Albee, Edward: 1928 - 2016

Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, 1962 - Summary

  • Act 1:
    The play begins with George and Martha, a middle-aged couple, returning home from a party at Martha's father's house. They invite a younger couple, Nick and Honey, over for drinks. The evening starts with a seemingly friendly atmosphere, but it quickly turns into a series of games and insults as George and Martha try to humiliate each other and their guests.

    Act 2:
    As the night progresses, the games become more intense and personal. George and Martha reveal their deep-seated insecurities and resentments, and the lines between reality and fantasy become blurred. Nick and Honey are drawn into the chaos, and their own relationship is put to the test.

    Act 3:
    The climax of the play comes when George and Martha reveal that they have been pretending to have a son, who is actually a figment of their imagination. This revelation forces George and Martha to confront the reality of their childless marriage and the emptiness of their lives.

    Act 4:
    In the final act, George and Martha are left alone, and they share a moment of quiet intimacy. They realize that their marriage is a sham, but they also acknowledge that they are deeply in love. The play ends with a sense of resignation and acceptance, as George and Martha come to terms with their situation.

  • Summary & Analysis from the Edward Albee Society
  • Short summary
  • A 5 minute summary from Script Tease