The American Dream

Author:  Edward Albee follows the absurdist techniques in a play, but only slightly.  His life experience of living in the 1960s is crucial to the plot in The American Dream.  The 1960s is a turning point in our history as young men and women called for a change in values and rebelled against tradition.  Albee exposes the result of this behavior.  In addition Albee has openly admitted that he is a homosexual, which is helpful in understanding why Daddy has lost his masculinity.

Setting:  An apartment that seems sparse from the scene details and according to Mrs. Barker it is an “unattractive apartment”.  It is not of good quality as everything breaks:  doorbell, Johnny, and icebox.  We do know that there is a kitchen, bathroom, front room, and Grandma’s room.  The whole play takes part in this apartment with the exception of character walking off into the apartment but it would not be seen by the audience.

Plot:  In a sense the plot is to get satisfaction.   Mommy and Daddy want a new kid because they murdered their other one.  They call Mrs. Barker to help them “purchase” a kid but when she arrives neither she nor do they know why she is at their apartment. 

Characters:  Grandma:  She is the old American Dream as she represents traditional, pioneer ways.  She represents man or woman and is a pillar in the family because she understands and is more aware of her surroundings than the other characters.

                        Mommy:  She is selfish and is concerned with money which is why she married Daddy.  She is a hard, unsympathetic, deceitful woman as she mutilates her child and runs the house.  Her personality dominates over Daddy, for example the conversation changes when she no longer wants to discuss a certain subject.  However, when she is in public with Mrs. Barker she is submissive, but when Mrs. Barker is in her house, she rules with an iron fist.

            Daddy:  He is feminine as his tracts were replaced with tubes.  He is weak and follows along with what Mommy says.  It seems as though he tries to please people and he doesn’t like controversy, yet he lacks in emotion.

            Mrs. Barker:  She possibly is a prostitute as she is a professional woman who met Mommy on the street, and she brings people satisfaction by providing them with children.  However, she also is a women involved in many organizations and is perhaps someone to whom all can relate.  In addition she conforms to who she thinks people want her to be.

            Young Man:  He is the new American Dream, representing no sentiment, emotion, and a life where everything is turned into a commodity and the main goal is money.  He is a young man who is attractive and is appealing to many.

The narrative voice is not a single person in The American Dream, but is instead all of the characters talking.  The tones of the characters differ from each other throughout the play.  Mommy is harsh and domineering toward Daddy and Grandma.  Grandma in return snaps at Mommy yet is sweet sounding toward Mrs. Barker and the American Dream.  The American Dream has no expression in his voice which symbolizes the new America which consists of no sentiment or values. 

When Albee describes the bumble being mutilated the words used to describe the act create a picture of a malformed child.  Any person would be appalled at hearing about such a sight.  However, Mrs. Barker’s tone, on the contrary, expresses her interest as she is enthralled by the subject. 

As for the author’s style, the language is simplistic with short sentences which hinder the ability to create a substantial thought. Contrary to the simplistic style, Grandma’s boxes look simple on the outside, yet they represent old values and traditions in America.  Overall the play is satirical as there is a progression of showing the faults in American society.  Perhaps this is seen as humorous as it shows the absurdity in our society, however this is only amusing until the meaning is made known.   

The point of view of the play is from one who sees the faults in our society and has a desire to inform the public of the hypocrisy.  Albee’s point of view of is seen when Mommy complains about not getting satisfaction at the beginning of the play, however, at the end of the play she says that she can get satisfaction.  Satisfaction is false because in a while one grows tired of the once desired object or person, and suddenly wants something new to satisfy himself. 

America has turned into a world where there is a disregard for old values and there is a turn toward modern ways.  This theme throughout the play is first seen in the setting.  The apartment is in an urban area and it is acknowledged that Mommy and Daddy have money.   As times progressed throughout history more people moved to cites and adopted the city life of being wealthy and living as one pleases.  Similarly the plot emphasizes America losing a sense of propriety and morals as Mommy and Daddy mutilate their child and then ask the adoption agency if they could purchase another kid.  Everything has been turned into commodity even children.  The imagery created as it is described how Mommy and Daddy gouge it eyes out, cut its hand off, and cut its tongue out demonstrates that they don’t care about their kid; they can go buy another one.  In addition Mommy marries Daddy only because he is rich but she grows tired of him and wants something new, so she shops for sexual pleasure (a commodity) which she finds in her new son.  Their primary goal is to get satisfaction; however, one’s satisfaction only lasts until he tires of it and wants something new. 

The theme is perhaps better conveyed between the two characters, Grandma and the young man.  The American Dream is the name of the young man but also the title of the play.  This is significant because it shows the focus around the young man not Grandma who represents the older version of the American Dream.  The American Dream explains how he is unable to have emotions and the comfort of love when he says, “I no longer have the capacity to feel anything. I have no emotions… I have, now, only my person…my body… my face… I let people love me… I accept the syntax around me, for while I know I cannot relate…I know I must be related to” (115).  This quote summarizes the new American qualities as people aren’t concerned with other human beings; they merely treat them as objects from which they can get satisfaction. 

Grandma is replaced by new values and standards; this is symbolized through Grandma’s boxes.  Her boxes are a representation of her; they contain her past, memories, and everything for which she stands.  The American Dream takes the boxes out of the apartment, which symbolizes new ways displacing the old.  Grandma is for traditional marriage, working hard, and treating one’s children tenderly, whereas the American Dream represents the lack of sacredness in love and sex, as well as the lack of sentiment.  Mommy and Daddy don’t care about what happens to their child, it holds no sentimental value to them because they can go buy another one.

The narrative voice is of the characters speaking which in a sense shows the reality of society as the audience actually sees how they act.  Subsequently the tone of the play changes depending on which character are speaking, however, it repeatedly shifts as the character’s moods change.  The shifts in tone indicate the constant change in mood and attitude of people.  With the new American Dream people are more apt to go from one thing to another and not care about the consequences; as a result they have lost order and a set of standards from old ways.

In addition the author’s style adds to the theme as there are short sentences which express the lack in development of thought.  Subsequently the thoughts of the characters are shallow which correlates with how Americans are simplistic and hold no values in their lives.  For example Grandma often goes off on a rant such as when she expresses her view s about treating others well because it gives them a sense of dignity.  She then goes on to explain that “You got to have a sense of dignity…if you don’t…civilization is doomed” (64).  The new America doesn’t have dignity because no longer do people value themselves they only care about what they can get out of life.  In this case Grandma is able to convey a full thought and make a point; whereas the American Dream has many ellipses within his speech and has difficulty completing a sentence.