Open Prompt Revision #1

1990. Choose a novel or play that depicts a conflict between a parent (or a parental figure) and a son or daughter. Write an essay in which you analyze the sources of the conflict and explain how the conflict contributes to the meaning of the work. Avoid plot summary.

The definition of perfection is based on each unique individuals perception of the term. So it can be very hard to achieve something that the population itself can’t agree upon. The act of trying to achieve the unachievable sets the grounds for many problems. This struggle is exemplified in "The American Dream" by Edward Albee, as conflict arises between parents and children as they are trying to achieve their definition of perfect. Perfection is often associated with happiness, although we see that this is not the case here.

Perfect can often times be described by social standards; something that a person yearns to acquire. Mommy and Daddy, the parental characters in TAD, are constantly trying to achieve perfection through their American dream. The standard of the American dream is married with children, well off, and well liked. Although what they don't realize is that perfection does not always guarantee happiness. So when they achieve their goal of having a child, everything seems well, but they are not satisfied. Just like any other baby, he cried and needed love and care, which Mommy and Daddy did not consider perfection. Their unhappiness and lack of satisfaction from the get go is the source of many of the future conflicts.

These conflicts led to Mommy and Daddy trying to solve them in the most drastic of ways; harm. Not only did Mommy and Daddy mentally harm the child, but the physically harmed him as well. They harmed him so much, that he ended up dying. His death, showed us that these conflicts that came from imperfection, cause Mommy and Daddy to ruin their own dream. Reader can evidently see that the parental characters values were scewed so much to achieve this dream they ended up cause the most extreme of conflicts. With out these conflicts, Mommy and Daddy's characters wouldn't be as well understand. The readers wouldnt be allowed as much insight to the shallowness of the new values of Americans. This conflict allows us to see the major themes in the book, like satisfaction and superficiality. 

Although usually unpleasant to read about, conflict can be the most important factor to develop a story. With out it, the work would have no meaning. 

~Dana