Illusion and self-deception are central in Edward Albee's play Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Let's look at how this works.

The characters in this play try hard to deceive themselves and others as they navigate the complexities of their lives and relationships. But by the end of the play, all the characters must face reality. We can set up George and Martha as a prime example. They abuse and insult each other horribly throughout the play, and Martha has convinced herself that they have a son. They do not, for they cannot have children. George knows this all too well, and in front of Nick and Honey, he finally cruelly shatters Martha's imaginary "son." The illusion is no more, but the reality is harsh.

Nick and Honey have their share of illusions, too. The couple married when Honey claimed to be pregnant, but the pregnancy was false. Nick has told George about this, and George viciously humiliates Honey by bringing it up. Any love between Nick and Honey is likely merely an illusion, and it, too, shatters by the end of the play. Indeed, Albee leaves none of his characters with any illusions or self-deception at all.