prompt revising #3

1975 Also. Unlike the novelist, the writer of a play does not use his own voice and only rarely uses a narrator's voice to guide the audience's responses to character and action. Select a play you have read and write an essay in which you explain the techniques the playwright uses to guide his audience's responses to the central characters and the action. You might consider the effect on the audience of things like setting, the use of comparable and contrasting characters, and the characters' responses to each other. Support your argument with specific references to the play. Do not give a plot summary.

Edward Albee wrote the famous play, "The American Dream", in which he portrays a little American family that is greatly concerned with materialism, consumerism, and sexuality. The use of his characters and text creates a message and a voice that was meant to show his ideas of the real "american dream". The setting, and characteristics of the characters shows the effect of obsession with materialism, consumerism, and sexuality and how it truly impacts our society.

The setting takes place in the home of Mommy, Daddy, and Grandma. Grandma is a kind character, and she represents the old American dream by the way she is being pushed away from the family. When the young man shows up, he is representing the new american dream. He is young, fresh, and attractive, which is exactly what Mommy and Daddy are searching for in themselves. Having a differential between generations and the values of those generations, provides an idea of a changing society. Grandma and the young man are the perfect representatives of the changing society.

 The way that Mommy is obsessed with materials shows the idea that America is caught up in materialism and consumerism. Mommy ensures that Daddy is listening to her story about "buying a new hat yesterday" (58). The home and the people living in the home interact with each other in a way that represents society. In society, many people are concerned with image and how it impacts them socially, and many people yearn for attention. Mommy forces Daddy to pay attention to her, and is VERY enthusiastic about her new hat.

Albee is attempting to give a new perspective to the way society is changing and what people are now accepting as "The American Dream".