2008. In a
literary work, a minor character, often known as a foil, possesses traits that
emphasize, by contrast or comparison, the distinctive characteristics and qualities
of the main character. For example, the ideas or behavior of a minor character
might be used to highlight the weaknesses or strengths of the main character.
Choose a novel or play in which a minor character serves as a foil for the main
character. Then write an essay in which you analyze how the relation between
the minor character and the major character illuminates the meaning of the
work.
In The American Dream by Edward Albee, there are charcters that are foils of one another. They also play a large role into the the theme and main idea of the play as a whole. The main character of the play is Grandma, while the minor is Young Man. These two characters are what this play revolves around.
Grandma is an old woman who lives with her daughter, Mommy, and her daughter's husband, Daddy. Grandma is ignore and seems to be useless and annoying to Mommy and Daddy. Mommy wants nothing to do with her and wants to have her carted off to a nursing home. Daddy doesn't seem to care either way, but he isn't opposed to having her carted off. Young Man is a young, materialistic, your stereotypical, perfect boy. He's attractive, masculine, and everything any girl would ever want.
Grandma represents the old American dream, while Young Man represents the new American dream. Grandma is falling apart and decrepited. Young Man is every way complete, except he has no values. While Grandma has all these values, and seems to know everything, and strives for what she wants, Young Man will do anything for money and doesn't care about anything other than materialisitc goods.
With the two contrasting characters, Albee tries to show how the world is coming to become materialistic. He tries to get across the point that we only see what is right in front of our faces and we are never satisfied. While with the old dream, we had values and strived for what we wanted to be happy. The dream is no longer about what makes you happy and having a family, and the house and car. It has become something where no one is perfect and what color hat you have decides your social superiority.
These two characters and their values and manner help show what Albee is trying to say about the old dream fading away. At the end of the play, Grandma finally gives up her role as the dream to Young Man and leaves. She then leaves it up to the audience to help the old American Dream live on and strive.
I liked how you varied your sentence lengths which helps it flow better. I think for next time, you could use some specific examples. For example, to show that America is being more materialistic, you could have used the example of Grandma's boxes and how Mommy and Daddy only cared about the nice appear on the outside and not what is inside. There was one thing that caught my attention which was when you wrote "...Albee tries to show how the world is coming to become materialistic". I think coming is supposed to be going? But other than that you did a good job!
ReplyDeleteI love how you use *The American Dream* as your work for this open prompt. I think that's really the point of why we're reading in class: to give us material for the AP exam. Your thesis isn't really there. You repeat the prompt, but you don't actually say what you're going to be talking about How do the Young Man and Grandma interact to create meaning in the play? You definitely talk about this, but you just need to organize better. I have to say again, though, I think this is a FANTASTIC example of foils, you just had to go further. Really good job!
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