The Zoo Story Language and Communication Quotes

Right there, first line of the play: Jerry's shouting; Peter isn't noticing; and miscommunication, unhappiness, absurdity, and capital letters are happening. They all should have just stopped there; this isn't going anywhere good.

Albee throws in a lot of ellipses in his play. Peter here is hesitating, stuttering, trying to figure out which direction is which and where language is supposed to take him. Nowhere clear, nowhere fast. Get out Peter! Get out while you can!

Peter isn't saying what he means, nor meaning what he says. Social convention gets the better of him. That's a sign of Peter's character, but it's also a sign of how language works in the play: as a barrier to honesty and communication rather than as an aid to them. Hmm…how does that work?