Imagine a park bench, a sunny afternoon, and a chance encounter that explodes into a devastating exploration of isolation, communication, and the desperate hunger for human connection. Edward Albee's searing one-act play throws two vastly different men together in a New York City park: Peter, a comfortably bourgeois publishing executive, and Jerry, a troubled and volatile drifter haunted by a life of loneliness and alienation. What begins as a seemingly harmless conversation quickly escalates into a psychological chess match, as Jerry relentlessly probes Peter's placid existence, exposing the emptiness beneath his conventional facade. Through a series of increasingly personal and disturbing revelations, including the unsettling tale of Jerry's encounter with a dog, the play delves into themes of social class, urban anonymity, and the inherent difficulty of bridging the gap between individuals. Jerry's desperate need to connect, fueled by a lifetime of rejection and a profound sense of otherness, leads him to a shocking and violent act, forcing Peter to confront the uncomfortable truths about himself and the society he inhabits. "The Zoo Story" is a raw and unsettling examination of the human condition, a powerful reminder of our shared vulnerability and the tragic consequences of a world where genuine connection seems increasingly elusive. This classic work of American theatre explores the dark underbelly of modern life, questioning the nature of communication, the boundaries of personal space, and the lengths to which one man will go to be seen, heard, and ultimately, understood. A chilling and unforgettable experience, Albee's masterpiece leaves audiences questioning their own relationships and the walls we build to protect ourselves from the pain of true intimacy. Delving into themes of existential angst and the search for meaning, the play presents a stark portrayal of individuals struggling against the tide of societal indifference and the crushing weight of personal isolation. The characters navigate the complexities of human interaction, revealing the fragility of connection and the destructive potential of loneliness. Through sharp dialogue and intense emotional exchanges, the play challenges us to confront our own fears and prejudices, prompting reflection on the ways we both seek and avoid genuine engagement with others in an increasingly fragmented world. Experience the gripping tension and thought-provoking themes that have made "The Zoo Story" a cornerstone of modern drama, a timeless exploration of the human heart in all its beauty and darkness.
Edward Albee: "The Zoo Story"
1. Structure of the play
- part 1 (pages 11-21): Jerry gets to know Peter
- part 2a) (pages 22-29): Jerry' s living conditions and past; b) (pages 30-36): the story of Jerry and the dog · Peter gets to know Jerry
- part 3 (pages 36-end): Jerry provokes Peter · Jerry' s death
2. Characterisation of Peter Jerry
Peter Jerry
- a man in his early forties
- p.15: married, two daughters, two cats, two parakeets
- p.19: lives on 74th street; east side of Manhattan (posh area)
- p.18: works in a small publishing house
- insecure
- embarrassed
- polite
- (rather) conservative
- inexperienced
- reticent
- childish
- serious person
- a man in late thirties
- unmarried
- p.22: lives on the west side of Manhattan; lives in a run-down (runtergekommen) rooming-house (poor neighbourhood)
- work: unknown
- insecure
- verbally aggressive (he insults Peter) and he resorts to physical violence
- unscrupulous and inquisitive: he forces his company upon Peter/he forces Peter to converse with him
- ironical/cynical
- he is dominating
3. Jerry' s social and family background:
- his mother (= an alcoholic · Mr. Barleycorn) left his father when he was 10_ years
- thus, his father took to drinking after his wife' s death and he died of an accident _ at the age of 11_ Jerry was an orphan
- he was brought up by a pious aunt who died on the day of his high school graduation _ unhappy childhood/broken family
4. Jerry' s problems and aims
Problems:
- he feels lonely
- he lacks company
- he has no one to talk to
- he feels misunderstood
- he desperately tries to come into contact with other people
- he is an outsider, utterly depressed, unhappy
- he is unable to establish a relationship with other people
Aims:
- he tries to establish a relationship with another person
- he tries to befriend somebody
Reasons for Jerry' s inability to make friends/for his loneliness:
- childhood experiences (no real family life in his youth)
- psychological problems (he cannot deal with other people)
