A Feminist Critique of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?: Sexual Politics and Language as Power

Abstract

A critique of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? reveals language that may be viewed as anti-feminist. The language used by the male characters in the play is patriarchal, hierarchical, and phallocentric in nature and reflects their desire to control and dominate women. Hence, the language used by the female characters reflects their desire to challenge the patriarchal, hierarchical and phallocentric notions of society by using phallocentric language, seduction, and by neutralizing the phallus. The language used by both sexes is therefore political because it is used to exert power and to control the opposite sex. The patriarchal nature of the play is depicted by the power and influence associated with Martha’s father. The patriarch’s power and influence permeates and controls George and Martha’s lives. The hierarchical nature of the play is reflected in the relationships between the men in the play. It is a relationship based on privilege, force, and authority. Power is transferred from Martha’s father to George and from George to Nick. And finally, the phallocentric nature of the play is represented in the language used by both the male and female characters. The influence of phallocentrism is deeply ingrained in the psyche of the men and women in the play and both sexes use language that alludes to the power associated with the phallus.