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The American Dream & The Zoo Story

3.96 of 5 stars 3.96 · rating details · 3,907 ratings · 90 reviews

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Edward Albee is one of our most important American playwrights. And nowhere is his dramatic genius more apparent than in two of his probing early works, The American Dream and The Zoo Story.

The New Yorker hailed The American Dream as "unique ... brilliant ... a comic nightmare, fantasy of the highest order." The story of one of America's most...more

Paperback, 128 pages

Published October 1st 1997 by Plume (first published 1961)

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Oct 21, 2012 Sketchbook rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mix Lewis Carroll with Jacques Tati, as one critic
suggested when reviewing "The American Dream," and
you have a lethal and very satiric cocktail. The
cast includes : Mommy, Daddy and Young Man (who
explains his price to the childless duo). Albee's
comedy puts you in stitches - then he yanks 'em out.

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Jan 22, 2009 Rhonda rated it 4 of 5 stars

For modernism that seems to have been written last week, Albee delivers a passionate account of two different views of Americana. Just under the surface, I always believed, Albee was barely in control of himself, pushing the envelope of absurdity because it was more than absurd to him: he makes it seem all to real, the characters not directly representative but rather being an analogy of whom they seem
An American Dream is about, largely enough of the disintegration of society through lack of con...more

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Apr 04, 2013 علی rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: modern-plays

طنزی درباره ی زندگی خانواده ی آمریکایی؛ قصه ی یک زوج و مادر پیرشان، روزی که دو مهمان روزگارشان را بکلی دگرگون می کنند. مامی مسلط و ددی بی حال و اخته، در عوض مادربزرگ، زنی باهوش و زیرک است. خانم بیکر که مامی شیفته ی اوست، با بحثی که مادربزرگ شروع کرده، وارد گفتگو می شود. مامی و ددی آنها را با بحثشان تنها می گذارند. مادربزرگ می داند چرا خانم بیکر دعوت شده و شرح می دهد که مامی و ددی فرزند پسری را سال ها پیش آداپت کرده اند. آنها بچه را به علت حرف نشنیدن، به قول خودشان مجازات می کنند، ولی بچه در واقع...more طنزی درباره ی زندگی خانواده ی آمریکایی؛ قصه ی یک زوج و مادر پیرشان، روزی که دو مهمان روزگارشان را بکلی دگرگون می کنند. مامی مسلط و ددی بی حال و اخته، در عوض مادربزرگ، زنی باهوش و زیرک است. خانم بیکر که مامی شیفته ی اوست، با بحثی که مادربزرگ شروع کرده، وارد گفتگو می شود. مامی و ددی آنها را با بحثشان تنها می گذارند. مادربزرگ می داند چرا خانم بیکر دعوت شده و شرح می دهد که مامی و ددی فرزند پسری را سال ها پیش آداپت کرده اند. آنها بچه را به علت حرف نشنیدن، به قول خودشان مجازات می کنند، ولی بچه در واقع به قتل رسیده. وقتی خانم بیکر می رود، مرد جوانی دم در ظاهر می شود که دنبال کار می گردد. وقتی قصه ی زندگی اش را تعریف می کند، مادربزرگ او را "رویای آمریکایی" می نامد. بنظر می رسد این مردجوان، دو قلوی فرزندی ست که به قتل رسیده، چرا که از شدت رنج و درد "همتا"یش، به صدفی خالی از انسان، تبدیل شده. مادربزرگ وسایلش را بر می دارد و می رود و مرد جوان، به عنوان جانشین فرزند مرده، به مامی و ددی معرفی می شود. آلبی نه تنها رویای آمریکایی را جعلی می داند بلکه ساختار خانواده ی آمریکایی را فاقد ارزش های واقعی، و مردود می شناسد. در مقدمه ی نمایش نامه گفته؛ حمله به ساختار خانواده آمریکایی، مردود دانستن اختگی و بیهودگی و خشونت رایج در زندگی آمریکایی، و مقاومت در مقابل این تحمیل است که همه چیز در این سرزمین زیبا و دوست داشتنی ست.

