The Sandbox Essay Questions

Why do you think this is considered one of Edward Albee's most autobiographical plays?

Edward Albee did not hide his dislike for his family and his resentment of his adoptive parents, a wealthy couple that adopted him when he was very young, can be seen in his depiction of parents in many of his plays. Many biographical accounts have posited that Albee resented his parents' snobbish privilege, and "Mommy" and "Daddy" in The Sandbox resemble descriptions of Albee's parents. Albee was closer to his grandmother, and this play is dedicated to her. In an interview about his work, Albee is quoted as saying, "I didn’t make any mistakes in The Sandbox. I’ve made a lot of mistakes in my longer plays."

Why is the initial image of Grandma so striking?

When we first see Grandma, Mommy and Daddy are carrying her onstage, one with their hands under her arms and the other with their hands at her legs. The image is striking because it is an especially undignified way to be carrying an older person, let alone an older person who is close to death. The image shows us something about how Mommy and Daddy treat Grandma poorly, and do not give her the respect to which her age entitles her.

What does the sandbox represent?

While it is left somewhat ambiguous and is open to interpretation, the sandbox represents a liminal space in between life and death, youth and age. The two people who spend time in the sandbox are the Young Man and Grandma. The Young Man is the perfect image of youth, an attractive and in-shape young man in a bathing suit doing calisthenics. His status as a Hollywood hopeful who doesn't seem to know much, as well as his cheerfulness and impressionability, suggest that he represents youth. Grandma, on the other hand, is a snarky and wise older woman who has seen a great deal of life and has a lot to say. In contrast to the Young Man, she knows who she is and she is not afraid to tell the audience. Additionally, Grandma represents the world of the living, while the Young Man represents Death, so when they come together in the sandbox, the sandbox becomes the zone in which life ends and death begins.