Everyone is actually equal - they
have just had different
opportunities
Quotes
P: I see no reason why
I should give up this
bench...there's never
anyone sitting here, so
I have it all to myself.
unaware
J: I said I want this bench, and I'm going to have it.
Assertive, powerful
P: People can't have some of
the things they want, they
can't have everything
hypocritical
ignorant
ironic
P: I just came here to read,
and now you want me to
give up the bench. You're
mad.
never been challenged before
J: I'm on your precious bench, and you're never
going to have it for yourself again.
J: You have everything, and now you want this bench.
J: Don't you have any
idea...what other people need?
P: You don't need this bench.
J: Fight for that bench/
fight for your manhood/
fight for your self-respect.
Significance
Jerry easily sits and pushes off
Peter - threatening Pete's sense
of privilege
One of the only constants throughout the play, even after
all of the dramatic events towards the end: the social
division remains despite all the seemingly significant
events.
Shows Peter's more base emotions,
making him seem more human,
underneath it all we are all the same.
Watching them fight over the meaningless object is like
watching to animals (Zoo story)
In reality what Jerry is asking for is not much, however the
slur to Peter's manhood and implication that the bench is a
symbol of their respective manhoods makes it seem like
whoever has the bench is the "winner"
Jerry is leading up to his suicide/death
Perspective
Peter
Part of his daily routine, a constant
a symbol of his power/manhood ( an idea created by J)
He is entitled to it because it has 'always' been his.
Safety
Jerry
Unattainable goal
Physical representation of everything he'll never have
resentful
A means through which he can
prove to himself that he is better
than Peter
E. Albee
A barrier between their two worlds
The Knife
Significance
By being the one to commit the murder P fits
the stereotype he originally had of J, they are
the same
J found P's weak spot- manhood&power, when
he threatened P reacted on instinct
P's idea of himself and what he stands for
is built on ignorance and a lack of
self-awarenesss
Jerry has found peace - he has seen now that he is not
the odd one out/ an animal, everyone in all the classes
are the same deep down.
J's last/only victory in life
Ideas
Prejudices never show the full
picture, pre-concieved
notions are usually wrong
It does not take a lot for a
person to show their true
nature
In death everyone is equal - regardless of their material wealth
Perspective
Jerry
His last victory
A test for P
Evidence that to some extent he is who P thought he was
Peter
His stereotype has been confirmed
Finally realises how far ridiculous
their argument is
Loses his veneer/facade in his own
perspective - realises he is the
same as Jerry
E. Albee
The link between the two classes
A tool to show P's true nature
Quotes
J: You have the knife
and we'll be evenly
matched
Even now J is still goading P
P: (suddenly
awakening to
the reality of the
situation)
P: You are raving mad! You're
going to kill me!
Believes his original
judgement has been
proven correct
ironic - he kills J
P: (holds with a firm
arm...far in front...not to
attack, but to defend)
Detached from the
reality of what he
is actually doing
Whether to attack or defend, he
is still holding/still uses the
knife
J: (wipes the knife handle clean
of fingerprints)
Was only trying to prove a point (?)
Looking out for Peter -
cared for him in some
respect.
J: You're an animal too
Themes
Prejudice/ Stereotypes
Human nature
Costume
Quotes
P: (Rushes to the bench, grabs the book and retreats)
return to normalcy
P: His dress and manner would suggest a man younger
P: He wears tweed, smokes a
pipe...horn-rimmed glasses
J: Not poorly dressed but carelessly
Signficance
It is important in indicating straight away to the audience that the two characters are not from the same class.
Albee highlights how the reader automatically
made assumptions about J&P because of their
dress.
By returning to grab his book P is attempting to return to normalcy, go home looking
exactly the same as he did when he left: J left a mental mark but not a physical one.
Jerry has his pride - he wouldn't actively want to look messy, but just bad enough that he couldn't be
said to care about his appearance or what others thought of him.
Perspective
E. Albee
A way to physically divide the two characters
Gives the audience the means (?) to have their own
preconceptions and stereotypes about J&P
Jerry
He decided P was rich, how he decided to
target him
Aware of the image he
portrays - how other
people will perceive him.
Peter
Immediately aware that J isn't the same class
Themes
Wealth & Class
Stereotypes
Entitlement
Ideas
Jerry knows the effect he has on people and plays up to it
P feels that he has the right to remain ignorant of other people's reality: he
is willfully ignorant
P: I don't understand you, or your landlady, or her dog
P: I find it hard to believe that such
people as that really are
P: I don't want to hear it!
P: I sit on this bench every Sunday...there's never anyone sitting here
P: I'll have you arrested.
Albee wants the audience to reflect
Setting
Ideas
The link between absurdity and normalcy, and how
easily the two can switch
Equal ground for P&J it is only within their
minds that they are not equal
Perspective
Jerry
A place where he is equal to everyone around him
Peter
A place for relaxation and peace that he deserves
normalcy
E. Albee
A plain and calm backdrop to contrast the violence
and absurdity of the play
Significance
Even though it is a public park P still thinks it's his right to have
what he wants.
By setting it in a normal park there is an indication that these sorts of struggle of class (
perhaps not to this extreme) happen everyday.
The respective perceptions of the setting give an indication of the struggle
that must occur - both think they are entitled to something that the other
isn't
Central Park, New York, on a Sunday afternoon in summer