Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

Use these questions or activities to help gauge students’ familiarity with and spark their interest in the context of the work, giving them an entry point into the text itself.

Short Answer

1. During the mid-20th century, the concept of the “nuclear family” became a focal point for many Americans. What does the sociological term “nuclear family” refer to? How was this ideal transmitted in American society? Over time, has this ideal changed? Why or why not?

Teaching Suggestion: This question introduces students to a sociological theme of the play: The Nuclear Family. Students unfamiliar with the term may benefit from a brief introduction through the summary that follows and a comparison of the resources below. During the post-World War II “baby boom,” many young men returning home from war quickly married and started families. As a result, society began to place great importance on the concept of a strong, centralized family home, usually represented by a husband, wife, son, and daughter. In this archetype, the husband would work, the wife would stay at home and support the household, and children would attend school. Such a model was transmitted and perpetuated through American media; in fact, the rise of consumerism after WWII allowed for more families to buy televisions and, therefore, be subjugated to the increased exposure to societal expectations in TV shows and commercial advertisements.