Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.
Short Summary.
George and Martha are a middle aged married couple, whose charged relationship is defined by verbal battles, which seems like an emotional dependence upon each other. This verbal abuse is fueled by an addiction of alcohol. George being an associate History professor in a New Carthage university where Martha's father is the President adds an extra problem to their relationship. Late one Saturday evening after a faculty mixer, Martha invites Nick and Honey, an ambitious young Biology professor new to the university and his wife, over for a nightcap. As the evening progresses, Nick and Honey, filled with more alcohol, get caught up in George and Martha's games of needing to hurt each other and everyone around them. The abuse comes in the form of talk of George and Martha's unseen sixteen-year-old son, whose birthday is the following day.
The first theme in "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" is reality versus illusion. George considered the imaginary son is the only thing sustaining his relationship with Martha. However, as story progresses, Martha brought this imaginary son way too far into reality. George was left with no choice but to "kill" this illusion. The next theme is the Games and Wars.
The games conducted by George and Martha are not any ordinary games played in parties. Their games involved deep emotions. In these games, George and Martha really want to "destroy" each other at all costs. The third theme covers the battle between history and biology. Both George and Nick represent two very different worldviews. George represents the History department, showing that he was like old and boring. Nick, on the other hand, represents the Biology department, which is young and vital. It is more than just a subject. It is a metaphor that shows the differences between George and Nick. The fourth theme is about the American Dream.
