Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolfe - Ahmanson

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 3:50pm

Just saw this last night. Never knew much about it beforehand and was not familiar with Albee or any of his other work.

That being said, I only really got into it in the 2nd act but I enjoyed it a lot.

Can anyone tell me what the deal with their son is? I'm pretty sure that he never existed but I haven't put all the pieces together. I'd love to hear other ideas to help me clarify that part of the storyline.
Updated On: 3/16/07 at 03:50 PM

[Elphie3]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 3:58pm

NOTE: SPOILERS!

Their son did exist, but he died, and when he died George and Martha never spoke about it, so as not to let his death become a reality.

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:08pm

Wow, now I'm even more confused than before.

Can I PM you later with more questions?

[travismoser]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:09pm

It's definitely not a spoiler, because George and Martha definitely do NOT have a son.

[Elphie3]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:11pm

They did though

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:14pm

Well I'm glad it's not just me that wasn't sure!

I felt kind of stupid asking cause maybe it was totally obvious to everyone else. Let's discuss! :)

[philcrosby]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:18pm

George and Martha could not have children. The "son" was invented in one of their private games, but never exposed to others. George not only talked about "their son" in front of Nick and Honey, violating the "rules of the game," but he then "kills" the son publicly as well, to gain victory over Martha.

It's all metaphoric, as is much of the play, about the games we play and the lies we tell to get through day to day life. And when the sun rises at the end of the play, will George and Martha survive and go on?

I saw Colleen Dewhurst and George Grizzard do this show years ago and they were brilliant. I have heard that Turner and Irwin are just as good.

Do no high school or college drama classes teach Albee any more?
Updated On: 3/16/07 at 04:18 PM

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:24pm

Thank you, Phil! That is pretty much what I had concluded with the others I saw it with but there was just something there that didn't sit well with me.

Turner and Irwin were great!

Ok, one more question... can anyone fill in the blanks about the story George tells about the guy in the bar that ends up in the assylum. Part of me thought it was himself that he was talking about, but once again I question my ability to have really "gotten" every single part of this show... it's so complex!

[manderson05]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:26pm

The son is symbolic. Albee is obsessed with the American Dream, and the stereotypical american family is a couple with a children, especially the all-american boy. The couple desires this, and since they can't have children they create him. So, that just like Nick and Bunny they can have the American Dream, but Nick and Bunny's so-called American Dream is also torn apart. The whole play is based around the exocism of the American Dream and how we tear each other's apart because we live with such rigidty about what the American Dream has to be. By George killing the son, Martha becomes scared because they will never achieve this dream. This is why at the end when George asks, "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" Martha says, "I am George. I am" Because Martha is horrified by the reality that she is going to have to face now that the world they had created has been destroyed. If you have other question about this play don't hesitate to ask. I am in the middle of writing my senior thesis about Albee's use of the American Dream in his works.

M

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:27pm

I've never believed that there was ever a real son. To my mind, the son never existed and was an invention of George and Martha and he represents their shared dream of a happy domestic life -- that no matter how bad reality is, they have a wonderful, perfect "son" who loves them and who's just away at college and will be home soon. To them, he symbolizes "hope" for the future -- a hope that they can't find from each other in their empty marriage. George and Martha rely upon illusions and dreams (and alcohol) in order to help them cope with the pain and disappointment they feel in their real everyday lives, which is why they constructed such an elaborate scenario involving an imaginary son. When George "kills" the son, he kills their dream and they are forced to face the world for the first time on its own terms.

At the end of the play, when George asks Martha "Who's afraid of Virgina Woolf?," Martha replies "I am" and she breaks down. What George was saying (in Albee-speak) was "Who's afraid of living a life without any illusion?" Many in the world are, which is why they tell themselves all sorts of little lies about their past and present and the people who surround them -- their spouses, their children, their friends. Rather than facing the truth, many people actively pretend that their lives are happier than they are and that they people that they love are better than they actually are, because facing unhappy realities can be very painful and difficult.

In the play's final image, George and Martha have to face a new day without any pretense or dreams or fantasies to help them cope. It's unclear whether they'll be able to do it or whether their fear will simply destroy them.

[manderson05]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:35pm

I adore that we posted the same thing so close to each other.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:35pm

There was NEVER a son, completely fabricated on George and Martha's part.

