The contrast of life’s meaning between Peter and Jerry in Edward Albee’s the zoo story

Aisha, Shafira Deandra (2025) The contrast of life’s meaning between Peter and Jerry in Edward Albee’s the zoo story. Sarjana thesis, UIN Sunan Gunung Djati Bandung.

Preview	Text (COVER) cover.pdf Download (115kB) | Preview
Preview	Text (ABSTRAK) abstrak.pdf Download (484kB) | Preview
Preview	Text (DAFTAR ISI) Daftar isi.pdf Download (124kB) | Preview
Preview	Text (BAB I) Bab 1.pdf Download (365kB) | Preview
Preview	Text (BAB II) bab 2.pdf Download (355kB) | Preview
	Text (BAB III) bab 3.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (261kB) | Request a copy
	Text (BAB IV) bab 4.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (346kB) | Request a copy
	Text (BAB V) CHAPTER V.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (130kB) | Request a copy
	Text (DAFTAR PUSTAKA) daftar pustaka.pdf Restricted to Registered users only Download (231kB) | Request a copy

Abstract

ENGLISH: This paper examines the existentialist themes in Edward Albee's The Zoo Story, focusing on the conflicting attitude and perception between its two main protagonists, Peter and Jerry, regarding the meaning of life. Qualitative research with the use of structuralism critique in dialogues and narrative structures are employed, which reveals the main existentialist constituents: alienation, freedom, and absurdity. The results show that The Zoo Story is a deep exploration of existentialist thought, representative of Jean-Paul Sartre's principles, especially the idea that "existence precedes essence." In the conversation between Peter and Jerry, Albee criticizes the human tendency to stay confined within the social construct through the revelation of the fragility of apparent stability and the fumbling of human attempts toward self-liberation from self-imposed constraints. Moreover, the play corresponds with the notions of absurd theater, portraying the meaninglessness of life and the impossibility of meaningful human communication. This paper thus highlights The Zoo Story as both an existentialist and absurdist seminal through deconstructing the character dynamics and philosophical underpinning of the play, which represents nothing but the alienation of modern man and simultaneously brings to the fore some really critical questions related to autonomy and self-definition-perhaps to the very essence of human connection. In the final analysis, this study proclaims Albee's works to be those of a postmodern pre-occupation with existential questions of what it is or means to exist in a "free" and "individuated" yet totally apathetic world. INDONESI: Penelitian ini menelaah tema-tema eksistensialis dalam The Zoo Story karya Edward Albee, dengan berfokus pada perbedaan sikap dan persepsi antara dua tokoh utamanya, Peter dan Jerry, dalam memahami makna kehidupan. Studi ini menggunakan metode penelitian kualitatif dengan pendekatan kritik strukturalisme terhadap dialog dan struktur naratif, yang mengungkap tiga elemen utama eksistensialisme: keterasingan, kebebasan, dan absurditas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa The Zoo Story merupakan eksplorasi mendalam tentang pemikiran eksistensialis, yang mencerminkan prinsip-prinsip Jean-Paul Sartre, khususnya gagasan bahwa “eksistensi mendahului esensi.” Melalui percakapan antara Peter dan Jerry, Albee mengkritik kecenderungan manusia untuk tetap terperangkap dalam konstruksi sosial, dengan menyoroti rapuhnya stabilitas yang tampak serta kegagalan manusia dalam membebaskan diri dari keterbatasan yang mereka ciptakan sendiri. Selain itu, drama ini selaras dengan konsep teater absurd, yang menggambarkan ketidakbermaknaan hidup serta ketidakmungkinan komunikasi manusia yang benar-benar bermakna. Penelitian ini menegaskan bahwa The Zoo Story adalah karya penting dalam ranah eksistensialisme dan absurdisme, dengan mendekonstruksi dinamika karakter serta landasan filosofis dalam drama tersebut. Karya ini tidak hanya merepresentasikan keterasingan manusia modern tetapi juga mengangkat pertanyaan-pertanyaan kritis mengenai otonomi, definisi diri, dan esensi dari hubungan antarmanusia. Pada akhirnya, penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa karya-karya Albee mencerminkan kecenderungan pascamodern dalam mengeksplorasi pertanyaan-pertanyaan eksistensial tentang apa artinya "ada" dalam dunia yang disebut bebas dan individualistis, namun pada kenyataannya justru penuh dengan ketidakpedulian. Kata Kunci: Eksistensialisme, Teater Absurdis, Keterasingan, Kebebasan, Individualisme, Jean-Paul Sartre, Edward Albee, The Zoo Story

Actions (login required)

View Item