- anonymity/impersonality of a big city
- alienation of the individual in big cities/in modern society
- big gap between the haves and the have-nots
5. Jerry' s relationship with other people
- p.23: two empty picture frames
- p.25/35: no relationship with women (the contact is restricted to prostitutes)
- p.22/27: no relationship with the other roomers (exception: the drunken landlady tries to seduce him · Jerry feels disgusted with her)
People in the rooming-house:
- a black transvestite; a Puerto Rican family; a crying woman; a person he has never seen; the landlady
- all tenants of the rooming-house are outsiders _ they are exotic looking
- they are strange
- they live in terribly small rooms under bad living conditions _ a mixture of all kinds of people
- the house can be likened to a "human zoo"; the rooms are cages; the people can be compared to animals in captivity
6. The Story of Jerry and the Dog (pages 30-36) - [the development of the relationship between Jerry and the dog]
- overriding principle: "If you can't deal with people, you have to make a start somewhere." (page 34)
a) the dog dislikes Jerry · Jerry tries to make friends with the dog (pages 30-31/32)
b) Jerry fails · he tries to kill the dog (page 32, line 5)
c) Jerry wants the dog to survive (page 33, lines 13f.) · he is interested in a new relationship (page 33) · 1st encounter after the dog's recovery, Jerry loves the dog (page 34): Jerry hopes that the dog will understand
d) Jerry and the dog "made contact" (page 34): · no real relationship
- lack of communication between Jerry and the dog (page 35): "mixture of sadness and suspicion; [they] feign indifference" · Jerry feels disappointed (· "loss"): "We neither love nor hurt because we do not try to reach each other." (page 36)
- Jerry has gained new insight: "Kindness and cruelty, the two combined, together, at the same time, are the teaching emotion." (page 36)
- = a means of coming into contact
- = learning process
- the dog is a substitute for human beings for other people
7. Jerry's relationship with Peter
{· How do Jerry's experiences with the dog influences the way he treats Peter?} "kindness and cruelty combined ..."
kindness:
- Jerry pays compliments (page 13/18)
- Jerry flatters him (page 18)
- [Jerry tickles him (page 38) · disrespectful behaviour?]
- Jerry makes Peter interested in the conversation by telling him "the zoo story" (· by hinting at the zoo)
- [Jerry asks him questions] cruelty:
- verbal and psychological abuse:
- page 41: Jerry calls him a "bastard"
- page 42: Jerry calls him a "vegetable" etc.
- pages 46-47: Jerry attacks Peter verbally (· impotent)
- physical violence:
- page 47: Jerry spits in Peter's face
- page 40: Jerry pokes and punches Peter
- page 47: Jerry threatens Peter with his knife _ Jerry provokes Peter to kill him
8. The ending: Does Jerry achieve his aim to establish a relationship with another human being?
yes no
- p.48: Jerry thanks (/likes) Peter; Peter has comforted him
- p.49: Jerry apologises to Peter; Peter is moved/touched · he weeps · Jerry has succeeded in establishing a relationship with another human being (with Peter) {under absurd (lethal, suicidal fight; planned "murder-suicide" (after the "story" with the dog Jerry is disillusioned and plans his death carefully) circumstances and for a very short time (at the moment of dying)}
- the relationship does not last (a relationship is something mutual (here: one-sided); Peter does not like Jerry)
- Peter is a means to an end
- a relationship is something spontaneous, develops, is not planned
- Peter is shocked, not touched
9. ·Message of the play
- live is inhuman, brutal and cruel
- society drives Jerry to his fatal deed
- isolation and a lack of communication are the most serious problems of our modern/technical society · everybody needs somebody he can talk to, otherwise he becomes crazy and is driven to such a fatal deed
10. The significance of the zoo At the zoo:
- Jerry gains new insight into life
- Parallel: animals live alone in their cages; people live in isolation, too
- There is a similarity between the way in which animals live in the zoo and the way in which human beings live together/communicate with one another
- message 2:
- life/society is a kind of zoo
- the bars (= something real) separate animals
- feelings, money, colour of skin, race, religion, social class, attitudes, interests and lack of
interests, generation gap, separate people
- Jerry wants to die, because he cannot bear this situation
Frequently asked questions
What is the structure of "The Zoo Story"?
