Analysis Of Alma In The Sandbox

Grandma is in the Sandbox
“The Sandbox” by Edward Albee brings together ordinary people and grim humor to convey an underlying message of the importance of caring for our elderly parents as they approach death. The author seems to be saying that as we become older we become increasingly irrelevant and jaded by others in our life whom we might have cared for and loved. Grandma, the leading character, displays a disturbing propensity for childish behavior and is in conflict with her family, society, and death. Mommy is a heartless disciplinarian and berates Daddy at every opportunity. She wears the pants in this household. Daddy has to depend on Mommy for guidance. He seems to accept Mommy’s poor view of him. The handsome, charismatic, yet …show more content…
On stage is the Young Man with his endearing smile; he is standing to one side of the rear of a sandbox. He is doing calisthenics, which he does throughout the play. The movement of only his arms is like an angel only moving their wings. Mommy comes on stage with Daddy following and complaining. Mommy picks the spot to put Grandma and asks Daddy what he thinks. He responds, “Whatever you think, dear.” You see, at the very beginning Mommy is in control. Often the people who take the most responsibility for their parents are the one who make the decisions. Having this pressure can cause the person to be unsympathetic and controlling toward their parents. The play starts when the Musician comes on stage and starts playing. Mommy and Daddy carry Grandma in and set her in a sandbox with a toy shovel. Daddy now asks Mommy, what they do now and she tells him that they are going to sit. She then tells the musician to be quiet. As time goes on we see Grandma acting out, “Grandma throws a shovelful of sand at Mommy and screams at Daddy.” This indicates that she is at a time in her life where she cannot accept the situation of having to depend on others and is coming close to death. Mommy tells Daddy not to look at Grandma, who was looking for attention. Seniors vent frustration about getting old, having chronic pain, losing friends, having memory issues, losing control and their freedom all of the undignified things that can happen to …show more content…
She only gets herself half covered, symbolically she digs her own grave. Adult children sometimes only appreciate and look lovely on their parent when it is too late. Mommy cries, for the moment she the pain of the death and Grandma tells her not to cry because it has not happened yet. When parents are still alive and we have to care for them, we often get frustrated with them. Then the light goes out and Grandma says, “I am not ready yet.” Most elderly people try to prepare him or herself for death, but when it comes no one is truly