1972. In retrospect, the reader often discovers that the first chapter of a novel or the opening scene of a drama introduces some of the major themes of the work. Write an essay about the opening scene of a drama or the first chapter of a novel in which you explain how it functions in this way.
To focus an audience on themes and clue them subtly into later conflicts, both authors and playwrights often fill opening scenes with hints. After rereading The American Dream, for example, one can see that the beginning echoes the themes of the rest of the play, both foreshadowing and connecting the play back to itself. The opening shows what Albee was most interested in getting across: the superficiality of this middle class society.
Childishness is quickly introduced. The first two characters the audience meets call each other Mommy and Daddy, something usually reserved for when among children. Mommy talks to Daddy like he is a small child, often stopping to ask for proof that he had been listening. The two treat each other condescendingly, she consistently with her style of speech, and he with his agreement that she "did get satisfaction" after stating that it was impossible, a sarcastic assurance. Mommy's immature behavior in the store also makes them seem less like responsible adults; she was upset over something as trivial as a hat being beige versus wheat.
The beige or wheat hat is an example of the miscommunication so central to absurdist plays. The difference between the colors is clearly one of opinion, yet becomes a conflict; they're fighting, then, not about color, but power. The characters, throughout the beginning of the play, don't respond to or present ideas clearly. While Daddy can repeat what Mommy last said, he's not focused on the meaning; he rarely adds his own responses to the conversation, and is disinterested, again a kind of rebellion, a power claim
Satisfaction is often referred to in the play, a motif. Mommy proclaims that shopping gives her satisfaction, while Daddy says "you just can't get satisfaction." The opening of The American Dream prepares the rest of the play through introducing themes and conflicts.
This was a really great essay! You really hit the themes of childishness and superficiality that Albee wants to underline, as well as the lack of communication that so pervades this work. Your analysis was terrific. There's only a couple of things: first, the opening sentence is a little vauge; it doesn't really have much to do with the specific topic of your essay. Second,how does all this superfial miscomunication contribute to the work as a whole? Why is it there? Also, we discussed (at least in our hour) how the plot can also be mirrored in that first scene. Did you see any "plot hints" in the first scene of this play? Great essay!
ReplyDeleteThe actual content of this essay is excellent. It is short and concise, while still getting the point across. My biggest problem with this open prompt is the introduction. Your first sentence is a lot like those super broad ones that we learned about in class. You state a "well, duh" type of fact. I would like to see a little more development in the first paragraph, in addition to a better opening sentence. The rest of the essay is very well written.
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