1. The play takes place between 2 a.m. and dawn. Is the time significant, then, in terms of the events of the night? 2. How can you account for the lack of interaction between Martha and Honey? 3. Do you think most relationships are characterized by various types of game-playing? […]
Read more Study Help Essay QuestionsCritical Essay The Significance or Implications of the Titles of the Acts
Most dramatists do not give titles to the individual acts within a drama. When we encounter a drama in which each act has an individual title, we must consider whether or not the dramatist is making a further statement about the nature of his drama. In Who’s Afraid of Virginia […]
Read more Critical Essay The Significance or Implications of the Titles of the ActsCharacter Analysis Honey
From the viewpoint of the actress playing the role, Honey is a choice part. The role has received accolades from the audiences of both theater and film. Sandy Dennis won an Academy Award as the best Supporting actress for her performance of Honey in the film version of the drama. […]
Read more Character Analysis HoneyCharacter Analysis Nick
To George, Nick represents the “new wave of the future.” It is significant that he is teaching biology for two reasons. First, as a biologist, he becomes a representative of the scientists who experiment with chromosomes, genes, and by extension, our future. George accuses him of trying to readjust our […]
Read more Character Analysis NickCharacter Analysis Martha
From the opening of the play until the final scenes and particularly until George “kills” their son, Martha dominates the action. Elizabeth Taylor, playing the role of Martha in the movie version of the play, won an Academy Award for her performance. This role is a choice part for an […]
Read more Character Analysis MarthaCharacter Analysis George
At the opening of the play, George is seen as Martha’s “house boy” — someone who will open the door, mix her a drink, listen to her tirades, and be her companion and her “doormat.” During the years since George has taught at the college, he has apparently made no […]
Read more Character Analysis GeorgeSummary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene vi
In this final, brief, but very moving scene between George and Martha, usually played in a very subdued, low-keyed manner, Martha is still hesitant to accept the death of their imaginary son. Even George falters for a moment when he says: “It will be better . . . maybe.” George […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene viSummary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene v
This scene, the longest and also the climactic scene, begins with all four characters on stage and ends with the death of the imaginary son. The principal game is “Bringing up Baby” an ironic twist because after he has been brought up the scene will end with the next game […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene vSummary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene iv
In this short scene, Martha pleads for no more games, but George has elaborate plans for the next game and the purpose of the scene is to get Martha primed and in a fighting mood: he wants Martha on her “feet and slugging . . . because . . . […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene ivSummary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene iii
This scene between George, Martha, and Nick concerns the discussion of Nick as “stud” or “houseboy” and ends when George announces there is one more game to be played and sends Nick to bring Honey back onto the scene. This scene corresponds to or parallels the earlier scene in Act […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Act III: The Exorcism: Scene iii