This paper will examine the social criticism in these three plays which were written between 19 in order to find common topics and critical issues which were present at that particular time, and are still relevant today. The third play which is going to be examined closely in this paper is The American Dream, a sad portrait of an American family craving for something to replace the emptiness they find themselves in. In The Death of Bessie Smith the audience faces a society ruled by hatred, racism and frustration. In The Zoo Story a clash of two different representatives of the modern American society takes place and ends up in an accidental manslaughter. Thus his plays manages to confront the audience with the harsh reality of life and the problems of modern society.
He writes in the preface of the play The American Dream: “Is the play offensive? I certainly hope so it was my intention to offend- as well as amuse and entertain.” (p.14) At the same time he wants to amuse the viewers with dialogues that are governed by sarcasm and irony. IntroductionĪll three plays The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith and The American Dream are Edward Albee’s early plays in which he points out the deplorable state of the American society.Īlbee’s way of writing is provocative because his ultimate goal is to shock his audience. TOPIC: Social Criticism in Edward Albee’s Radical Plays The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith and The American Dream 1. Hypocrisy and the Pursuit of Artificial Values Lack of Communication and Violence in the Modern SocietyĢ.3. Social Criticism in Edward Albee’s Radical PlaysĢ.1. TOPIC: Social Criticism in Edward Albee’s Radical Plays The Zoo Story, The Death of Bessie Smith and The American DreamĢ.