Illusions vs Reality
Are illusions being used as weapons by the current administration? Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? is a play written by Edward Albee in 1962, and a good example of how illusion and reality plays out in the lives of people who try to fool others into believing the lies they tell themselves and the public.
Like the dysfunctional couple in the play, the country today is experiencing a turn toward chaos and destruction while those elected to represent the people have created the illusion that America is becoming great again.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? takes place in the living room of the central characters, George and Martha who struggle to separate realty from illusion. Albee’s characters try to paint a public picture of life as it was in the 1950’s when family life appears to be great.1 After a party at her father’s house, the couple invite a young couple to come to their house for drinks. Nick and Honey, are from the college community where George is a history professor and Martha is the college president’s daughter.
Nick and Honey, the opposites of the older couple, become caught up in George and Martha’s illusion. Nick is the Biology professor, but unlike George, he is ambitious and strives to become president of college one day. Honey, unlike Martha, does not want to have children but pretends she does. While they become the on-stage audience, who participate in the war that rages between the two main characters, they too have their own illusions.
The 1962 debut of the play takes place during the Cuban Crisis and the Cold War between Russian and the United States.2 Albee takes the liberty and includes this piece of history in his play. The living room setting represents a house divided, not by the physical wall, but the invisible barrier between husband and wife. Like the Berlin Wall, the secret George and Martha have kept between themselves comes tumbling down when Martha shares it with Honey. To retaliate for her betrayal and end the lie once and for all, George shatters their illusion and ends the “life” of the pretend son that they had always wanted but couldn’t have. He ceremoniously presented Martha with flowers and the news that their “son” had been killed ending their illusion. Exposing reality to themselves and their guests.
Fast forward to the election of 2016, this type of behavior is being played out in our White House as we watch the verbal assassination of one top official after another. Americans and the world watch in disbelief as leaks expose the infighting that occur at the White House every day. And yet, like Honey and Nick, there is little reaction, as this dysfunctional behavior becomes the norm and is accepted as the way a government is run. And the play goes on.
Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was voted the winner of the Pulitzer Prize, but never received the prize.3 Americans were not ready for this kind of language or sexual content in the early 60’s. As a result, it was decided that no prize would be awarded that year. After Vietnam, Watergate, the assassinations of three great leaders, the Kennedy’s and Martin Luther King, Americans became more cynical and accepting according to Albee.2 Media and news that airs 24/7 takes Americans right up to the doorsteps of the President’s home. Though we are not invited in to the living room, news oozes out between the cracks, exposing behaviors of the dysfunctional people who work and live there. Illusions of the peaceful and competent management of the country’s economy and security prove to be inconsistent with the soundbites from within.
When I think about our country’s role on the world stage, I wonder about the illusion regarding the United States’ relationship with Russia today. How much influence do the Russians currently have on our electoral process and decisions being made by our current administration? No physical wall can prevent cyber hacking by those who wish us harm. But doing nothing to stop the acts of infiltration of our data, computer systems, and power grids is dangerous. Unlike the 60’s crisis with Russia, this over reach of power requires actions more effective than the Berlin Wall to keep the Russians out of our politics. The current administration and those who write the laws to protect Americans from danger must acknowledged these acts of aggression against the citizens of the United States. As bystanders, like Nick and Honey, some Americans may feel helpless and sickened by what is seen and heard, while others may choose to accept the illusion as reality. I support a Congress that insists that immediate actions take place to stop the injustice disguised as distractions and illusions.
I wonder about the illusion that a wall along the Mexican border (such as that built in Berlin during the period of this play) will keep out the “bad” and keep in the good. Albee uses symbolism of the divided living room of George and Martha in the play to illustrate the chaos that division creates. The scene of hostility between the two factions, George and Martha, resembles the reaction that takes place during the verbal conflict with other countries who may or may not be a threat to our safety and economic security. This scene also illustrates the anxiety experienced by innocent bystanders like Honey. As well as the greed and ambition for those like Nick, who makes a play for Martha with dreams of higher status at the college in mind. History has shown that the wall didn’t work in Germany and defies probability and reality of working today. Our country’s history is based upon the flow of immigrants who have made it diverse and welcoming for those looking for a safe place to make their homes and become productive citizens. A prosperous and caring nation has no need for a divisive wall.
