Edward Albee’s play “the sandbox” has received a lot of disagreements among the literature critiques of whether the play portrays any characteristics of absurdity. The debate has seen some people supporting the view that it is indeed an absurd play while others disagree. The question then follows that why the disagreements? This questions forms the basis of this paper as it endeavours to find a common ground between the two opposing sides. Edward Albee is an American playwright born in the year 1928. He is the author of The Sandbox and other several plays such as The American Dream, The Zoo Story among others.
In literature absurdism is based on the principle of hopelessness of life. It shows that life has no meaning particularly when man is faced with disillusionments and devastations. This definition as examined in line with the work of Edward Albee brings about some characteristics of absurdity in his work. The type of treatment that grandma receives in the play, for example, points to the fact everyone is not interested in taking care of her. In fact Mommy is eagerly waiting for the death of grandma which she feels is long overdue as illustrated by Potter’s expression that “Mommy is eagerly anticipating Grandma’s death, and she becomes increasingly impatient as Grandma stubbornly continues to live.”(Porter 2015) This feeling causes her, together with Daddy, to carry her across the stage and dump her in the sandbox where she is expected to die from. This kind of treatment of grandma from her relatives portrays a society that is seriously bend on destruction. The only thing they wish grandma is death something so terrible that one cannot wish anyone leave alone any member of their family. This shows a society that is hell bent on causing destructions such as death, one of the characteristics of theatre of absurd in literature.
Grandma tries everything possible to voice her discontent of her ill treatment by Mommy to vain. She is seriously reprimanded by Mommy for trying to complain of the ill treatment she is receiving. It is like Grandma is too stubborn to the point that she is fighting against her fate for her struggles bears no fruits. It no wonder therefore she tries to fake her death an act that results to her abandonment. She is left to die alone without anyone to care for her. Thus her struggle did not bear her any fruits for she was struggling against her fate, a fight that she was not to win.
The absurdity of this play is also confirmed by who argues that the play “offer a perfect example of “absurd” in its treatment of incoherent behaviour, lack of meaning in human life and illogical response to the actions the play shows.” This argument is premised on the kind of treatment the Grandma is receiving from her closest and only members of her family, her daughter Mommy and Daddy her son in law. The two do not only wish for the quick demise of their mother but takes steps to hasten its coming by abandoning Grandma in the sandbox in the cold. Grandma laments of this treatment by complaining to the audience “What a way to treat an old woman! Drag her out of the house ... stick her in a car . . . bring her out here from the city .. . dump her in a pile of sand . . . and leave her here to set.” (Albee P.149). The character exhibited by Mommy and Daddy is described as callous and despicable by because it is not conventional. It portrays a character out of the ordinary, the type of treatment Mommy is meeting on her mother, cannot be explained in ordinary circumstances. Thus the behaviour can only be described as an absurdity which justifies the play as an absurd one since it is non sensical, illogical, silly and above all ridiculous.
The characters in the sandbox also try to put forth a picture of persons that have lost hope better days. The author has criticised extensively the mind view of the middle class families in a rather humorous and satirical way. The plot shows lack of coherence in a family setup and family relations. The role new of women is a family is highlighted and condemned in a satirical way through Mommy. She is at the centre of all the misgivings that are taking place in the family of Daddy. The idea of dumping Grandma in a sandbox for example is not only conceived by her but also implemented under her watch leadership. She controls every action that is taking place in the play. Despite of the fact that she is married to a very rich man, she has subjected him under her command so much such that the man agrees to everything she says. This character is also an absurdity since it does not fit in the normal way of life of a family setup. The actions of this women, who is a representation of every other woman with such character in the society, can only be described as ridiculous and non sensical and therefore absurd.
The justifications discussed herein proves the fact that “The Sandbox” is an absurd play. It brings out the very characteristics of absurdity in a literature materials which include among other things investigation of the truth, the humanity’s vain struggle against fate. Thus Edward succeeded in writing a play that is full of absurdity.
Shake teach. "What is the theme of Edward Albee's The Sand Box? " eNotes, 2 Sep. 2010, https://www.enotes.com/homework-help/need-help-trying-figure-out-theme-for-edward-50729. Accessed 4 Aug. 2018.
