The adding machine

Definition

The adding machine is a play written by Elmer Rice in 1923, often considered a cornerstone of American expressionist drama. It explores themes of alienation, dehumanization, and the impact of technology on human life, showcasing a world increasingly dominated by mechanization. The narrative follows Mr. Zero, an accountant whose life is drastically changed by the introduction of the adding machine, which symbolizes the loss of individuality and human connection in a modernizing society.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. The adding machine is set in an early 20th-century office environment, reflecting the rise of industrialization and the shift from human labor to machine efficiency.
2. Mr. Zero's character represents the everyman who struggles with feelings of insignificance and powerlessness in a society that values productivity over individuality.
3. The play utilizes innovative staging and dialogue techniques to create a sense of alienation, including fragmented conversations and a focus on mechanical sounds.
4. Elmer Rice's work highlights how technological advancements can lead to existential despair and a loss of meaningful human relationships.
5. The adding machine is often regarded as one of the first American expressionist plays, influencing later dramatists who explored similar themes of modernity and identity.

Review Questions

• How does the adding machine exemplify key features of expressionism in American drama?
  • The adding machine embodies expressionist features through its portrayal of characters grappling with alienation and emotional turmoil in a mechanized world. The play uses exaggerated dialogue and fragmented scenes to depict the disconnect between individuals and their environment. Mr. Zero’s transformation due to technology serves as a vivid representation of how modern life can strip away personal identity and human connection.
• Discuss how Elmer Rice's use of innovative staging contributes to the themes of alienation and dehumanization in the adding machine.
  • Rice's innovative staging in the adding machine employs elements like mechanical sounds and abrupt scene changes to immerse the audience in Mr. Zero's disorienting experience. This approach heightens the sense of alienation felt by characters, reflecting their struggles within an impersonal society dominated by machines. By breaking conventional narrative flow, Rice emphasizes the disconnection between characters and their emotions, showcasing the dehumanizing effects of technology.
• Evaluate how the adding machine reflects societal concerns about technology during its time and its relevance today.
  • The adding machine reflects early 20th-century anxieties about technology's encroachment on daily life, highlighting fears of losing individuality to mechanization. This theme resonates today as society continues to grapple with rapid technological advancements that can alienate individuals from each other. The play serves as a cautionary tale about prioritizing efficiency over personal connection, prompting audiences to consider how technology influences their own lives and relationships in contemporary society.

Related terms

Expressionism: A cultural movement that emerged in the early 20th century, focusing on representing emotional experiences rather than physical reality, often through distorted imagery and heightened emotional states.

Modernism: A broad movement in literature and the arts that arose in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms and a focus on new perspectives and ideas reflecting the complexities of modern life.

Alienation: A feeling of disconnection or estrangement from one's surroundings, society, or self, commonly explored in expressionist works as characters grapple with their identities in a rapidly changing world.