The Adding Machine

Definition

The Adding Machine is a one-act play written by Elmer Rice in 1923 that critiques the dehumanizing effects of modernity and technology on individuals. This play illustrates the struggle of Mr. Zero, an accountant who is replaced by an adding machine, representing the growing alienation and existential crisis faced by individuals in a rapidly industrializing world. The themes of mechanization, identity, and the loss of individuality resonate deeply within the framework of modernist drama.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Elmer Rice's 'The Adding Machine' was one of the first plays to address the impact of technology on human relationships and employment.
2. The character Mr. Zero embodies the plight of workers who feel reduced to mere cogs in the machinery of capitalism and industry.
3. The play uses stark dialogue and a minimalist setting to emphasize themes of isolation and despair in a mechanized society.
4. 'The Adding Machine' features absurdist elements, reflecting the irrationality of life in an age dominated by machines.
5. Rice's work is significant for its critique of modernity, laying the groundwork for later explorations of similar themes in American drama.

Review Questions

• How does Mr. Zero's character in 'The Adding Machine' reflect the themes of alienation and identity within modernist drama?
  • Mr. Zero's character exemplifies alienation as he experiences a profound disconnection from his work, colleagues, and even his own sense of self. The play illustrates how his identity is consumed by his job as an accountant, leading to existential crises when he is replaced by the adding machine. This reflects broader themes in modernist drama where characters struggle to find meaning and authenticity in a mechanized world that reduces them to mere functions.
• Discuss how Elmer Rice employs expressionistic techniques in 'The Adding Machine' to convey the emotional landscape of modernity.
  • 'The Adding Machine' employs expressionistic techniques such as exaggerated dialogue and minimal staging to amplify the emotional weight of its themes. By distorting reality, Rice highlights Mr. Zero's internal turmoil and existential dread within a mechanized society. This approach allows audiences to engage with the psychological experiences of characters as they navigate their feelings of insignificance amidst technological advancement.
• Analyze how 'The Adding Machine' serves as a precursor to later works of modernist theater, particularly regarding its critique of technology and capitalism.
  • 'The Adding Machine' serves as an important precursor to later modernist theater by presenting a critical view of technology's impact on society and individual identity. The play’s focus on Mr. Zero’s displacement due to mechanization reflects growing concerns about capitalism’s dehumanizing effects during industrialization. These themes resonate with future works that similarly explore technology’s role in shaping human experiences, making Rice's play foundational in understanding this ongoing critique within modernist literature.

Related terms

Modernism: A cultural movement that emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, characterized by a break from traditional forms and an exploration of new artistic expressions reflecting the complexities of modern life.

Alienation: A psychological state where an individual feels disconnected or estranged from their environment, society, or themselves, often highlighted in modernist literature and drama.

Expressionism: An artistic movement that sought to present the world from a subjective perspective, emphasizing emotional experience over physical reality, often through distorted forms and exaggerated imagery.