Peter

Peter is a middle-aged executive at a publishing house, described as an average-sized, nearsighted man in his early forties. His conservative dress and Catholic tastes reflect the upper-class sensibilities of the Eisenhower era. Living in a well-appointed apartment on Seventy-fourth Street between Lexington and Third Avenues in Manhattan, Peter's life appears conventionally idyllic, complete with a loving wife, two daughters, two cats, and two parakeets. Despite this seemingly content lifestyle, Peter is characterized by naivety, complacency, passivity, and a lingering sense of boredom.

On a particular afternoon, Peter intended to enjoy a peaceful reading session in Central Park. This solitude is disrupted by Jerry, a stranger whose persistent conversation evolves into aggression. Initially annoyed and reluctant, Peter finds himself gradually drawn into Jerry's vivid storytelling, which starkly contrasts with his own orderly existence. Peter shares aspects of his life during their interaction, allowing the differences between their worlds to emerge.

As the encounter progresses, although Peter initially appears to manage the interaction, Jerry's relentless narratives gradually mesmerize him. Through probing and manipulation, Jerry coerces Peter into unwittingly participating in his tragic design. Despite Peter’s education and social standing, he is ultimately revealed to be the weaker and more naive of the two men. By the play's conclusion, Peter's character is irrevocably altered, haunted by the absurd and chance meeting with Jerry, which culminates in Jerry's death. The encounter devastates Peter’s previously stable persona, leaving him with an indelible sense of transformation.

Jerry

Jerry, a deeply troubled man in his late thirties, grapples with issues surrounding his bisexuality, poverty, and pervasive alienation. Residing in a cramped half-room in a rundown brownstone on the Upper West Side, far removed from Peter’s affluent neighborhood, Jerry's life is a tapestry of isolation and an urgent quest for human connection.

Once described by Albee as trim and handsome, Jerry's physical decline mirrors his emotional turmoil. His walks from the New York Zoo to confront humans symbolize his desire to understand and alleviate his pain. Peter becomes his chosen target in Central Park, where Jerry engages him with a mix of rambling yet incisive discourse. He shares distressing autobiographical tales, including the early death of his parents and a brief homosexual experience at fifteen, which he later addresses via encounters with prostitutes.

Jerry's communication is deliberate and meticulous; he divulges only the information he wishes Peter to know, steering clear of moral judgments and questions. His unsettling stories captivate Peter, persuading him to remain despite his discomfort. In a climactic confrontation, Jerry manipulates circumstances so that Peter, in self-defense, holds a knife, enabling Jerry to impale himself. This act achieves Jerry’s goal of forging a profound connection with another human while simultaneously challenging societal norms.

The Landlady

The Landlady, who oversees Jerry’s rooming house, embodies the grotesque elements of humanity that Jerry finds repulsive. She is depicted as lustful, obese, ignorant, and frequently inebriated. The Landlady makes unsolicited advances toward Jerry, paralleling her dog’s behavior. Her presence in Jerry's narrative serves to highlight his disdain for the human condition, and underscores his alienation and disgust with society.

The Dog

The Landlady's dog is a menacing black creature with a perpetual erection, posing a constant threat to Jerry whenever he enters or leaves his room. Jerry attempts to neutralize the dog's aggression by feeding it hamburgers, escalating to poison in desperation. When the dog unexpectedly recovers, Jerry is conflicted by a newfound empathy for the now-docile animal. This evolving relationship foreshadows the intense and violent climax between Jerry and Peter, encapsulating themes of love, hatred, and the pursuit of understanding.

The Queen

The Queen is Jerry’s neighbor, a black homosexual who occupies a flat within the same building. He lives his life with an open door policy, remaining in his apartment, clad in a Japanese kimono, occasionally tweezing his eyebrows. To Jerry, the Queen represents an indifferent, superior deity, embodying a detached and superficial existence that further compounds Jerry's sense of alienation. The Queen's presence accentuates Jerry’s perception of the triviality and disconnect inherent in human relationships.