The play is divided into three parts: 1) Jerry gets to know Peter (pages 11-21), 2a) Jerry's living conditions and past; b) the story of Jerry and the dog (pages 22-36), and 3) Jerry provokes Peter, leading to Jerry's death (pages 36-end).
How are Peter and Jerry characterized in "The Zoo Story"?
Peter is a man in his early forties, married with children, living in a posh area of Manhattan, and works in publishing. He's insecure, embarrassed, polite, conservative, inexperienced, reticent, childish, and serious. Jerry is in his late thirties, unmarried, lives in a run-down rooming-house in a poor neighborhood, and his work is unknown. He's insecure, verbally and physically aggressive, unscrupulous, inquisitive, ironical/cynical, and dominating.
What is Jerry's social and family background?
Jerry's mother was an alcoholic who left his father when he was 10. His father died in an accident when Jerry was 11, making him an orphan. He was raised by a pious aunt who died on his high school graduation day, leading to an unhappy childhood and broken family.
What are Jerry's problems and aims?
Jerry feels lonely, lacks company, has no one to talk to, feels misunderstood, and desperately tries to connect with others. He's an outsider, depressed, unhappy, and unable to establish relationships. His aim is to establish a relationship and befriend someone.
What are the reasons for Jerry's inability to make friends and his loneliness?
His childhood experiences, psychological problems, the anonymity of a big city, alienation in modern society, and the gap between the haves and have-nots contribute to his loneliness.
What is Jerry's relationship with other people like, particularly in the rooming-house?
Jerry has no real relationships. The tenants in his rooming-house, including a black transvestite, a Puerto Rican family, a crying woman, a person he has never seen, and the landlady, are all outsiders and live in poor conditions. The rooming-house is likened to a "human zoo."
What is the story of Jerry and the dog about?
The story of Jerry and the dog illustrates his principle: "If you can't deal with people, you have to make a start somewhere." Jerry first tries to befriend the dog, fails, tries to kill it, then wants it to survive. They eventually "make contact," but it's not a real relationship. Jerry realizes that "Kindness and cruelty, the two combined...are the teaching emotion." The dog is a substitute for human beings.
How does Jerry's relationship with the dog influence the way he treats Peter?
Jerry uses a combination of kindness and cruelty on Peter. Kindness includes compliments and flattery. Cruelty involves verbal and psychological abuse, such as calling Peter names, and physical violence, like spitting and poking him.
Does Jerry achieve his aim to establish a relationship with another human being at the end of "The Zoo Story"?
Arguably, yes and no. Jerry does establish a connection with Peter in the moment before his death; Peter is moved and weeps. However, the relationship is brief, born of violence, and arguably one-sided as Peter doesn't actually like Jerry.
What is the message of "The Zoo Story"?
Life is inhuman, brutal, and cruel. Society drives Jerry to his fatal deed. Isolation and lack of communication are major problems in modern society. Everyone needs someone to talk to.
What is the significance of the zoo in the play?
Jerry gains new insight into life at the zoo. The animals living alone in their cages parallel people living in isolation. The zoo represents how people live together and communicate. It also symbolizes how life/society is a kind of zoo, where feelings, money, social class, and other factors separate people. Jerry wants to die because he can't bear this situation. The zoo is a microcosm of real life.
- Quote paper
- Patrick Jacob (Author), 2000, Albee, Edward - The Zoo Story, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/98372
