Muhammad Amin Fauzi
A. 320080226
F
The Zoo Story
By Edward Albee
* The writer gives the title “The Zoo Story”
Because it tells about Jerry, one of main characters in this story, Jerry is an isolated and disheartened man who lives in a boarding house and is very troubled. “Zoo” word in the title reflects Jerry’s behavior which is like zoo.
* The characters
Peter, 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. Jerry, 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
* The Synopsis
A man named Peter, a complacent publishing executive of middle age and upper-middle income, is comfortably reading a book on his favorite bench in New York's Central Park on a sunny afternoon. Along comes Jerry, an aggressive, seedy, erratic loner. Jerry announces that he has been to the (Central Park) Zoo and eventually gets Peter, who clearly would rather be left alone, to put down his book and actually enter into a conversation. With pushy questions, Jerry learns that Peter lives on the fashionable East Side of the Park (they are near Fifth Avenue and 74th Street), that the firm for which he works publishes textbooks, and that his household is female-dominated: one wife, two daughters, two cats, and two parakeets. Jerry easily guesses that Peter would rather have a dog than cats and that he wishes he had a son. More perceptively, Jerry guesses that there will be no more children, and that that decision was made by Peter's wife. Ruefully, Peter admits the truth of these guesses.
The subjects of the Zoo and Jerry's visit to it come up several times, at one of which Jerry says mysteriously, "You'll read about it in the papers tomorrow, if you don't see it on your TV tonight.'' The play never completely clarifies this remark. Some critics think, because of statements Jerry makes about the animals, that he may have released some from their cages, while others think Jerry is talking about a death which has not yet happened, which might be headlined "Murder Near Central Park Zoo.''
The catalyst for the shocking ending transpires when Peter announces, he really must be going home. And then Jerry gives response, begins to tickle Peter. Peter giggles laughs and agrees to listen to Jerry finish telling happened at the zoo. At the same time Jerry begins pushing Peter off the bench. Peter decides to fight for his territory on the bench and becomes angry. Unexpectedly, Jerry pulls a knife on Peter, and then drops it as initiative for Peter to grab. When Peter holds the knife defensively, Jerry charges him and impales himself on the knife. Bleeding on the park bench, Jerry finishes his zoo story by bringing it into the immediate present, "Could I have planned all this. No... no, I couldn't have. But I think I did." Horrified, Peter runs away from Jerry whose dying words, "Oh...my...God".
* The messages of the story
It can be seen that there is different social class between Jerry and Peter. We can learn about life value which is multi leveled play dealing with issues of human isolation, loneliness, class differences, and the dangers of inaction within American society. It focuses on the need for people to acknowledge and understand each other's differences.
* The kind of the story
This story is classified as “man vs. society”, because the conflict arises because of Jerry with his bad behavior which caused of his social life condition.
