Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Theme of Marriage

The play tells the story of two couples who come together for a friendly after-party drink. Before long they are all desperately trying to destroy one another. By the end of the play, the deep flaws of both marriages have been revealed. The play ultimately shows how tenuous the line between love and hate can be.

Questions About Marriage

  1. What binds George and Martha together: hate or love?
  2. What flaws are revealed in Nick and Honey's marriage?
  3. How is George and Martha's marriage similar to Nick and Honey's? In what ways do the two marriages differ?
  4. Does George and Martha's marriage have more or less chance of continuing at the end of the play? Have the trials of the evening strengthened their bond or damaged it beyond repair?

Chew on This

Try on an opinion or two, start a debate, or play the devil’s advocate.

With George and Martha hate and love are so closely wound together that it's almost impossible to tell them apart.

By the end of the play, George and Martha's relationship actually seems more promising than Nick and Honey's.