ر مورد "تیاتر ابزورد" اینجا را بخوانید
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Feb 01, 2011 Adam rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction

“The Zoo Story” is a play that has two characters, one setting (a bench in Central Park), and performed, is 15 minutes. Jerry and Peter have brief exchanges that take on an importance such that the dialogue plays out as an interrogation of communication itself for the audience. Jerry challenges Peter’s use of formalities or his niceties or even phrases:

PETER: My dear fellow, I...
JERRY: Don’t my dear fellow me.
PETER: Was I patronizing? I believe I was; I’m sorry. But you see, your question about...more “The Zoo Story” is a play that has two characters, one setting (a bench in Central Park), and performed, is 15 minutes. Jerry and Peter have brief exchanges that take on an importance such that the dialogue plays out as an interrogation of communication itself for the audience. Jerry challenges Peter’s use of formalities or his niceties or even phrases:

PETER: My dear fellow, I...
JERRY: Don’t my dear fellow me.
PETER: Was I patronizing? I believe I was; I’m sorry. But you see, your question about the classes bewildered me.
JERRY: And when you bewildered you become patronizing? (20).

The effect is a meta-dialogue, with the men bickering about bickering. This caused me to feel conflicted. Peter is at once petty and yet also innocent--these are speaking conventions--and yet, why has it become convention to dismiss others with the cover of a phrase? What is our social condition that creates the need for these conventions? Obviously, for Peter, situations like this one; the encounter with a stranger in public. That this takes place in a public space--a park--is significant because it highlights tension between the promise and the threat; the ideala and the fears of public space; at the end of the day, the place where different classes meet. Albee uses Jerry’s absurd ranting to reveal the destitution of his social class (“WITH GOD WHO IS A COLORED QUEEN WHO WEARS A KIMONO AND PLUCKS HIS EYEBROWS, WHO IS A WOMAN WHO CRIES WITH DETERMINATION BEHIND HER CLOSED DOOR” (35)). In contrast, Peter’s bewilderment serves to show his that he is a sensible, middle-class professional.

But of course, that contrast fades until the climax of Peter’s laughing fit, by which he symbolically moves alongside Jerry, who literally sits besides him. We hear Jerry’s story of his struggle to communicate with a dog—an absurdity, until we realize that he struggles just as much to communicate with Peter. There is the neat little irony of the play’s title, which is the story that Peter promises to tell. In double irony, Jerry essentially enlists Peter to act out in a play in which he performs a role to an inevitable and devastating end. We are confronted with a somewhat hokey comparison of the animal zoo and the so-called human zoo outside. The captivity, isolation, alienation, exploitation, the one-sided gaze and objectifying communication mediated by metal bars and a safe distance of the former is referenced in order to expose the supposed mirror qualities of the latter.

Irony strikes once again when we witness Peter acting out a morally depraved role that is “unexpected” for his class and generally reserved for people of Jerry’s “type”—irrational, impoverished, queer, familyless…

The play is dated, but the long psychological distance covered in such a short amount of time packs a punch to the reader. It is also more threatening than the second play paired in this collection, “The American Dream.” Obviously, at the time of debut (1960), it was threatening enough, as Albee reveals in the preface that one critic was so offended by it that he refused to review Albee’s subsequent play. But I thought there was so much more comedy in the “American Dream,” that it muted some of the menace.

The overarching and heavy-handed theme is that we approach relationships as transactions. The explicit passages are like songs by Gang of Four:

MOMMY: Well, she’s right. You can’t live off people. I can live off you, because I married you. And aren’t you lucky all I brought with me was Grandma. A lot of women I know would have brought their whole families to live off you. All I brought was Grandma. Grandma is all the family I have.
DADDY: I feel very fortunate.
MOMMY: You should. I have a right to live off of you because I married you, and because I used to let you get on top of me and bump your uglies; and I have a right to all your money when you die (67).

The shifting alliances of characters is reminiscent of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” but the conversation is just so damn hilarious, with Grandma’s disparaging remarks about old people and everyone’s emotionally-vapid and daft way of speaking: MRS. BARKER: “My brother’s a dear man, and he has a dear little wife, whom he loves, dearly” (84). I would love to see this performed live! (less)

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May 15, 2010 Julianne rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: drama

Glancing at all the previous goodreads reviews for this book, I see that most people prefer The Zoo Story to The American Dream. And that, my friends, is why I am special: I jump the other way.

Although, to be absolutely honest, I'm not a huge fan of either one. I think Albee might be a tad violent for my taste--not violent in the sense that his plays contain violence (which these do), but violent in the sense that my overwhelming impression of these plays is one of violence. After reading them,...more

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Jul 25, 2012 Brandon rated it 4 of 5 stars

I have not read The American Dream; it is The Zoo Story which I read with great interest and excitement years ago during a Grade 12 English class. My group was to perform a scene from The American Dream, but we were finished preparing it and there was still time left over. So seeing this other play contained in the same volume, I decided it would be a good way to spend my time.

