1. Edward Albee

2. It’s a parody of ‘Who’s afraid of the big, bad Wolf’ from Disney’s animated version of ‘Three Little Pigs’ Some readers suggest the title is hinting at Martha’s similarity to Woolfe in her madness and inclinations towards death.

3. Little told of early life. Possible truth to story of ‘boy’ murdering his mother and causing the death of father. Psycologically Martha beats him down. She abuses him and he in turn abuses the guests in a similar way. However, he proves himself stronger by killing imaginary child: an act of heroism or revenge.

4. His name suggests George Washington – An Ironic attack on the American ideals? Or St. George, the dragon slayer – conquers the symbolic ‘devil’ that possesses them in the form of the child.

5. Reveres her father but seems to have no great love for him. She possibly resents George’s inability to fill his role psycologically or professionally. Conversly he seems to enjoy being psycologically tortured by her.

6. There is a tragic irony in the fact that George & Martha’s mutual need for each other can never be expressed to each other. Martha’s name – a reference to Martha Washington – furthering the critique of the ‘perfect American couple’.

7. An amoral, shallow & coldly ambitious biologist. This could be a reference to him reperesting the future os oppose to George (history) representing the past. Willingness to be seduced – suggesting cynicism & lack of morals. He is impotent.

8. Nick’s project of creating an attractive super-race can be seen to be critical of science creating a society that is ‘attractive on the outside; however, empty within.’ ‘Old Nick’ reference to the devil? Evil that invades George & Martha’s house? Or the evil of the future?

9. Her name suggests the child-like innocence that is to characterise her in the play. Throughout she shows herself to be a child and the fact that she uses birth-control & hides this from Nick could suggest that she doesn’t want to grow up.

10. New Carthage – New England. Carthage – Ancient Phoenician civilisation in Northern Africa destroyed by the Romans. It was a significant military power of it’s time. Possible reference to America. However America is likely to fall due to internal corruption & spiritual emptiness.

11. University One would assume ‘learning’ ‘achievement’ & ‘sophisticated culture’. However, what one is greeted with instead is ‘ lust, deception & sadness’. The setting is made more claustrophobic by the setting being confined to a single room.

13. In Act III the line between real & imaginary really becomes blurred: the imaginary child is ‘destroyed’ and they must face reality. Did George cause the death of his parents? Memory VS. Story. Honey’s fanthom pregnancy. George’s gun.

14. Devices to prevent the real world: alcohol, sex & verbal assaults. Nick – the apparent ‘stud’ – is impotent in bed. Honey deviously using birth control to prevent a pregnancy.

15. George & Martha trading insults Nick & Honey – very superficial relationship. Violence as a form of communication: boxing match, fake rifle, physical scuffles. Psychological Violence as a form of communication – George & Martha’s abuse.

16. Martha: Sexually aggressive ‘earth mother’: Gardener, Artist, even imaginary son. Nick most likely just becomes another escapade. Nick – like Martha – is a sexual user. Honey’s false pregnancy. Nick’s suggestion that he would sleep with faculty wives to succeed.

17. Barrenness & impotence: George and Martha’s child is imagery… Honey’s pregnancy is false… Nick can’t satisfy Martha…

18. Games: Literal & Figurative ‘humiliate the host’, ‘hump the hostess’, ‘get the guest’, ‘bringing up baby’. The imaginary child: Martha has broken the rules by mentioning him; therefore, the child must die.

19. George & Martha – they represent the age-old ‘battle of the sexes’. Though they seem to constantly argue is it better or worse then the shallowness of Nick & Honey’s relationship? The Family Relationships in the play are hollow & sad.

20. However, in an ironic twist the play is littered with allusions to ‘baby’. Martha uses it as a term of endearment. Honey becomes a baby (fetal position on bathroom floor)

21. Death The play is littered with references to death. Religion Constant allusions to religious rites: ‘Walpurgisnacht’ is a pagan ritual. Also the Catholic reference to Exorcism. Albee could be pointing the finger at the failure of modern religion to supply answers to people’s problems.

22. American Values He dissects the American dream: attacking – marriage, children, success, wealth, education & religion. He shows all to be empty through showing us: loveless & sterile marriages, ill-gotten wealth, squandered education & powerless or corrupt religion. The country is suggested to be a barren wasteland.

23. Dialogue: ‘Not ‘realistic’ but a highly full-bodied distillation of common American speech.’ Humour: Uses a wide variety of types of humour: Wit, Farce, Insult Humour, Black Humour & Crude Humour. It’s also full of cliques & jargon.

24. The play is littered with literary, historical & religious allusions. Symbolism: George: represents past Nick: represents future, communism? Martha: The primative and the pagan Honey: The failure of religion

25. Imaginary child: Could be a symbol of spiritual sterility and also the illusion that man creates to survive the horrors of life. Minor Symbols: Fake gun: George’s Impotence Honey ‘peeling away’ the bottle label: the ‘peeling away’ of character’s defenses. Boxing Match: Power Structure – George & Martha

27. ‘Jesus H. Christ’ – the play opens with a religious allusion. What might be the significance if any? Is it merely casual profanity to develop character or is there something deeper occuring

28. What do we learn instantly about their relationship? Who is in control & why? Find references to back up your argument.

29. Martha refers to her father as ‘Daddy’. What could this tell us about her as a character? Is it unusual? Why/Why not? ‘Georgie-Porgie’ Nursery Rhyme reference. Why might this have significance?

30. Some suggest that the arguing is an game in itself – a give & take of wit. Others say it is their way of communicating. It’s better than not talking at all. What do you think? Where does the fighting come from? Why does it define their relationship?

31. Notice the differences between the way that George and Martha argue: George: More submissive intellectual. Martha: More crude & crass. Find some examples to support this claim.

32. ‘A blank, a cipher.’ This shows how little George means to Martha. ‘SCREW YOU!’ Do you think that George purposely arranged for this to happen? Find evidence to support this point.