The Zoo Story by Edward Albee

In the drama The Zoo Story written by Edward Albee, there is issue about social-class. The issue about social-class is appeared from the beginning of the story. Peter is portrayed as a man in his early forties, neither fat nor gaunt, neither handsome nor homely. He wears tweeds, smokes a pipe, carries horn-rimmed glasses. Although he is moving into middle age, his dress and his manner would suggest a man younger. Meanwhile, the portrait of Jerry’s character is a man in his late thirties, not poorly dressed, but carelessly. What was once a trim and lightly muscled body has begun to go to fat; and while he is no longer handsome, it is evident that he once was.His fall from physical grace should not suggest debauchery; he has, to come closest to it. a great weariness. From their conversation, it also clearer that Peter as a man from upper class and Jerry as a man from lower class. When Jerry talk to Peter, he also declared that Jerry was like had everything; nice job, a wife, two daughters, two cats, and two parakeets. The pets also portrays that Peter was from middle class that can take care of pets, it means that he had enough salary. Meanwhile, Jerry old about his life that even he has no picture to put in the frames. He brought the issue about zoo many times to Peter. The zoo in that drama is as a symbol. In the zoo there are many animals, but they live on the cage with border around them. It makes them could not socialize with other animals, even with animals in their left or right side. The situation is same as human life now. People are busy with their own business that make them do not socialize with people around them. Rich people with just interact with other rich people, and also poor people will just interact with other poor people. Setting of place in the Central Park also portray that park is pace where there is poor people and rich people enjoying spend time in that place. It could be the reason why the place setting is in the park. Jerry was just like want to have interaction with upper class that is group of people that will rarely socialize with people like him. With Jerry started the conversation with Peter until finally he asked Peter to stab him but he resisted and Jerry stabbed himself, Jerry succeed to interact with Peter (different class-social with him) because at least Peter will remember about Jerry in his life.

In the drama performance of The Zoo Story, the property and actor’s movement can help to support the drama. From the property, Peter’s dress can easily identify that he is upper class. Sitting on the bench reading a book also can show that he is well-educated man. Peter’s play also will act as calm man while facing Jerry. Meanwhile, Jerry’s play with careless dress and full of expression while told about the zoo and his life show that he is like weird or depress man. Jerry’s play also can face the spectators when he told about his life in order to make the spectators engaged with the drama. Jerry’s movement from one side to others also can make the spectator unconsciously follow his movements. It means the spectators were entering into the drama. Jerry’s mimics and intonation also slowly showed the spectator about his characters.

Works Cited

Albee, E. (n.d.). The Zoo Story.