I was rewarded. It is a simple one-act play: two men meet on a park bench, get into a conversation, and it rolls on from...more

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Jun 05, 2010 Connie rated it 4 of 5 stars

For me, "The American Dream" and "Zoo Story" were both mind-blowing plays. Albee touches on the idiosyncracies of the Theatre of the Absurd, and the idea of Existentialism. He also challenges the traditional state of normalcy and the widely accepted idea of the American Dream. Both plays seem displaced, as if ripped from a page in a novel. Although Albee dives right into the scenes, he is able to provide enough details for you to comprehend his messages.

What I couldn't figure out was the purpos...more

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Nov 16, 2012 Alice Urchin rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

I'd already read (and thoroughly enjoyed) a Zoo Story when I picked this up. It was my first Albee play, and it lead me to read Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which became one of my favorite plays of all time. I didn't like The American Dream as much as I like the two other plays of his that I've read—maybe because it seemed less polished—but it has a lot of thematic and stylistic similarities in common with Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, which I enjoyed. From his preface, I believe that Alb...more

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Jul 15, 2010 Julie rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

"Because I'm old! When you're old you gotta do something. When you get old, you can't talk to people because people snap at you. When you get so old, people talk to you that way. That's why you become deaf, so you won't be able to hear people talking to you that way. And that's why you go and hide under the covers in the big soft bed, so you won't feel that house shaking from people talking to you that way. What's why old people die, eventually. People talk to them that way. I've got to go and g...more

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May 03, 2012 Courtney rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Theatre kids, Dark Comedians

Recommended to Courtney by: Required

Shelves: 2011, uf-1st-year, required

I realized I forgot to add this to my shelves when I read it in fall 2011. So I'll just do a brief review now.
These plays were dark, surreal, funny, and kinda metafiction-y. I really enjoyed them.

The American Dream is a story about some fucked up parents and the fucked up relationship they had with their past son. Also, a sassy grandma. Okay, it's mostly about the sassy grandma.

The Zoo Story is about a strange encounter in a park between an average joe and a slightly-less-than-average, possibl...more

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Apr 19, 2011 Shlomo Touhis added it

This book, composed of two plays by the famous writer, Edward Albee, was quite interesting as well as enjoyable. I found the first play, The Zoo Story, especially fascinating. With the combination of casual, relatable, shocking, and a curious sense of humor as well as drama, this play was very moving. The interaction that the reader experiences between the two characters, Peter and Jerry, is positively awe-spired. I cannot begin to describe how especially surprising it was to read about this par...more

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Jan 19, 2011 Laura Leaney rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 26, 2007 matt rated it 4 of 5 stars

"The Zoo Story"
After reading about 15 pages of "The Zoo Story" it became painfully obvious that it served as the template for "Riverside Drive," a Woody Allen play I recently read in his "Writer's Block" collection.

But don't take my word for it: (From the NY Times):

All that said, ''Writer's Block'' is on the stage and not on the screen because it is meant, in part, as a tribute to playwrights to whom Mr. Allen evidently feels indebted. In ''Riverside Drive,'' a comfortably well-dressed middle...more

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Feb 12, 2011 Robert rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: play, undergraduate, own, box-7

Apparently, I read this in Dr. Vos's class at Muhlenberg. I didn't recall the professor until I saw my notes in the book just now. What I recall about him is that he was so soft-spoken, I could barely hear him because of my ear troubles. I stopped going to class for a bit because I was afraid I would be called upon and not even know it.

I loved the play The American Dream. We read some great stuff in this class. This is the play that really got me to examine where I was heading in life.

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Jan 19, 2009 Diana added it

Shelves: 2008-2009

in this play, the protagonist lives in poverty as a child with her mom. In my opinion, i think her childhood affected her decision in marrying a rich man. She learned how to spend her husbands money. The scene revolves around money and wealth. I thought the title was very symbolic, because her "American Dream" is not living the life of what all Americans dream of. Instead, her "American Dream" is having the perfect man, who is a clean cut, physically perfect man.

