Oldal 133 [133]
CREATION OF CRUELTY
deconstruction of their former identities. As Matthew C. Roudane highlights,
Albee’s characters are suffering from existence in an absurd world, in which
they nevertheless recognize the possibility of change. This can be seen in the
experience of awakening, which — referring to one of the very important
metaphors in Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? — leads them to the marrow
of the bones, that is, the essence behind appearances. Having been stripped
of their illusions, Albee’s actors are naked in front of us. The outcome of the
process is their ability to relate to both the inner and outer world, but more
importantly, to each other, with honesty.® From destruction, therefore, there
is the possibility of creation, which, on the one hand, purifies the characters
by pushing them toward complete openness, thereby exposing their lies, and
on the other hand, it also implies the possibility of real communication. The
cacophony accompanying the “killing” of their son is juxtaposed with Martha’s
poignant description of Jimmy, and George’s requiem for their unborn child,
which gives way to sporadic dialogue and then silence.
GEORGE All right. (pause) Time for bed.
MARTHA Yes.
GEORGE Are you tired?
MARTHA Yes.
GEORGE I am.
MARTHA Yes. [...]
GEORGE (Long silence) It will be better. [...]
MARTHA Just ... us?
GEORGE Yes."
1he liminal state of the two couples approaches its end at dawn with the self¬
confrontation and cleansing of lies and deception in the “cruel games” leading
them to hope of a new existence and an emergence from the ruins of their
former lives. From this it logically follows that the intermediate phase of their
rite of passage, while deconstructing their identity through trials and cruelties,
still has a positive impact, and it is in this context that we can see how the
mechanism of effectivity of Albee and Artaud are related, since rebirth is at
the center of both liminality and the cruelty of Artaud.
According to László F. Földényi, two metaphors applied to the Theater of
Cruelty — the plague and alchemy — warn of transformation, in which the
body realizes the latent possibilities without sacrificing itself. All this leads
to the liberation of the individual, as all inner demons are abandoned and all
59 Matthew C. Roudane: Understanding Edward Albee, South Carolina, University of South
Carolina Press, 1987, 22-23.
60 Albee: Ibid., 239-241.
e 131"