Who_s_Afraid_of_Virginia_Woolf

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf Key Scenes Act 1 1. First time Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf is sung playfully (p5) 2. George’s complaint about being married to the daughter of the president of the university (p13) 3. Martha’s seduction of Nick relating to his physique (p27) 4. George seizes back attention with the gun (p30) 5. George talks about Nick creating a perfect race of men (p34) 6. Martha speaks in admiration about her father (p41) 7. Martha explains how she married George out of the practicality of a successor and infatuation, and her disillusionment with him over the years due to his unassertiveness (p45) 8. George sings “Who’s Afraid” for the second time to drown Martha out (p46) Act 2 1. Revelation of Honey’s Hysterical Pregnancy (p49) 2. George tells the story of the boy who killed his mother and father (p51) 3. George and Martha argue over why the son is sick (p64) 4. Martha makes a rhyme about George’s failed novel (p70) 5. George makes up a story that exposes the secrets of Nick and Honey’s marriage, goading them to participate in the game (p75) 6. Martha seduces Nick (p87) 7. George sings “Who’s afraid for the third time to intentionally break up the moment of intimacy (p88) 8. George purposefully reads a book to feign ignorance while Martha taunts him by saying she would amuse herself with Nick (p90) 9. The Killing of the Son (p97) Act 3 1. Martha begins to unravel and process the difficulties of her life (p99) 2. Martha reflects on her paradoxical love for George (p102) 3. Martha orders Nick to open the door and accuses him of careerist intentions (p103) 4. George and Martha degrade each other with the son (p120) 5. Killing of the Son (p123) Points/Incidents/Quotes Techniques/Effects Significance

Themes ● Discuss the Presentation of X in the Play ● “Quote” Discuss Key Themes 1. Truth and Illusion 2. Power and Powerlessness 3. Gender Considerations ● Relation to elements of Style a. Absurdism b. Setting c. Rising Tension and De-escalation d. Parallels and Foils e. Character Archetypes: Madonna-Whore ● PORN: Process, Outcome, Role, Nature ● In what ways → How so → So What ● Physical → Psychological → Emotional → Spiritual ● System/Society/Individual ● Appearance → Reality → Reconciliation Truth and Illusion Relation to Existentialism How to respond when existence is found to be meaningless ● Technique: Absurdism ● Human Desire for inherent value & meaning ≠ Inability to find meaning ○ Attachment to meaning → Suffering ● Individuals should embrace absurdity and futility in rebellion ○ Creation of own meaning in meaninglessness The American Dream Ethos of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness ● Meritocracy and Equality ● Manifestation: Happy and stable family, house and job The Nuclear Family Ideal American Family in the 1960s with four roles: Father, Mother, Daughter and S