[WickedOne2]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:43pm

I saw this last month and both Turner and Irwin were outstanding. I really enjoyed it. I agree they never had a son.

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 4:52pm

There is only so much time I can take to respond while at work but THANK YOU so much for all your feedback! I'm SO much clearer on everything - to the point where I actually want to see it again.

Boy in bar story anyone?

[manderson05]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 5:41pm

What exactly are you referring to? I don't have my copy of the script right in front of me?

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 5:46pm

George tells a story about how this guy killed one of his parents and then went drinking at a bar. Mispronounced the name of the drink, it became a joke in the bar... lots of laughter. Then later something else happened where the other parent died (similar to how he claimed their son died?) and he ended up in an assylum.

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 5:54pm

I don't think Albee makes it clear whether George's story is true or just another story of his (which is probably more likely). I've also thought that perhaps, the "friend" is really George and some parts of the story are things that happened to George in his childhood, but I can't remember exactly what it was in the text that gave me that impression (perhaps, it was something about the way I've seen that scene played in the past).

[Johnnytoc]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 5:59pm

I just read this play and really like it.
It was pointed out to me, going along with the American Dream theme, George and Martha, represent George and Martha Washington and therefore The American Dream.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 6:07pm

I posted this a while back about the end of the play...

Someone was asking about the song they sing, why was it sung to a nursery rhyme instead of to Disney's "Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?"... and they also wanted to know about its meaning at the end of the play. The last lines...

* * * *


The song was sung to "Mulberry Bush" in the movie too, and the rights were not granted by Disney to use their song in the film.

I always thought of the song in the play as an "inside joke" that the audience doesn't get and isn't supposed to. We're not let in on the joke, only the punchline. We weren't a part of that game where they told the joke.

Just as we're not let in on why George & Martha play these mean-spirited little games with each other. I don't think they're living in dream worlds so much as they are living in constant competition and opposition with each other. They're always saying "let's play THIS," or "do you wanna play THAT?" etc. Mike Nichols brought this out a lot more in the movie and the way it was directed.

Their lives are exposed and almost too much to bear without the games. Finally, after much blood-letting, they realize that to play little games with each other the way they do, in such a violent spiteful way, will destroy them and everyone around them.

At the end when George sings the song to her again, and Martha answers, "I am, George. I am." I think she's saying she's afraid of these games and the inside jokes and the horribly dysfunctional way they live their lives. And from the emotional rubble all around them, there is a tiny ray of hope that the games and the roll-playing wars will stop, once and for all.

* * * * *

So to tie that into your question... They have to end the game about the fictional son. It has to stop, once and for all. They have to symbolically "bury him," so they can move on.

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 6:55pm

When things are purposely left vague by the author I tend to question whether or not I got the full story rather than appreciate the fact I was left to think for myself. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy having to think. I guess I just need to be warned beforehand so that I'm prepared to not doubt myself the whole time. Otherwise I start threads like this LOL

Honestly though, I really appreciate all your thoughts. I'm still talking about it afterwards so for that alone I have to give the show a HUGE thumbs UP.
Updated On: 3/16/07 at 06:55 PM

[Raspberry]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 7:23pm

Do no high school or college drama classes teach Albee any more?

We definitely read this in AP English senior year of high school a few years ago. It was my favorite of everything the school ever forced us to read.

And Nick's wife is named Honey, not Bunny, as someone said.

[best12bars]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 7:24pm

Popular---You had the intended reaction though (...which is good, right?)

You came out thinking "I'm not sure what happened," "I must have missed something," or "I don't think I'm getting the full story."

Correct! You're not. Albee wants you to question what these characters are doing. Doubt it. Wonder about it. It shouldn't make sense. These kind of games DON'T make sense. They are pointless. That's what he's trying to say. So many people play meaningless games with each other. They cause damage, they can amuse themselves and others and hurt deeply at the same time... and it's NOT healthy.

...and you're not supposed to "get" why they do it. It's not understandable, explainable or justifiable... or sometimes even easily identifiable.

That's what he wants to leave you with, as the curtain comes down. The joke's on YOU, just as much as it has been on them. That personalizes it, right?

If you realize that, while you're pondering it... then... I guess... you've "gotten it!"

[Popular]

Posted: 3/16/07 at 8:27pm

You're so right! What a deliciously brilliant and sneaky guy that Albee is.

Thanks though, I do feel better knowing that I had the itended reaction.