1982. In great literature, no scene of violence exists for its own sake. Choose a work of literary merit that confronts the reader or audience with a scene or scenes of violence. In a well-organized essay, explain how the scene or scenes contribute to the meaning of the complete work. Avoid plot summary.
In Edward Albee's American Dream, Mommy and Daddy call Mrs. Barker over because they are dissatisfied with their adoption of a "bumble." During their conversation, Daddy leaves to the kitchen to get Mrs. Barker something, but he gets lost and Mommy has to go find him. In the lull, Grandma, who lives with Mommy and Daddy, tells Mrs. Barker a story about a situation not unlike the one concerning Mommy and Daddy; she tells Mrs. Barker how the "bumble" wasn't acting the way Mommy and Daddy wanted, so they chopped off the parts that weren't acting right; they ended up with this unrecognizable, monstrous chunk of flesh that they couldn't stand, so they got rid of it. And now they are dissatisfied with Mrs. Barker's service (giving them a "bumble"- a flop, a dud, a bad baby).
This violence is symbolic of the societal values that the people of America embrace; they take a set of values, ethics, or morals, and they chop off the parts they don't want. Eventually, what is left is this monstrous blob that no one wants, so they throw it away and look for something better, which ends up being what they were given in the first place, ironically.
Albee's play confronts the selfish, materialistic, consumerist societal views that we have accepted. Mommy and Daddy look for satisfaction, but when they find it, they are immediately dissatisfied. This instance of violence where the "bumble" is mutilated contributes to the whole meaning of American Dream, because it shows the consuming dissatisfaction that comes from materialism.
In Edward Albee's American Dream, Mommy and Daddy call Mrs. Barker over because they are dissatisfied with their adoption of a "bumble." During their conversation, Daddy leaves to the kitchen to get Mrs. Barker something, but he gets lost and Mommy has to go find him. In the lull, Grandma, who lives with Mommy and Daddy, tells Mrs. Barker a story about a situation not unlike the one concerning Mommy and Daddy; she tells Mrs. Barker how the "bumble" wasn't acting the way Mommy and Daddy wanted, so they chopped off the parts that weren't acting right; they ended up with this unrecognizable, monstrous chunk of flesh that they couldn't stand, so they got rid of it. And now they are dissatisfied with Mrs. Barker's service (giving them a "bumble"- a flop, a dud, a bad baby).
This violence is symbolic of the societal values that the people of America embrace; they take a set of values, ethics, or morals, and they chop off the parts they don't want. Eventually, what is left is this monstrous blob that no one wants, so they throw it away and look for something better, which ends up being what they were given in the first place, ironically.
Albee's play confronts the selfish, materialistic, consumerist societal views that we have accepted. Mommy and Daddy look for satisfaction, but when they find it, they are immediately dissatisfied. This instance of violence where the "bumble" is mutilated contributes to the whole meaning of American Dream, because it shows the consuming dissatisfaction that comes from materialism.
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