I also wonder about the illusion that guns will keep America safe, when in reality Americans own more guns and have more gun related deaths than most high-income countries in the world.4 Our youth may be the first people to point out that “The Emperor’s New Clothes” 5 is an illusion that has escaped the obscured vision of the biased supporters of those who make the laws. The fresh eyes that have so recently filled with tears over the loss of friends, teachers, and fellow students are the brightest and clearest of all. They are not blinded by ambitious goals that persuade them to look the other way. They plainly see the protection provided to gun owners that is denied to those who are being killed in mass shootings, suicides, police brutality, and accidental deaths. “None is so blind as those who refuse to see.” (John Heywood, 1546) 6
Today’s politicians seem to believe in magic and illusions when they try the slight-of hand tricks to fool voters into believing that lawmakers must have a majority of the power in Congress to perform their jobs. The reality is that compromise and cooperation are two other ways to create justice and laws that protect ALL American citizens. Before the 2016 election, the conservative party chose polarization over action until they had total control of the House and Senate. Now, with a majority, they are still inactive.
Most of our representatives in Washington, currently appear as bystanders like Nick and Honey, thinking injustice, inaction, and indifference will allow them to be rich and without responsibility for the outcome of the “play.” Lawmakers get drawn into the drama like the seduced, Nick. Others may feel repulsed like Honey.
Some members of Congress believe they have the power to Make America Great Again. They buy the illusion that “might makes right”, and that guns and walls will protect Americans from harm. They believe that reinforcing the police and bringing in the military will make the black people stop their legal protesting and do as they are told. Some refuse to approve a bill that would ban choke holds and prevent shooting unarmed African American citizens. This false- illusion should have Americans concerned. Those assigned the responsibility of creating laws to keep people safe appear to do nothing to dispel the fear felt by so many. They seek power at any cost, even the slaughter of innocent children and black and brown people.
There are those in Congress and the President’s administration who refuse to wear a mask to prevent the spread of the Corona Virus. The illusion that if they pretend the life-threatening disease does not exist, it will go away. Like in the play, everyone goes along with the illusion for their own purposes. Most want to present an image that will help them win the next election. If all appears to be well in Washington then racism, a pandemic, nor economic crisis exists. They would like you to think that the thousands of protesters have nothing better to do than create chaos and problems for the current administration. Once again, our youth can see through the façade and take action to point out the reality for those willing to see.
By refusing to acknowledge that America is already great, the current administration is creating an illusion that they want Americans to believe. One wonders if Congress will continue to ignore the destruction of America by the distractions and illusions taking place in the “living room of the White House.” To keep America a great nation, they will need to face reality and give up on their ambitious desires to get rich at the expense of the American people. Our lawmakers need to face reality and act like the representatives they claim to be. The 2020 election results can shatter the current lawmaker’s illusions. The power of your vote is the best weapon to be used in this time of “war” between illusions and reality. Americans must vote for the candidates who care about making government real again.
Resources:
1SparkNotes Editors. “SparkNotes on Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?.” SparkNotes LLC. n.d. 2018. http://www.sparknotes.com/lit/afraidofwoolf/section1/(accessed March 1, 2018).
2 Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? In International Relations. Published by Editor on September 21, 2016 http://nottspolitics.org/2016/09/21/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf-in-international-relations/ Written by Vanessa Pupavac. (accessed March 1, 2018)
3Works, Explore the Works of Edward Albee, Plot Summary and Critical Analysis by Ashley Gallaghe http://edwardalbeesociety.org/works/whos-afraid-of-virginia-woolf/ (accessed March 1, 2018)
4 How US Gun Deaths Compare to Other Countries CBS News, By ROBERT PREIDT HEALTHDAY February 3, 2016, 1:44 PM, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/how-u-s-gun-deaths-compare-to-other-countries/ (accessed March 1, 2018)
5 “The Emperor’s New Clothes” C.A. Reitzel, 7 April 1837, Fairy Tales Told for Children, First Collection. Third Booklet. 1837. (Eventyr, fortalte for Born.Forste Samling. Tredie Hefte. 1837)
6There Are None So Blind AS Those Who Will Not See: Definitions from Richard’s Page. http://www.actualfreedom.com.au/richard/abditorium/nonesoblind.htm (accessed March 1, 2018)
