Characters

**__Characters__**

Mommy- The Character of Mommy is sadistic, gold-digging, and emasculating. She is sadistic because of the "punishments" she gave to the baby she adopted. In essence she is unkind to everyone and finds joy in making others suffer such as Grandma, Daddy, and even an inoccent baby. Mommy is a gold digger because she married her husband, Daddy, due to his money, although when Grandma points that out Mommy fervently refuses. Mommy is also characterized as an emasculating woman because she continuously commands Daddy around and shows him no respect whatsoever she is the one who wears the pants in the relationship. "Mommy: Pay attention Daddy: I am paying attention, Mommy." Mommy: What did I say? What did I just say? Daddy: You didn't like any of them, not one bit." (58-59)

"Mommy: ... I have a right to live off of you because I married you, and becasue I used to let you get on top of me and bump you uglies; and I have a right to all your money when you die." (67)

"Mommy: It's that television! Daddy, go break her television. Daddy: if I must... I must." (92)

Daddy- Daddy is like Mommy's dog following her and obeying her every command. In the beginning of the play this is made obvious when he repeats everything Mommy says at her request. He is also immature, like a child. When Mrs. Barker takes off her dress and remains in her slip he whispers that he has "just blushed and giggled and gone sticky wet" (79). As if he is a child rather than an educated man who should have some class. He also acts like a child because he needs constant reassurance that he is a man and his actions are correct.

"Daddy: Was I firm? Mommy: Oh, so firm; so firm? Daddy: And masculine? Was I really masculine? Mommy: Oh, Daddy, you were so masculine; I shivered and fainted." (74)

Grandma- Grandma's role in the play serves to add comedic relief. She does this by saying epigrams, feigning deafness as well as loss of memory that suites her mood. She is also, in my opinion the REAL/ Ideal American Dream.Towards the end of the play she exits the stage leaving behind harsh treatment and pursuing the rest of her life as an independent woman.

"I don't know if that's what I meant or not. It's certainly not what I thought I meant" (81) "Well, how would you expect somebody as old as I am to remember a thing like that?"(70) "It's Mommy over there that makes all the trouble. If you'd listened to me, you wouldn't have married her in the first place. She's a tramp and a trollop and a troll to boot, and she's no better now." (69)

Young Man- He is literally dubbed "The American Dream" by Grandma and is a mid-western man who is flawless and godlike on the outside but void of feeling on the inside. He was a twin whose brother was adopted and murdered by Mommy and Daddy. Young Man is unaware of the mutillations that proved fatal for his brother and ultimately serves as Mommy and Daddy's satisfaction and Grandma's replacement.

"I have no talents at all, except what you see... my person, my body my face. in every other way I am incomplete" (113)

Mrs.Barker- In the play Mrs. Barker represents the outsider/ observer in the family who cannot keep up with the conversation between Mommy and Daddy about "Satisfaction". Throughout the play she's oblivious of her surroundings and her purpose for being there. At the end of the paly Mrs. Barker gives Mommy and Daddy "satisfaction" by giving them Young Man as their adoptive son. Albee uses the underlying tensions between Mommy and Mrs. Barker to satirize the relationships of women especially when social status is involved. He does this by creating hostility in the niceties they say to each other throughout the play.

Mommy:"We were sayin that you just can't get satisfaction these days and we were talking about YOU, of course. Mrs. Barker: My, what an unattractive apartment you have! Mommy:Yes, but you don't know the trouble there is" (77)

Mrs. Barker" I don't see what Grandma has to do with it; and besides, I don't think you're very polite. Mommy: You seem to forget that you're a guest in this house... Mrs. Barker: apartment Mommy: Apartment! And that you're a professional woman. So, if you'll be so good as to come into the kitchen, I'll be more than happy to show you where the water is, and where the glass is, and then you can put two and two together, if you're clever enough." (103-104)