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Feb 19, 2013 Dan Riess rated it 4 of 5 stars

I liked The Zoo Story much more than I liked The American Dream. The Zoo Story was one of the best plays I've ever read. The American Dream reminded me of an Americanized version of Ionesco's Jaques - which was my least favorite piece by Ionesco that I've read, which is to say that its still good, bordering on great, but its nowhere near as good as Rhinocerous, The Bald Soprano, The Lesson and others by him.
This is worth reading to catch The Zoo Story.

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Oct 02, 2008 Yvonne rated it 3 of 5 stars

Zoo Story, I love. It's a play that everyone reads in high school and finds totally amazing. I did, at least. Looking over it again, I still love it. I love the alienation, the loneliness the character who commits suicide describes. The desperation, and the weird kinkiness of him, in foisting his death on a stranger with a wife, two girls, and a parakeet (or something like that).

Did not like American Dream. In fact, hated it. I read it recently for the first time, after seeing a production of i...more

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Feb 16, 2009 Gabrielle rated it 5 of 5 stars

Just finished THE AMERICAN DREAM -- I haven't read that since high school -- I wish I hadn't let so much time go by. This play (especially on the heels of THE BALD SOPRANO is a hoot! I loved it! I think the biographical information about Albee makes it more disturbing and eerie than it seems at first glance, which makes me like it even more.

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Sep 05, 2012 Michael J. rated it 5 of 5 stars

The Zoo Story is a must read for any New Yorker. It is a delightful and funny exchange of two strangers sharing a park bench; at times it seems like the conversation will cause one(Peter) to get up and walk away; but like a car accident, he seems unable to peel himself away. I highly suggest The Zoo Story.

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Dec 12, 2008 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: classics

This play, like Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf, was a difficult read. I will have to read critiques and reread it to completely understand what was going on. I loved the exagerated stereotypes of American family members, and the grandma rocks. That's all I can really say for now.

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May 05, 2012 Akira Olivia Kumamoto rated it 5 of 5 stars

I wrote "Crap" for Theatre of Note before I read this. "Crap" is basically a female version of "Zoo Story", just with books and poop instead of death. I'm probably biased towards Albee, but I just LOVE the absurdity because it seems so real to me.

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Mar 12, 2013 Richard Downey rated it 3 of 5 stars

Albee is one of my favorites. I did the part of Jerry in the Zoo Story for an acting class many years ago. I recommend all of Albee, but only gave this one three stars because some will be put off by the writing. However, anyone who ventures into these short plays will be amply rewarded.

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Aug 03, 2011 Sasha Samion added it

had to read this in english class. they have crazy stories but i really enjoyed watching my classmates act out the different characters. very interesting and absurd, how you have no idea what is going to happen next

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Apr 19, 2011 Deb rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: play-drama

Oh, my, oh my, oh my. I wonder if this man needed a few trips to the psych ward during his life, because some of his characters need to go. How did he imagine these before Hannibal & CSI & Criminal Minds etc.??

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Feb 15, 2010 Dave rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-in-2010

I still have to think about these two plays, but initial impression: I think The Zoo Story reads better. I'd like to The American Dream staged though, and it's really sticking with me. More later.

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Dec 13, 2012 Stacey rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: theatre

I think these plays are a must for young playwrights. The introductions by Albee provide a pretty cool perspective of the mindset of a young playwright that would go on to become one of the "greats."

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Apr 08, 2011 Vanessa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: community-theatre-fun, read-in-2011

The American Dream - 4 stars
The Zoo Story - 5 stars

Both are funny examples of absurdist theatre. I had never really appreciated absurdist style before until I took a play analysis class last semester. Many of Albee's plays are fine examples of this.

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Mar 24, 2011 Ri rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: plays, classics

The American Dream only. Pure absurdity. Relatively fun and quick. There are lines that even today make you do a double take at how well they slip in against your expectations. Great subversion Albee.

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Jan 14, 2012 Deborah rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Both scripts are prefaced by playwright Albee himself. Albee's works are meant to be performed, not read as literature, but a good addition to any modern-era theatre script library.

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Jun 09, 2009 Jessica rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2009, adult-fiction, classics

Quite humorous play in one act with elements of Waiting for Godot. It's absurd, funny, almost pointless. Very entertaining, quick read over lunch time.

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About Edward Albee

Edward Franklin Albee III is an American playwright known for works including Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, The Zoo Story, The Sandbox and The American Dream. His works are considered well-crafted and often unsympathetic examinations of the modern condition. His early works reflect a mastery and Americanization of the Theatre of the Absurd that found its peak in works by European playwrights su...more

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