The American Dream Summary and Analysis

Author: The story was written by Edward Albee and the play was first preformed in 1961.  The play gives off the impression that Albee had strong negative opinions about current society, especially the current American Dream and the how commodification is in society.

Setting: The entire story took place in Mommy and Daddy's apartment.  It was a pretty normal apartment, but it was commodified as a representation of Mommy and Daddy's wealth and social status.

Plot and Significant Characters: The only real change that occurred in the story was that Grandma ended up leaving on her own terms to go to the nursing home. Both the Young Man and Mrs. Barker appear in the play.  Mrs. Barker worded at the Bye-Bye Adoption service and gave Mommy and Daddy their "bumble of joy" which they eventually  killed before the play took place.  The Young Man was referred as the Van Man who Grandma ended up leaving the apartment with.  The three most important characters were Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma.  Mommy constantly emasculates Daddy throughout the story and treats Grandma as if she is no longer an equal human being because of her age.  Daddy is portrayed as a woman and Grandma is the only character who every says anything containing logic or real thinking.

Narrative Voice and Albee's style:  The play was an example of the Theater of the Absurd.  The characters were constantly repeating themselves and the overall plot was very static throughout the entire play.  The point of view was 3rd person where we didn't know about any of the characters inner thoughts.   Overall the tone was cometic but it also was mocking the character's stupidity and obsession with money and social status.  There was also constant imagery involving sex.  There were dozens of sexual innuendoes as well as Daddy becoming "sticky wet" when Mrs. Barker took her dress off.  These constant sexual images also helped describe all the characters besides grandma as being very stupid and immature.  Albee used symbolism to convey most of the meaning in the story.  Grandma represents the old American Dream while the Young Man represents the new American dream.  Albee voices his disgust about what the American Dream is turning into by constantly having the Young Man talk about money and how he will do anything to he can to get it.

Memorable Quotes:

"Well, you know how it is: the doctors took our something that was there and put in something that want there.  An operation" (83).

This quote is when Daddy is describing his sex change operation.  It shows how Daddy is really a woman and adds to the strangeness of the play.  It's characterizing Daddy as being a weak character whose is completely emasculated by Mommy.

"It's that television! Daddy, go break her television" (92).

Mommy believes that Grandma gets all of her radical opinions from television.  This symbolizes the values and ideas that television creates among society and the negative affects they can have.

"And we'll drink to celebrate. To satisfaction!  Who says you can't get satisfaction these days!" (126).

Mommy is talking about celebrating Grandma leaving the apartment.  It symbolizes how the new American Dream (now that Grandma has left) is really about the constant need for satisfaction.  Albee is describing how the constant need for satisfaction is what dives society.



Theme:  The old American Dream is being replaced by a new American Dream that is about being superior to other people based on the commodification of almost everything in your life.

The apartment, the setting,  is referenced many times to describe their social status.  The apartment is use to commodify their wealth.  The title of the play really makes it clear that Albee is talking about the American Dream itself not just newer generations replacing older generations.  By the only major change in the plot being the Young Man taking Grandma away, it is describing how the the New American Dream (the Young Man) is replacing the old values (the boxes) and the old American Dream (Grandma).  The style of Theater of the Absurd and the comedic voice  allows Albee to be very critical of the current American society in a degrading and mocking way, which allows Albee to make his points strong and vivid about current American culture.  The constant imagery of sex shows the newer generation's immaturity as well as its constant need for satisfaction.  Not only does Albee use the symbolism of Grandma and The Young Man, but Mommy and Daddy's inability to find water within the house symbolizes how they have become corrupt and are unable to cleanse themselves and regain their innocence and clarity.  Mommy and Daddy's loss of innocence represents a corrupt society as a whole which has adopted and embraces this new American Dream.