The Zoo Story

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses how Albee's play has a timeless quality about it that comes from its setting and its themes. "The Zoo Story" is more than a play with only two characters; it is an intimate look at two men's lives and the hopelessness we all face at times. It explains how these men's lives are meaningless, and they confront that as they learn about each other.

From the Paper:

"Albee's play "The Zoo Story" has a timeless quality about it because it has timeless themes. It is still relevant today because it is a story about people, everyday people and the meaninglessness of their lives, and this is a theme that never grows old. Jerry is a crazy man who is looking for someone he can torment into killing him, and Peter is just the man. "JERRY: But every once in a while I like to talk to somebody, really talk; like to get to know somebody, know all about him" (Albee). Ultimately, the two men face the fact that their lives are both meaningless, and Peter must come to grips with the fact that he is not all that different from Jerry, which is enough to torment anyone. The underlying theme in the story is that man is more like an animal than he cares to admit, and this is played out in the play's dramatic conclusion. Because these themes are timeless, this play could have taken place yesterday rather than over forty years ago. The men would remain the same, the setting would remain the same, and the outcome would remain the same."

More papers on The Zoo Story:

• Essay # 73814 : "Jerry and the Dog in "The Zoo Story"
• Comparison Essay # 101517 : "A Comparison of "Pleasantville" and "The Zoo Story"
• Comparison Essay # 131565 : "Analysis of "Pleasantville" and "The Zoo Story"

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