The Zoo Story

Recently in my Post World-War II American Drama and Film course we read and briefly discussed the play The Zoo Story, written by Edward Albee (whose works include; Three Tall Women, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and A Delicate Balance). In this short drama the two characters, Peter the tight upper-class man, and Jerry the loose lower eastside passerby, publicly display the meaning of a ‘dog eat dog world’. In this short play they provide a theatrical look at greed, pride, and selfish living through an argument that turns into a deadly fight over a park bench… yes a park bench. In discussion about this play the thoughts of; what love is, is love always good, and is love completely for others came about. The conversation quickly not only took my thoughts but also the thoughts of my professor to 1 Corinthians 13. Where Paul lays out what love truly is even if the standard seems unattainable. The Zoo Story paired with the truths of 1 Corinthians 13 has definitely made me question my motives for daily life and how I conduct myself.

I encourage you to check out The Zoo Story, like I say it is a very quick read, and follow it by reading 1 Corinthians 13. Let your mind wonder but if you are like me be prepared to be convicted.

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Here you go, the commands to recreate the greatest love story of all time:

1 Corinthians 13

Love

1If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. 3If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 9For we know in part and we prophesy in part, 10but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. 11When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. 12Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

13And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.