1989. In questioning the value of literary realism, Flannery O'Connor has written, "I am interested in making a good case for distortion because I am coming to believe that it is the only way to make people see." Write an essay in which you "make a good case for distortion," as distinct from literary realism. Analyze how important elements of the work you choose are "distorted" and explain how these distortions contribute to the effectiveness of the work. Avoid plot summary.
Exaggerated and caricature like characters grab a reader's attention by shocking him with their absurdity. They can cause the reader to think about and reconsider their perspectives on the issue that the author is explores with hyperbole. By making the characters, plot and overall tone of The American Dream. Blatantly exaggerated and absurd, Albee's play criticizes the contemporary state of American society.The characters in the American Dream are absurd in their expressed personalities, interactions, and even their mere names. The names of two of the major characters are Mommy and Daddy, despite the fact that there is no child in the play. In addition, all of the characters in the play address them as Mommy and Daddy in complete seriousness; even Grandma refers to her daughter as "Mommy". Albee's unique choice of character names is meant to show the audience the absolutely ludicrous nature of the play. Albee's indirect characterization of Mommy and Daddy expands on this. Through their interactions, the reader finds Mommy to be a domineering wife who demands absolute attention and throws child-like tantrums. Daddy is the polar opposite, a meek man who is unable to assert himself and satisfy Mommy. Since Albee presents Mommy and Daddy as a typical '60s couple through the stage set up of his story, the distorted characters display his criticism of American society, and consequently, the American Dream.
The plot of The American Dream is full of absurd exaggerations, and Albee makes fun certain ideas central to his message in order to highlight them to the reader. When Mommy recounts her story about buying a hat in the department store, the reader feels little connection to Mommy's strong feelings over whether the exact color of the hat beige or wheat. When Mommy throws a tantrum in the store over the color of the hat, the audience can not take Mommy's actions seriously. This incident gets across Albee's criticism of the materialism of the American Dream by blowing an example up to the extreme.
The overriding tone that Albee creates is of absurdity, with characters taking serious matters lightly and trivial matters seriously. When Mommy and Daddy recount the mutilation and eventual death of their adopted baby, the audience is horrified. However, Mommy and Daddy show no sign of remorse throughout their retelling. To them the "bumble" was merely another material good to be used and thrown away. On the flip side of that coin is Mommy's aforementioned outrage at the store employees over the color of her hat. This reversal of common sense in the characters that represent the values of Albee's American society show his critical message towards them.
By making the characters that represent American society as absurd as possible to the audience, Albee conveys his message against the values of his contemporary American society. Albee relies on the fact that audiences will see the ludicrous actions of Mommy and Daddy and reflect on the serious issues that he sees in their society.
You use to two words “exaggerated” and “absurd” several times each in your essay, and I would recommend trying to find some synonyms for these so it doesn’t sound repetitive.
ReplyDeleteYou do a great job until the end of the first body paragraph. I totally agree with you, but you never say what Albee’s criticism of American society actually is.
In the second body paragraph, you do a better job. You give examples of the absurd exaggerations, and then explain why Albee did this—what his point was. I think that your second and third body paragraphs could be put together. Instead of having a separate tantrum paragraph, talk about the absurdity in the play, get a little more in detail about the mutation, and put the second body where you say “Mommy’s aforementioned outrage”. By putting them together, I think your argument becomes stronger and you can still talk about Albee’s problem with materialism and the general values of the American people.
In the conclusion, I would recommend that you say something to the effect of “shocking the audience into questioning their own values” because I think that would show to the AP readers that you know the definition of absurdism, not just about to point it.
This essay is very good. You explain how the absurdity makes Albee’s message clearer. You have techniques, effects, and meaning.