What We Want: Revised

1973. An effective literary work does not merely stop or cease; it concludes. In the view of some critics, a work that does not provide the pleasure of significant closure has terminated with an artistic fault. A satisfactory ending is not, however, always conclusive in every sense; significant closure may require the reader to abide with or adjust to ambiguity and uncertainty. In an essay, discuss the ending of a novel or play of acknowledged literary merit. Explain precisely how and why the ending appropriately or inappropriately concludes the work. Do not merely summarize the plot.

In The American Dream, Albee concludes with Grandma leaving her family forever. Grandma tells the audience that everyone has what he wants, or at least, what he thinks he wants. So, though Albee's ending is certainly an ending, it isn't necessarily conclusive or satisfactory, for as Grandma suggests, the family isn't even yet truly happy, they have not yet found that elusive satisfaction, and they still may have the slightest chance of redemption left.

Throughout the play, Mommy and Daddy just can't seem to get the satisfaction they're looking for. As Grandma suggests, this is because they're looking in all the wrong places--they are so off the mark, in fact, that as they search their apartment they can't find anything, not even Grandma's room. All that should matter to them is a sense of dignity, according to Grandma. But Mommy and Daddy don't even have this, as they throw temper tantrums in hat shops and dismember babies in an attempt to "fix" the broken product. The source of Mommy and Daddy's problems and the heart of the play lies in the American Dream. Grandma's heart lies with the Old American Dream: she is frugal, earnest, hardworking and smart. Mommy and Daddy, however, embody the New American Dream: materialistic, shallow, power-hungry, and wealth-crazed.  

In the end, the Young Man becomes Mommy and Daddy's new "toy" child, their new "bumble." The Young Man truly is the new American Dream, and Grandma even calls him this when he enters the apartment. He is handsome to a fault and not quite smart enough to have misgivings about being adopted by Mommy. So, in the end, one comes in, and one goes out. Grandma leaves the apartment, and her family, forever. Mommy and Daddy chose newer values over older values, and they should be happy with their lot, now that they've finally found that satisfaction, that perfect family image. In this lies Albee's "conclusion."

But are Mommy and Daddy happy? Grandma thinks not. Even if Mommy and Daddy may be temporarily satisfied, it will never last. Like Mommy's hat, which she was happy with for all of two minutes, or the bumble, which was promptly dismembered, satisfaction is directly proportional to standards. And unfortunately, the standards of the new age seem to be exceedingly high. Mommy and Daddy may think they want it all: the fame, wealth, beauty, etc., but what they really want, and must find for themselves, is dignity. Mommy and Daddy's true fault lies not in the societal values they embrace, but their own virtue of pride. For the audience, this conclusion may be unsatisfactory, but surely the intention of a conclusive ending was what made it so. Albee's conclusion forces the audience to recognize Mommy's, Daddy's, and their own faults, and to come to the same conclusion that the characters eventually must. Mommy and Daddy must accept that they will not always get satisfaction, that human beings are not products to be bought, used, and thrown away, and that ultimately, what we want and what they want are not so different: to be loved, to be happy, and to find what's worth living for.