Edward Albee’s play Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? :: essays research papers

Edward Albees play Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? In Edward Albees play Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? the major thematic concerns ar those involving perception versus reality. In the arising of the play, both couples devour the appearance _or_ semblance to be average, loving couples of the nineteen-fifties. Even George and Martha seem to be playful in their insults toward individually other. Things do not start to turn until George warns Martha not to start in about the bit with the kid, after which both of them begin to get more hostile toward each other. Even then, their antagonism of each other did not reach the feverish pitch that it had by the end of the play. notch and H maviny are presented as even more of an ideal couple. They are seemingly devoted to each other and are do uncomfortable by George and Marthas constant attacks of each other. However, in the following acts, we find that this one is aptly titled Fun and Games when the truth is revealed about the two coupl es.In the second act, we learn that the idyllic perception of Nick and dearests trades union is exactly that a fairy tale. George and Martha begin to attack Nick and Honey (as well as each other) and legions them to admit the false pretenses on which their married couple is based namely, that Nick only married Honey because he believed her to be pregnant. Also, the fact that Nick is so easily seduced by Martha makes one doubt the get it on in his marriage to Honey.Another perception destroyed in this act is that the men hold the power in the relationships, which was the standard when the play was written. Their sexuality is what gives Martha and Honey their power. Honey used a false pregnancy to force Nick to marry her while Martha, as the daughter of the president of the university, uses sex as a tool to advance the careers of certain professors (although never her own husband).In the third act, we learn that Nick is perhaps not the athletic sexually voracious military man we may have thought he was his failure to transact the affair with Martha resulted from his failure to maintain an erection. Also revealed in this last act is the fact that George and Martha do not, in fact, have a son they simply make him up. With this last fantasy purged, George and Martha finally have a clean break with all the lies that have deteriorated their marriage.Edward Albees play Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? essays research paperEdward Albees play Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? In Edward Albees play Whos Afraid of Virginia Woolf? the major thematic concerns are those involving perception versus reality. In the beginning of the play, both couples seem to be average, loving couples of the nineteen-fifties. Even George and Martha seem to be playful in their insults toward each other. Things do not start to turn until George warns Martha not to start in about the bit with the kid, after which both of them begin to get more hostile toward each other. Even then, their ant agonism of each other did not reach the feverish pitch that it had by the end of the play.Nick and Honey are presented as even more of an ideal couple. They are seemingly devoted to each other and are made uncomfortable by George and Marthas constant attacks of each other. However, in the following acts, we find that this one is aptly titled Fun and Games when the truth is revealed about the two couples.In the second act, we learn that the idyllic perception of Nick and Honeys marriage is exactly that a fairy tale. George and Martha begin to attack Nick and Honey (as well as each other) and force them to admit the false pretenses on which their marriage is based namely, that Nick only married Honey because he believed her to be pregnant. Also, the fact that Nick is so easily seduced by Martha makes one doubt the love in his marriage to Honey.Another perception destroyed in this act is that the men hold the power in the relationships, which was the standard when the play was written. Their sexuality is what gives Martha and Honey their power. Honey used a false pregnancy to force Nick to marry her while Martha, as the daughter of the president of the university, uses sex as a tool to advance the careers of certain professors (although never her own husband).In the third act, we learn that Nick is perhaps not the athletic sexually voracious man we may have thought he was his failure to consummate the affair with Martha resulted from his failure to maintain an erection. Also revealed in this last act is the fact that George and Martha do not, in fact, have a son they simply made him up. With this last fantasy purged, George and Martha finally have a clean break with all the lies that have deteriorated their marriage.