1. ‘American Dream’, Hire Purchase and Materialism
Key AO3 to consider
The Cold War
During World War II, the United States and the Soviet Union fought together as allies against the Axis powers. However, the relationship between the two nations was a tense one. Americans had long been wary of Soviet communism and concerned about Russian leader Joseph Stalin’s tyrannical, blood-thirsty rule of his own country. For their part, the Soviets resented the Americans’ decades-long refusal to treat the USSR as a legitimate part of the international community as well as their delayed entry into World War II, which resulted in the deaths of tens of millions of Russians. After the war ended, these grievances ripened into an overwhelming sense of mutual distrust and enmity. Postwar Soviet expansionism in Eastern Europe fueled many Americans’ fears of a Russian plan to control the world. Meanwhile, the USSR came to resent what they perceived as American officials’ bellicose rhetoric, arms buildup and interventionist approach to international relations. In such a hostile atmosphere, no single party was entirely to blame for the Cold War; in fact, some historians believe it was inevitable.
‘Red Scare’ is promotion of widespread fear by a society or state about a potential rise of communism, anarchism, or radical leftism. The term is most often used to refer to two periods in the history of the United States with this name. Communism was widely feared – see poster.
‘American Dream’, Hire Purchase and Materialism
American Dream - the ideal by which equality of opportunity is available to any American, allowing the highest aspirations and goals to be achieved.
Hire Purchase- this meant that people could buy expensive goods Eg. Fridge Freezers and pay for them later, promoting materialistic ideals.
Materialism- a tendency to consider material possessions and physical comfort as more important than spiritual values.
Americans in the Post war 50s and 60s were being encouraged to spend and dream big with many believing that amassing goods and achieving ‘success’ job, house etc. would bring automatic happiness.
McCarthyism
McCarthyism is the practice of making accusations of subversion or treason without proper regard for evidence.[1] The term refers to U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy and has its origins in the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from 1947 to 1956 and characterized by heightened political repression as well as a campaign spreading fear of Communist influence on American institutions and of espionage by Soviet agents.
Women’s roles & The ‘Glass Ceiling’
Women’s roles in the 50s/60s were widely domestic with few rights Eg. Financial. Consider the jobs the women hold or the way patriarchy pervades their lives. Are the men in charge?
Glass Ceiling – an idea that reflects the invisible barriers women and minorities face in the workplace, being unable to pass certain levels in their profession eg. Female CEOs

2. How do Martha and George talk to each other at first?
Act
Key events/ideas
Contextual Link
Quotes (AO1)
Effects/inference (AO2)
One – Fun and Games
Home from the party
How do Martha and George talk to each other at first?
Who is in charge?
Does George want guests?
How are they characterised?
Male and Female roles
Guest Arrival
First impressions of the hosts/guests
How do Martha and George try to sabotage one another?
What role does alcohol play?
Power struggles
Who holds the power? Demands most respect?
Alpha male competition
Academia
Physicality
Sexual Prowess

3. Martha tells Honey about the son She changes for Nick
Act
Key events/ideas
Contextual Link (AO3)
Quotes (AO1)
Effects/inference (AO2)
One – Fun and Games
The ‘son’ is introduced
Martha tells Honey about the son
She changes for Nick
Flirtation and power struggles
Martha and Nick begin openly Flirting
Martha and George antagonise one another through flirtation and embarrassment/home truths
Martha and George’s past
Martha’s father and his influence
George's career stagnation: Martha’s disgust
Act 1 closes with parallel dialogue as Martha and George speak over each other
Honey needs to vomit

4. Honey has run off to be sick Nick and George try to communicate
Act
Key events/ideas
Contextual Link
Quotes (AO1)
Effects/inference (AO2)
Two - Walpurgisnacht
Nick and Honey’s past/Male bonding
Honey has run off to be sick
Nick and George try to communicate
Nick explains the hysterical pregnancy
George’s childhood story – Humiliate the Host
George’s long monologue
There is tacit yet volatile peace between them
Nick reveals Honey’s background
Nick brags
Martha comandeer’s story, faces strangulation
George’s story revealed as a book – Martha’s fathers intervention
Dancing begins, flirtation becomes explicit
George throttles Martha

5. George attacks Honey to get to Nick ‘Mousie’ story
Act
Key events/ideas
Contextual Link
Quotes (AO1)
Effects/inference (AO2)
Two - Walpurgisnacht
‘Get the Guests’
George attacks Honey to get to Nick
‘Mousie’ story
George and Nick now at full out war
Martha tries to enrage George
Violence increases
George and Martha threaten each other openly
Martha becomes tactile with Nick, dancing and flirtation becomes explicit
Martha and Nick’s flirtation escalates
George watches passively, angered but affecting ignorance
George reads his book, they kiss
Wind chimes
Honey reveals she doesn’t want kids
George decides to ‘kill the son’
Martha and Nick move to the bedroom

6. Martha enters alone and disappointed(?)
Act
Key events/ideas
Contextual Link
Quotes (AO1)
Effects/inference (AO2)
Three – The Exorcism
Martha reappears, disappointed with Nick.
Martha enters alone and disappointed(?)
She attacks Nick and shows genuine reliance/love upon/for George
Orders Nick around as her ‘Houseboy’
George Reappears determined to avenge
George enters full of mischief ‘flowers for the dead’
Roel reversal, Nick told to make the drinks
George rejects Martha’s intimacy, ignores her cry for no more games
‘Bringing up Baby’
George has become determined to punish Martha
George’s Latin/prayer chanting
Begins to reveal the ‘death’

7. Honey decides she wants a child
Act
Key events/ideas
Contextual Link
Quotes (AO1)
Effects/inference (AO2)
Three – The Exorcism
George announces the son’s ‘death’
Honey decides she wants a child
George ‘cuts off the story’ or kills the son
Martha’s anger, helplessness at his decision
‘You know the rules’
Nick and Honey Disappear
Nick begins to understand and in disgust/sympathy retreats
Honey remains fairly ignorant of events
George tells them to leave
George and Martha alone and frightened
Monosyllabic and elliptical conversation
George sings to Martha
Her frailty and his exposed