Themes of Edward Albee's play The American dream

Edward Albee’s play The American Dream delves into several thought-provoking themes, revealing the complexities of human existence and societal constructs. Let’s explore these themes:

1. The Fallacy of The American Dream:

   • Albee satirically skewers the idea of “the American dream.” He argues that this concept—often associated with opportunity, equality, and success—is, in reality, a fallacy. Through the play, Albee exposes the gap between idealism and actual experience, challenging the notion that everyone can achieve prosperity and happiness¹.
   • The play critiques the substitution of artificial values for real ones in society, emphasizing the emptiness that can lurk beneath the surface of the American Dream².

2. The Breakdown of the Family:

   • Albee draws on his own childhood traumas to compose this play. The disjointed family depicted in The American Dream reflects the darkness and unrest simmering beneath the facade of a typical American household.
   • As societal and sexual revolutions loom on the horizon, the play examines the fractures within family dynamics, hinting at deeper emotional turmoil¹.

3. Cruelty and Complacency:

   • All characters in the play grapple with acts of cruelty—both endured and perpetuated. From Mommy’s domineering emasculation of Daddy to Daddy’s indifference toward Mommy, the household is rife with cruelty.
   • Threats against Grandma—such as having her removed by “the van man”—underscore the harshness within the family¹.

4. Entertainment and Artifice:

   • The American Dream belongs to the “Theatre of the Absurd” movement. Albee uses heightened reality, absurdism, and breaking of the “fourth wall” to highlight the irrationality of society and entertainment.
   • The play critiques the intersection of artifice and reality, emphasizing the strange and dangerous era post-World War II¹.