Who we are can be molded by what our peers expect us to be. So many people get preoccupied with how they are perceived by others, that they let those expectations dictate their actions. Families, for instance, can tend to get compared to other families. This comparison can lead to feelings of inadequacy and long-term unhappiness. If every family were to compare themselves to another, changing their behavior to emulate, would a genuine family even exist? In Edward Albee’s play, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, the reader is shown the implications of adjusting one’s persona to fit into a role imposed by society.
The play opens with a married couple, Martha and George, coming back from a party hosted by Martha’s father. We learn that, much to …show more content…
Often the individuals that make up a family will attempt to fill these pre-conceived roles as best they can. The husband is normally the primary income earner while the wife is the homemaker. Children are part of an expected future, especially by the couple 's parents, immediate relatives, or acquaintances. Generally speaking, there is also expected to be some harmony between the two partners. Interestingly enough, neither couple in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? fits into this mold. A constant source of friction, George, though employed, does not meet Martha’s expectations for advancement in his career. Though Martha does not have a career, through her father’s success she has more financial stability than George. Martha, we assume, wanted children, but for whatever reason could not conceive. Additionally setting Martha apart from the role of the ideal wife, are hints from George that she keeps the home in disarray. He prompts to Nick and Honey at the start that they can place their coats “Anywhere…furniture, floor, … [that it] doesn’t make a difference around this place.” (Albee 21). On the face of it, George and Martha appear to have a very unhealthy, turbulent relationship. Surprisingly though, there is love in their marriage, explained by Martha that “There is only one man in my life who has ever … made me happy.” (Albee 200). For Nick and Honey, the …show more content…
Even today echoes of this archaic family model still exist. If examined closer, families may find they have adapted their life to emulate that of a neighbor or friend. In an ideal world, decisions would be based on our personal wants and needs, and not those dictated by outside sources. Likewise, we would not feel forced to play roles in our lives that do not reflect our personal character or desires. In this way, we could ensure our lives remain genuine and true to who we are. Basing decisions on societal norms, as Nick and Honey had done, can lead that person to become a slave to a mundane life that is not of their choosing. People, like Martha and George, can feel shame not meeting society’s expectations. These individuals can feel forced to create a fictional child, as in Martha and George’s case, or another illusion to take away from an inward turmoil. Weighing on each character is a personal failure resulting in an unrealized future. The play, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, displays how wanting to seem normal and successful can force us into roles that impact our life choices for the
The play opens with a married couple, Martha and George, coming back from a party hosted by Martha’s father. We learn that, much to …show more content…
Often the individuals that make up a family will attempt to fill these pre-conceived roles as best they can. The husband is normally the primary income earner while the wife is the homemaker. Children are part of an expected future, especially by the couple 's parents, immediate relatives, or acquaintances. Generally speaking, there is also expected to be some harmony between the two partners. Interestingly enough, neither couple in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? fits into this mold. A constant source of friction, George, though employed, does not meet Martha’s expectations for advancement in his career. Though Martha does not have a career, through her father’s success she has more financial stability than George. Martha, we assume, wanted children, but for whatever reason could not conceive. Additionally setting Martha apart from the role of the ideal wife, are hints from George that she keeps the home in disarray. He prompts to Nick and Honey at the start that they can place their coats “Anywhere…furniture, floor, … [that it] doesn’t make a difference around this place.” (Albee 21). On the face of it, George and Martha appear to have a very unhealthy, turbulent relationship. Surprisingly though, there is love in their marriage, explained by Martha that “There is only one man in my life who has ever … made me happy.” (Albee 200). For Nick and Honey, the …show more content…
Even today echoes of this archaic family model still exist. If examined closer, families may find they have adapted their life to emulate that of a neighbor or friend. In an ideal world, decisions would be based on our personal wants and needs, and not those dictated by outside sources. Likewise, we would not feel forced to play roles in our lives that do not reflect our personal character or desires. In this way, we could ensure our lives remain genuine and true to who we are. Basing decisions on societal norms, as Nick and Honey had done, can lead that person to become a slave to a mundane life that is not of their choosing. People, like Martha and George, can feel shame not meeting society’s expectations. These individuals can feel forced to create a fictional child, as in Martha and George’s case, or another illusion to take away from an inward turmoil. Weighing on each character is a personal failure resulting in an unrealized future. The play, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? by Edward Albee, displays how wanting to seem normal and successful can force us into roles that impact our life choices for the