Open Prompt #3

2009, Form B. Many works of literature deal with political or social issues. Choose a novel or play that focuses on a political or social issue. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the author uses literary elements to explore this issue and explain how the issue contributes to the meaning of the work as a whole. Do not merely summarize the plot.

                In the play The American Dream by Edward Albee the focus is on the social issue of gender roles and the social as well as political issue of the famous American Dream and Albee does this through his use of diction and details.

                Edward Albee disregarded the traditional gender roles; the stereotypical alpha male and the homebound wife whose whole life is dedicated to cooking, cleaning, and taking of the children.  Instead he gave us Mommy, the powerful one who only cares about money and social status, and Daddy the kind one who tags along and acts like Mommy’s puppy dog.  In the play when Mommy is telling Daddy a story she constantly says; pay attention”, or “All right, Daddy; now listen” and this gives readers the idea that Mommy is all controlling and treats Daddy like a child.  Aside from the personality differences there are also physical changes that affirm this gender role reversal, “…the doctors took out something that wasn’t there and put in something that wasn’t there.”   This means that the doctors took out Daddy’s penis and put in “woman parts” and this just shows how feminine and weak Daddy is.  Aside from the social issue of gender roles Albee also talks about the American Dream.

                Edward Albee uses characters to represent the social and political issue of the American Dream.  Grandma represents the old American Dream, which encompasses hard work and making a place for yourself, “…watching [Grandma] do the cooking and the housework, polishing the silver, moving the furniture…”  Grandma’s foil, or the new American Dream is represented by the Young Man who says he will do anything for money and that he has no soul just his good looks.  Some of the new American Dream is also present in Mommy, who is obsessed with impressing others and having money.  Readers can see this through the little details that Albee incorporates, such as Mommy refusing to consider what could be inside Grandma’s boxes, all she cares about is the nice wrapping on the outside of the box.

            Lastly Albee addresses the social issue of elderly people. This is present throughout the book when Mommy threatens Grandma with the van man, who is supposed to represent old homes.  In this time period old homes were a new phenomenon and readers can see that Albee didn't agree with them.  Mommy uses the van man as a threat to get Grandma to do whatever she wants.  Another aspect thats present is disrespect for the elderly, especially Mommy.  She has no appreciation for her own mother and feels the need to constantly put her down.    

            Edward Albee uses literary techniques to explore different social and political issues, and through using diction and details the issues stand out and force readers to think about them.  This contributes to the overall meaning o the text iin several ways, whether it be contributing to themes, symbolism, or character development.