have reverted back to some vicious version of high school here because these assholes never left." This comparison of politics to mean people in high school further proves their point. The fact that the author has italicized certain parts of the text also draws attention to their exaggerated adjectives.

By elaborating on one specific word used in the article and expanding on its point with a cynical sarcasm provides a contemptuous view of the article's comment. Through diction, by using words such as "exactly", "never", and "always" the author shows that they are 100% sure about their opinions. This makes even more of an impact because when arguing a point most people try to at least acknowledge the other side of an issue. This author just barrels forward, only elaborating on their perspective, leaving no room for doubt. Phrases such as "gross inequities" and "deplorable facts" only further that prospect. Ending the article with "But now the stench is getting too strong for me to bear, and I am unable to hold my nose any longer," the author ties their opinions together by referencing their opening metaphor.

Open Prompt #2 (10/14/12)

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1991. Many plays and novels use contrasting places (for example, two countries, two cities or towns, two houses, or the land and the sea) to represent opposed forces or ideas that are central to the meaning of the work. Choose a novel or play that contrasts two such places. Write an essay explaining how the places differ, what each place represents, and how their contrast contributes to the meaning of the work. 

     I chose to write about C.S. Lewis' The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe. The setting plays an important role in the story, and highlights the similarities and differences between an English estate during World War Two, and the snow-clad world of Narnia.

     Peter, Susan, Edmund, and Lucy Pevensie are evacuated from London to avoid the Blitz, and are sent to Professor Kirk's mansion in the English countryside. The manor house is large and fairly uninhabited, home to himself, the children, and the staff. While the house offers a safe haven, it's expansive property and empty rooms are distinctly not child friendly. The children are left to amuse themselves so they explore the house - finding room upon room of dusty antiques and old furniture. Eventually all of the Pevensie children find their way into Narnia - magical world that can be found through a wardrobe. The majority of the story takes place in Narnia, which is being riled by an oppressive ice queen, who has enslaved the inhabitants (talking animals, fawns, centaurs, and spirits) and has cast the land into a state of permanent winter.

    Narnia serves as an extension of their reality, a way to deal with their problems that they can't solve in the real world. Although they can't do anything prevent WW2, in Narnia they are the only people who can bring an end to the oppression they face. In England the siblings fight and squabble, causing rifts in their relationship. In Narnia when Edmund betrays his siblings they seek him out, rescue him from the White Witch, and forgive him for his betrayal.

   These two places offer two extremes - the everyday life and the out-of-the-ordinary. In England the children evacuate London to escape the affects of WW2, but a war follows them through the wardrobe into Narnia. However, a dilemma of a distinctly different nature is taking place. There they face another kind of war. Another similar-but-different problem they face is separation from their family. In England the children must leave their mother, and in Narnia one of the children, Edmund, is tricked and captured by the White Witch. While coping with the loss of their brother they set out the rescue him and help put an end to the war. England serves as the ordinary "what is", while Narnia represents they fantasy of "what could be".

   While the story fluctuates between two diverse settings - The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe is tied together with one unwavering element - family. Regardless of whether the children are dealing with reality or fantasy, they stick together to cope with "what is" and "what could be".

RAN OUT OF TIME (has been edited since then) - 11/1/2012

Responses to Course Material #2 (10/7/12)

To avoid summarizing what we've learned in class, I want to focus on a few key that have stuck with me, the first being the Existentialism packet. I'd just like to start off by saying "wow!" That was a ton of information! I've read it through a few more times, re-highlighting and annotating but I'm still having trouble keeping track of the different aspects. One thing about existentialism that has stuck with me would be the emphasis put on freedom through choice. As mentioned on the very first page of the packet by Dr. Ivan Soll, existentialism claims that by making decisions human beings are made free, and with this freedom comes the responsibility for our actions. Because we are forced to make decisions in our lives, we are essentially "forced to be free". When we realize teh extent of our decisions we are overcome by anxiety and stress. This has become very apparent to me over the past few months. In the midst of the stress involved in researching, writing, and preparing for college, I'm definitely forced to make a series of decisions that, to be perfectly honest, I don't think I'm ready for. And so the anxiety begins!
But to apply this philosophy to a more literary standpoint, I think The American Dream illustrates the freedom of choices quite nicely. I really love Grandma's character, and the decisions and responsibility she makes throughout the play really stick with me. When comparing the Young Man and Grandma, I see a distinct difference in their values and priorities. As mentioned in allegory article by Professor Beck, Grandma represents the "Old American Dream" - decisive, with values, substance, and goals. Grandma takes control of her situation and leaves Mommy and Daddy's apartment, leaving the the Young Man (the "New American Dream"), in her place. Representing a superficial, materialistic generation, he doesn't seem to - or want to - have a say in his own future. I look forward to further discussing this play because I feel like I've only just begun to think about the meaning, ideas, and values incorporated into the absurd story.