The absurdity of an American family as seen from Edward Albee's the American Dream

Limantoputri, Augustina Leonie (2003) The absurdity of an American family as seen from Edward Albee's the American Dream. Bachelor thesis, Petra Christian University.

Abstract

This thesis deals with the absurdity of an American family as seen from Edward Albee's The American Dream The American family in this play is unusual or absurd and Albee uses it as a picture of the American family in 1960s. In this thesis, the writer wants to show, through the analysis, in what way this family can be said as an absurd family. In order to accomplish this, the writer uses literary approach in employing the literary tools, such as theme, character, conflict, and language. In the analysis, the writer is going to reveal the absurdity of an American family in this play by analyzing the absurdity of the family life. She also wants to find out the meaning behind the absurdity of the family life. Finally, the writer finds out that this family has an absurd way of life that can be seen from the marriage relationship of Mommy and Daddy and the relationship between parents and children. This family can be said as an absurd family since their way of life deals with power, money, prestige, primacy, and satisfaction. For this family, these values are more important than the real human values. It means, this family chooses exchanged values instead of old values, which they have had before, to be their way of life.

Actions (login required)