Monologue/ Dialogue

Monologue/ Dialogue - J dominates the conversation throughout the whole play, barely lets P get in a word edgeways- The begnnning especially seems more like an interview than a conversation - J asks a lot of questions- Highlights the absurdity of the play - they have already shared very personal things before even knowing each others' names.Peter doesn't have any monologues whilst Jerry has several - places the emphasis on Jerry's emotions (perhaps overcompensating for the fact that no one else really listens to him inc. society). It's also mainly through monologues that Albee uses meta-theatre because it makes the audience feel as if J is speaking directly to them.In general all of Jerry's speaking parts are longer than Peter's.1st Monologue:Idea - Supposed to highlight to P the reality of J's life, may be being used as a tool to manipulate P in to creating stereotypes about J in order to validate his own belief that he is being wrongfully judged by society."The old pigeon-hole bit? Well, that's easy" - proceeds to (maybe?) play up his situation to P's expectations, make the audience feel sorry for himDescriptions of his living situation - encourages sympathy and highlights the monotony of J's life, also contrasts him with P2nd Monologue:Idea - Seems to be directed more towards the audience - Insight in to Jerry's emotions - The first idea of how difficult and isolated Jerry's life is, and how alienated he feels.(As if reading from a huge billboard) "The Story of Jerry and the Dog." - Setting up the entire speech as a play within a play, also warns the audience that perhaps not everything Jerry is about to say is sincere, also creates a stark contrast to when he loses control later on in the speech."Animals are indifferent to me - like people""I was offended...so, I decided to kill the dog" - J doesn't know how to control his emotions very well"When I try to simplify things; people look up"He has odd ideas of what is socially acceptable and what isn't "you can't say, 'A dog I know; without sounding funny" but he doesn't find it odd that he's going to murder a dog.(Peter seems hypnotised) - Meta-theatre(he is abnormally tense, now)" with love, with vomiting, with crying, with fury" - For one of the first times Jerry is speaking in length without measuring what he's saying and what P's reaction will be"Do you think I could see that story...make a couple of hundred bucks" He is trying to trivialise what he just said, make it seem like an act. Yet the audience don't know whether or not it was.