The Zoo Story Group

Question:

superman123
superman123
Student
High School - 11th Grade

What is Jerry's purpose in Edward Albee's The Zoo Story?

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Posted by superman123 on Monday June 8, 2009 at 5:43 PM and tagged with albee, jerry, purpose, the zoo story.

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  1. danylyshen Teacher
    High School - 12th Grade

    eNotes Editor

    Edward Albee's "The Zoo Story" is a darkly humorous examination of two people's existence. The entire drama is an interaction between a middle aged family man and a misplaced, lost, man who is trying to "get to the zoo" through an internal examination of his soul. Jerry is necessary to the play because it is Jerry who plays the Christ-like figure to Peter, who becomes an "apostle" of truth at the play's end.

    Jerry is an everyman. He represents all of us who are unhappy with the circumstances of our lives. Jerry demonstrates the inability of communicating with people and it is not until the final moments of the play does Peter really "hear" what Jerry has to say. For Jerry is a prophet of sorts, dispensing his views on existentialism, life, sexuality, his parents, the interaction of people, on literal and symbolic "zoos", etc. One could say that the reader is privy to the happenings in this one cage of a zoo. Jerry is the wild, aggressive animal, and Peter is the more reserved one.We study Jerry and his message as we would study a different sort of creature in a zoo.

    Sources:
    http://www.enotes.com/zoo-story/characters
    http://www.enotes.com/zoo-story/summary

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    Posted by danylyshen on Tuesday June 9, 2009 at 9:30 AM

  2. chris10
    chris10 Student
    College - Senior

    How can i get the text? Im a theater student and i want to put this play in my university. Ill be really thanks if yo could help me

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    Posted by chris10 on Tuesday October 13, 2009 at 4:21 PM