The Impossibility of Communication in a World of Spiritual Impotence in Albee’s ‘The Zoo Story’’

Abstract

The 20th century world, especially the United States has witnessed a considerable economic, political and physical growth. It has also enjoyed highly sophisticated means of communications which have shortened the physical distances. But the focal point of this paper is to show that the advanced communication systems have failed to create hospitable minds and hearts among the young generation. The youngsters find themselves totally alienated and isolated in the crowded unfriendly world around them. Here, we attempt to reveal the problems of communication in American society in Edward Albee’s The Zoo Story. The problem of lack of communication, as experienced by Jerry, is a consequence of modernism and the alienation of the helpless furious youth in the society - a society where man’s value measurements are tightly related to materialism and parasitism and on the deceptive nature of ambition. To illustrate the point the analysis of the play makes reference to the social relations of people living in such a beautiful but indifferent world of American society. We concluded by suggesting the need to break the shackles of self-alienation by having a soft spot for each other.

Key words: Impossibility, communication, zoo, Albee, spiritual impotence.