Flaws in the American Dream in Who’s Afraid of Virginia...

Introduction The idea of The American Dream, according to James Truslaw Adams’s, is that people should strive for a richer and a successful lifestyle, according to their ability and achievement, meaning that anybody can become successful, if the effort or talent is present. (Reference) Albee and Miller have both produced plays which interrogate the idea of ‘The American Dream’. In Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Is a 3 act play written by Edward Albee in 1962. In this (----) we are introduced to a couple, George and Martha, who invite Nick and Honey over to their home. In this drama we are shown the destructive nature and influence of The American dream, as it revolves around conflicting relationship of George and Martha. In the first act,†¦show more content†¦Willy is the image of a failure of The American Dream and bases the success on the financial aspect instead of focusing on happiness of his family. His wife Linda and his sons are worried about him. He remembers a scene where he was caught with a prostitute in a hotel room. Willy has some imaginary conversations with his brother Ben and he realizes that he is more worthy dead, as it can bring financial gain to his family, resulting in his suicide. Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? and Arthur Miller’s The Death of a Salesman are thematically very similar plays as they both explore the flaws of The American Dream. In Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, we are introduced to a married couple, who fail to face the reality and instead indulge themselves in illusions and create an imaginary son, which for them is the only agreement and it is the reason, why they are still together, representing their relationship and it is a subject through which they can indirectly refer their emotions to, instead to each other. George and Martha are proud of their fake achievement, as they always talk about their imaginary son, especially in front of Nick and Honey. Martha tries to seduce Nick and as an act of revenge, George kills the son, which in effect end the illusion of their relationship. This results in an argument between the older couple, however the argument still shifts to the dead son and only