Who Is George In Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf

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A true artist is able to convey a difficult notion in a simple way. Edward Albee uses the character, George in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, to demonstrate the tribulations and realizations individuals undergo to become self-aware and begin to live authentic lives. It is extremely difficult to remain present when one is absorbed in their traumatic past or in a time where they still had hope for the future. People often project their dissatisfaction with themselves onto others, in such a way that the individual becomes insecure and susceptible to these opinions. An individual’s expectations for themselves are set early on, as one develops and moves further from their expectations, they become discontented. There comes a time when one can …show more content…
When one has failed in their life goals, they are willing to be brought down by others and to be disappointed in themselves. To not meet the expectations of society is a common occurrence, yet it is still consistently viewed as a shameful failure. Albee defines George’s physical appearance as aging, frail, and gimpy to convey his inner disposition, outwardly. Also, he employs Martha’s character to accentuate George’s personal troubles: “... he wasn’t particularly... aggressive. In fact, he was sort of a... a FLOP! A great... big... fat... FLOP!” (Albee 93). Martha’s source of discontent is George’s inabilities. She had a vision of how she and George’s life would materialize and it did not happen, therefore, she projects her personal unhappiness onto George. Many people feel compelled to impress their loved ones and to become the person they wish for them to be. Dwelling on the failures of one’s life, while ignoring the successes, creates an unlivable environment. The cultivation of character relies on living realistically and openly, regardless of circumstance. Individuals must find the strength to overcome discontent and discover the sole power they have to become a better version of