Critique of societal expectations Christopher Bigsby asserts that this play opposes the idea of a perfect American family and societal expectations as it "attacks the false optimism and myopic confidence of modern society". Albee takes a heavy-handed approach to displaying this contrast, making examples of every character and their expectations of the people around them. Societal norms of the 1950s consisted of a nuclear family: two parents and two (or more) children. This conception was picturesque in the idea that the father was the breadwinner, the mother a homemaker, and the children well-behaved.
critique of societal expectations christopher bigsby asserts that this play opposes the idea of a perfect american family and societal expectations as it "attacks the false optimism and myopic confidence of modern society" albee takes a heavy-handed approach to displaying this contrast making examples of every character and their expectations of the people around them societal norms of the 1950s consisted of a nuclear family two parents and two (or more) children this conception was picturesque in the idea that the father was the breadwinner the mother a homemaker and the children well-behaved