Sterility And Its Symbolization Of The Failure Of The American Dream In Twentieth Century American Drama In Selected Plays By Tennesse Williams, Edward Albee, And Sam Shepard

Résumé: This dissertation attempts to study the failure of the American dream symbolized through the theme of sterility. This theme is examined in three major plays selected from the twentieth century American drama. Throughout this dissertation, we have referred to the numerous social, genders, political and economic issues that relate to the theme of sterility. Our study of the three plays written between 1955- 1979 ("Cat on a Hot Tin Roof"1958 by Tennessee Williams, "Who is Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"1962 by Edward Albee and "Buried Child"1978 by Sam Shepard has enabled us to diagnoses the different forms of sterility treated in each play i.e. the biological, the emotional and later the spiritual one. As the theme of sterility is tied to American family, we have also emphasized the role of the family, the relation between husband and wife and the relation between parents and their children. Much stress is put on alcoholism, homosexuality, and aging as being determinant factors that lead to sterility. This study also explores the theme of family dysfunction and the impact of childless life on both mother's and father's attitudes and behaviours and thus on the deterioration of the American family. Thus the conclusion leads us to confirm that the realization of the American dream is impossible.

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