1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.
Parental conflict is an everyday experience for the average teenager. However, in literature, it can often have deeper implications. On such example is in The American Dream by Edward Albee, in which the conflict between Mommy and Grandma describes a generational change as opposed to a mere act of rebellion and the transformation of the American dream through time.
Mommy illustrates the growing trend in consumerism in America. Mommy enjoys the thrill of getting "satisfaction" of purchasing a "baige" hat opposed to a "wheat" hat, a reference to agriculture(the mark of the previous generation). Mommy, while looking up to authority, tries to increase her own social status. Mommy respects Mrs. Barker and engages in an implicit battle with Mrs. Barker over Daddy's satisfaction. Mommy is obsessed with the material world and makes it a job to remind that fact to Daddy, who is still nostalgic of the old beliefs that Grandma promotes.
Grandma, a manifestation of the older American dream, is constantly belittled by Mommy. Though Grandma is an elderly lady, she is the one with all the cards. She manipulates Mommy, Daddy and Mrs. Barker while also acknowledging the audience, which is significant because it creates a piece that isn't just a play but a deeper statement on the changing society and the changing American dream. The conflict between Mommy and Grandma alludes to the dismissal of the old frontier dream.
The surge in comsumerism in America marked a period in which the old frontier dream that founded the country became non-existent and the materialistic society became the new United States of America. Edward Albee highlights such changes through the fued he creates between Mommy and grandma.
I like how you organized this, splitting your body paragraphs into Mommy, Grandma, and meaning. I think the last paragraph could have more detail added to it about the meaning of the play. Emphasize what you have about meaning in your thesis and then expand on that at the end of the essay and it'd be a great response. Once again, you have a good intro, good use of plain style and use well integrated evidence.
ReplyDeleteI think this is a very good rough draft to an open prompt. I would keep everything you have, I would just continue to add more in. I think you do a very nice job giving the source of their conflict and details from this. However, I think there is definitely room for you to add more in about meaning. You seem to split meaning between the last and second to last paragraph. If I was you, I would combine it into one paragraph and then add on to your thoughts. Always make sure when writing these to really emphasize the techniques, effects and meaning. Otherwise, very nicely done.
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