Truth and Illusion Themes Sophie Thomas 12th Grade

As an Absurdist, Albee believed that a life of illusion was wrong as in consideration it created a false content for life, it is therefore not surprising that the theme of ‘truth and illusion’ throughout Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf plays a significant role. Using critical language through stage directions and direct speech, Albee creates the lives of two couples whom over the course of one evening change dramatically. It is evident to the audience, even in the first scene that tension will play a large part of the eventual confessions and climax of the play, and through the break-down of characters truth and illusion will be determined.

Albee presents the hosts of the evening George and Martha as an unconventional, abusive married couple who seem to detest one another, which immediately raises an atmosphere of uncertainty and ambiguity to the play. Martha and George constantly bicker and intentionally frustrate one-another; however there is a steep contrast that Albee creates between their two personalities; George is passive towards Martha, intelligent and witty, but also very sad, on the other hand Martha is vicious, assaulting both mentally and physically, and is also an alcoholic which adds to her abusive nature. The...