Albee, Edward: 1928 - 2016
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1962 - Chapter-Summaries
- Act I: Fun and Games
George and Martha return home late at night after a faculty party hosted by Martha's father, who is the president of the college where George teaches history. Martha has invited a younger couple, Nick, a biology professor, and Honey, his wife, over for drinks despite George's objections. As the evening progresses, George and Martha engage in a series of vicious verbal arguments, revealing the bitterness and resentment in their marriage. They embarrass one another in front of their guests by exposing private failures and humiliations. Nick and Honey become increasingly uncomfortable as they witness the older couple's psychological games. It also becomes clear that Nick and Honey have secrets of their own, and George warns Martha not to discuss a particular subject involving their son.
Characters
- George: intelligent, passive-aggressive, emotionally controlled
- Martha: dominant, loud, manipulative, dissatisfied
- Nick: ambitious, confident, competitive
- Honey: naïve, anxious, avoids conflict - Act II: Walpurgisnacht
As the night continues, the conflicts intensify. George and Martha reveal increasingly painful truths about each other while dragging Nick and Honey into their emotional battles. George tells the story of Honey's false pregnancy, suggesting that Nick married her because he believed she was pregnant and because she came from a wealthy family. Martha openly flirts with Nick in an attempt to humiliate George, while George retaliates through psychological manipulation rather than physical violence. Honey becomes intoxicated and repeatedly retreats from the arguments. George grows increasingly disturbed by Martha's willingness to violate their private rules regarding their son.
Characters
-George: more calculating
-Martha: increasingly dominant
-Nick: ambition and opportunism exposed
-Honey: fear of motherhood revealed - Act III: The Exorcism
George returns home carrying flowers and announces that he has received tragic news about their son. He reveals that the son has died in a car accident, forcing Martha to accept that the son never actually existed. Throughout their marriage, George and Martha had invented the imaginary child to cope with their inability to have children and their emotional emptiness. By "killing" the imaginary son, George destroys the illusion that has sustained their relationship for years. Nick and Honey leave quietly after witnessing the painful confrontation. Left alone, George comforts Martha, who admits that she is afraid. The play ends with George softly singing "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" as the couple faces reality together.
Characters
- George: takes control
- Martha: emotionally vulnerable for the first time
- Imaginary son destroyed: Illusions abandoned
- George and Martha: achieve painful honesty
- Nick: humbled
- Honey: gains greater awareness.