Buy essay on The Characterization of George in Act II of the Book “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” from the Perspective of Power

The theme of power holds one of the central places in the book “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” by Edward Albee. In this respect, the Act II of the book is particularly noteworthy for it reveals the relationship of the main character of the play, George to power and characterizes him as a person who is haunted by fears which have a great power over him, while his social environment, especially Martha, exploit these fears to keep him under control. However, the Act II also reveals the fact that George is not absolutely helpless man. Instead, he attempts to rebel against any attempts from the part of Martha to manipulate or control him using his fears and, what is more, George himself readily exercises his power over his wife as soon as he gets such an opportunity. In such a way, the Act II depicts George as a person, who is haunted by fears that make him subject to manipulations, whereas, on the other hand, he proves to be a person powerful enough to resist to the pressure from the part of Martha and, what is more, ready to exercise his own power over people, who are weaker than he is or who are defenseless.
The first manifestation of the vulnerability of George to the powerful impact of Martha can be traced in the beginning of the Act II, when Martha tells about the book written by her husband, the only novel, which though was buried by her powerful father. “A novel about a naughty boy child… who killed his mother and his father dead.” Martha continues: “Georgie said… but Sir, it isn’t a novel at all… this really happened… TO ME!” (2.171-174). In such a way, Martha intentionally or not evokes internal, deep-rooted fears in George, who seems to be powerless in face of his own fears. At the same time, it becomes obvious that George cannot resist to his fears and to his past. He is absolutely defenseless in face of his life and he cannot view it as it is. Instead, he attempts to escape from reality. In such a way, the author reveals the extent to which George is deprived of power over his own life and his personality seems to be weak. Hence, he turns to be in subordinated position to Martha.
However, George does not want to give in to the power of Martha. Instead, he wants to prove that he is also a powerful person, who can tackle problems and take full control over the most difficult situations:
George: I’ve been drawing you [Nick] out on this stuff, not because I’m interested in your terrible lifehood, but only because you represent a direct and pertinent threat to my lifehood (2.217)
In such a way, the author shows that George is not totally deprived of his power but he can show his power and use it when he does want it. Moreover, George proves to be a manipulative person, who exercises his power to show off and to prove for himself that he does have the power. This is particularly obvious when he starts to tell a story, in which he attempts to tell the truth about his own life and his wife. In the course of his narration, his drunken wife Honey realizes that George’s story about “the Mousie” who “tooted brandy immodestly and spent half of her time in the upchuck” (2.298-299). Obviously, this is the manifestation of the desire of George to show his power and his superiority compared to his wife. Probably, it was an attempt of George to respond to Martha and her attempts to show her own power and manipulation with George’s fears.
In fact, Martha is ironic in relation to George:
Martha: You want to know what big brave Georgie did?
George: (Advancing on her) You will not say this! […]
Martha: He came home and he threw the book in the fireplace and burned it! (2.476-2.479)
George: I’ll tell you what game we’ll play. We’re done… Host[…]How about a little game of Get the Guests? (2.510)
In such a way, Martha attempts to show George ironically her power over him and the misery of George stressing his weaknesses. However, George attempts to resist as he responds. He does not simply attempts to change the game but he attempts to change the rules of the game according to which they act in the real life. But, in spite of all his efforts, Martha still remains superior to George:
Martha: You know what I’m doing, George?[…]I’m necking with one of the guests.[…]
George: Yes, good… good for you. Which one?
Martha: Oh, I see what you’re up to, you lousy little…
George: Good…good. You go right on. (2.783-2.787)
In such a way, George has nothing to confront Martha with but he just agrees with her.
Thus, the Act II shows that George is a person who is vulnerable to internal fears which Martha use to show her superiority over him. However, as soon as George get an opportunity, he exercises his power to show his superiority over others.