![Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? [Blu-ray]](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51dRJf19SaL._AC_UL160_SR160,160_.jpg)
When it first premiered in New York in 1962, Edward Albee’s darkly comedic play, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf, was so controversial it was actually considered to be theater of the absurd. Now, many years later, the play stands as a milestone achievement of realistic drama, often being quoted as one of the greatest plays ever written. With a reputation as one of the staples of America Drama, Edward Albee’s revered play has been subject to endless analysis, all of which investigate just what makes the play so timeless. With an intricate plotline, four fully realized characters, and well executed themes of truth and illusion, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a masterpiece of ultra-realism depicting one of literatures most vicious marriages.
The first facet Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf utilizes to it’s advantage is a creative and original plot. Depicting two married couples using each other for their own personal gain may not seem entirely original, but once one looks at the time of publication, it becomes apparent just how unique this play’s actions are. But, in order to discover just how finely tuned the plot is, one must first deconstruct each act. In Act One, ironically titled Fun and Games, the two couples meet and chat after a late-night party. From the very first line of dialogue, it’s made abundantly clear that the first couple, George and Martha, are inebriated. Their drunkenness and general disdain for each other are the surface motives for their “fun and games” that follow. Once the second coupe, Honey and Nick, enter, the malicious games can truly begin. Mirroring the first act is Act Two, symbolically titled Walpurgisnacht. With Honey in the bathroom, sick from drinking too much brandy, George and Nick get to know one another, giving George more fuel for his “games” to come. At this point in the play, it’s clear that George and Martha are using Honey and Nick to agitate and damage one another. However, what’s not mad clear is Nick’s desire to use Martha for his advantages in his career. This fact is reveal later in Act Two, when George and Nick have a particularly awkward heart to heart. By the time Act Three, titled The Exorcism, begins, Honey and Nick are nearly at their limit, with Nick having made his move on Martha. Once again mirroring the plot structure of the first act, Act Three finds Martha and George in the midst of a verbal and psychological war to permanently damage the other person. What really ups the stakes is when George decides to play one last game, revealing a shocking truth of Martha’s that’s nearly too vicious for her to handle. Depicting each “game” as an opportunity to lie or manipulate is the first brick that ultimately builds the towering structure of the play. The next brick lies in the thoroughness of the characters.
Only depicting four characters, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf makes use of complex motivations to bring out the full characters of each couple. Firstly, there is George, an associate professor of History at a small university. He’s calm and weary at first, but once his wife gets ahold of him, the claws come out. Avoiding particularly dark moments of his past, while at the same time shielding himself from the bitter truth of his marriage causes this character to act as a ticking time-bomb that erupts several times throughout the play. Right beside him is his boisterous wife, Martha. When George describes her as braying in the first scene, the account could be considered an understatement. Being vulgar, manipulative, sensual, and sympathetic all at the same time makes Martha, by far, the most complex character. Her journey of acceptance as the main protagonist is what finalizes her complexity. Finally, there is the second couple, Honey and Nick. The fist thing made evident of the two is their similarities to George and Martha. Like George, Nick is an associate professor. Like Martha, Honey is an emotionally repressed homemaker. And, like the two of them, their marriage is failing. However, unlike Martha and George, Honey and Nick are depicted as much more relatable characters in which the audience can identify aspects of themselves. This makes their destruction even more painful. In fact, all four characters downfalls are what makes the drama of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf so compelling.
Other than character drama, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf also utilizes complex themes to really strike a chord with an audience. Firstly, there’s the theme of truth versus illusion. In a world where George and Martha are constantly lying and fabricating events, any sign of truth is viewed as a weakness they do not want to associate with. That is, until Honey and Nick enter the picture. Then the game is to reveal both truths and lies to destroy the other party, in hopes of Honey and Nick not noticing the difference. Right behind truth and illusion is the concept of success and failure. One of the biggest reasons for all four characters downfalls is their failures to achieve what they view as success. This abounded by the bitterness George and Martha have for another for their failures finalizing the hostel environment in which the play is set. The final theme the play grasps is the concept of war. George and Martha are literally in a war with each other, and this one night the play takes place on is their last battle. Determined to destroy each other for fun, the couple push limits and cross boundaries until one person is proclaimed the victor. The twist is that neither of them can win without sacrificing themselves, as well.
Featuring realistic dialogue abounded by complex characters, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is a completely transfixing drama that is guaranteed to break even the most stonehearted of readers for it’s sheer brilliance alone. Depicting one of the most vicious and abusive marriages in literary history, the play automatically hooks it’s audience with intriguing characters in an almost surreal world we can connect with. The brilliance of the play relies on the fact that nearly every audience member will somehow identify with it’s characters, thereby inserting themselves into the drama only to be devoured by the fun and games George and Martha continue to play. This, plus one of the most shocking twists in theater history, creates a stirringly effective play that has now become one of the most studied, applauded, and renowned plays of modern drama.
Enjoy fast, free delivery, exclusive deals, and award-winning movies & TV shows with Prime
Try Prime
and start saving today with fast, free delivery
Loading your book clubs
There was a problem loading your book clubs. Please try again.
Not in a club? Learn more
Join or create book clubs
Choose books together
Track your books
Bring your club to Amazon Book Clubs, start a new book club and invite your friends to join, or find a club that’s right for you for free.
Download the free Kindle app and start reading Kindle books instantly on your smartphone, tablet, or computer - no Kindle device required.
Read instantly on your browser with Kindle for Web.
Using your mobile phone camera - scan the code below and download the Kindle app.
Something went wrong. Please try your request again later.
Book recommendations, author interviews, editors' picks, and more. Read it now
Similar items that may ship from close to you
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
About the author
Follow authors to get new release updates, plus improved recommendations.
Reviews with images
Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?
Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf? portrays a snapshot of the illusioned married life of a couple from academia. George, a history professor, is married to Martha, the Chancellor’s daughter, and this features the Machiavellian theme of end justifies the means. The play begins when the couple are back home at 2 a.m. from a faculty party at Martha’s father’s house while the drunk Martha sings “Who is afraid of Virginia Woolf?” as a replacement to the childhood song “Who is afraid of the big bad wolf?” Martha tells George that the young new professor Nick and his wife Honey whom they met at the party are coming over. George doesn’t like the idea of late-time visitors, teases Martha about her excessive drinking and old age, and they argue even after the guests arrive. George and Martha keep humiliating each other which makes the guests uncomfortable, but they can’t leave despite their insistence. The couple’s arguments continue, and Nick and Honey are involved against their will. The curious case of George and Martha’s son and the secret of Honey’s lying down in the bathroom move the conflict toward the climax. In the last critical moment in the play, the mystery of the title “Who is afraid of Virginia Woolf?” is unfolded.Albee’s play is a must-read for students majoring in drama or film studies and researchers interested in psychological fiction and theater of absurd. Academics may also find the play interesting as certain academic issues heat up the conflict in the play.
Top reviews from other countries
Priya Banerjee
Captivating
Reviewed in India on May 12, 2019
Priya Banerjee
Reviewed in India on May 12, 2019
Images in this review
Lorenzo Stools
I was afraid. I still am...
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 21, 2016SassyShopper48
Must read..............
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 13, 2021