Edward Albee’s play The American Dream delves into several thought-provoking themes, revealing the complexities of human existence and societal constructs. Let’s explore these themes:
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The Fallacy of The American Dream:
- Albee satirically skewers the idea of “the American dream.” He argues that this concept—often associated with opportunity, equality, and success—is, in reality, a fallacy. Through the play, Albee exposes the gap between idealism and actual experience, challenging the notion that everyone can achieve prosperity and happiness1.
- The play critiques the substitution of artificial values for real ones in society, emphasizing the emptiness that can lurk beneath the surface of the American Dream2.
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The Breakdown of the Family:
- Albee draws on his own childhood traumas to compose this play. The disjointed family depicted in The American Dream reflects the darkness and unrest simmering beneath the facade of a typical American household.
- As societal and sexual revolutions loom on the horizon, the play examines the fractures within family dynamics, hinting at deeper emotional turmoil1.
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Cruelty and Complacency:
- All characters in the play grapple with acts of cruelty—both endured and perpetuated. From Mommy’s domineering emasculation of Daddy to Daddy’s indifference toward Mommy, the household is rife with cruelty.
- Threats against Grandma—such as having her removed by “the van man”—underscore the harshness within the family1.
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Entertainment and Artifice:
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The American Dream belongs to the “Theatre of the Absurd” movement. Albee uses heightened reality, absurdism, and breaking of the “fourth wall” to highlight the irrationality of society and entertainment.
- The play critiques the intersection of artifice and reality, emphasizing the strange and dangerous era post-World War II1.