The Adding Machine
The Adding Machine; Elmer L. Rice
SUMMARY:
The protagonist of this play is named Mr. Zero, and other characters are numbered too, which gives an idea of the sort of story this is. Elmer Rice was criticizing the modern society and the way its institutions (mindless workplaces, loveless marriages…) turn people into faceless automatons. The play is developed into eight scenes, which I am going to summarize straightaway.
In the first scene, we meet Mr. Zero and his wife Mrs. Zero. The whole scene consists of a monologue made by Mrs. Zero, where she reproaches him to have been working for twenty five years in the same office without the rise he had always assured her.
The second scene takes place in the office where Mr. Zero works each day of his life. Daisy Diana Dorothea reads numbers and Mr. Zero is in charge of writing down them in a machine that contains a paper roller. The relationship between both of them seems to be tired. Mr. regrets not having left his wife for another woman; and Daisy expresses her anxiety for a love story. Then, Daisy remembers when some years ago they went for a picnic, Mrs. Zero could not go and he behaved with her like a gentleman. However, he continues thinking in his matters and has the hunch of being risen today after twenty five years. When it is the time for leaving at home, the boss arrives and says Mr. Zero that he is not needed anymore because new machines can do now his work.
The next part of the play is situated in the dining room of Mr. Zero’s house. Mr. Zero arrives at home and sits down. Then, Mrs. Zero says him that he has delayed one hour and they are going to have gest. In an ironic tone, she begins to talk alone and says that probably he had had an important business to attend or maybe he has been raised. Afterward, Mr. Zero and Mrs. Zero’s friends come. They are six couples clothed in the same way and their names are numbers. Suddenly, the bell rings again; Mr. Zero knows that the police is looking for him and says
SUMMARY:
The protagonist of this play is named Mr. Zero, and other characters are numbered too, which gives an idea of the sort of story this is. Elmer Rice was criticizing the modern society and the way its institutions (mindless workplaces, loveless marriages…) turn people into faceless automatons. The play is developed into eight scenes, which I am going to summarize straightaway.
In the first scene, we meet Mr. Zero and his wife Mrs. Zero. The whole scene consists of a monologue made by Mrs. Zero, where she reproaches him to have been working for twenty five years in the same office without the rise he had always assured her.
The second scene takes place in the office where Mr. Zero works each day of his life. Daisy Diana Dorothea reads numbers and Mr. Zero is in charge of writing down them in a machine that contains a paper roller. The relationship between both of them seems to be tired. Mr. regrets not having left his wife for another woman; and Daisy expresses her anxiety for a love story. Then, Daisy remembers when some years ago they went for a picnic, Mrs. Zero could not go and he behaved with her like a gentleman. However, he continues thinking in his matters and has the hunch of being risen today after twenty five years. When it is the time for leaving at home, the boss arrives and says Mr. Zero that he is not needed anymore because new machines can do now his work.
The next part of the play is situated in the dining room of Mr. Zero’s house. Mr. Zero arrives at home and sits down. Then, Mrs. Zero says him that he has delayed one hour and they are going to have gest. In an ironic tone, she begins to talk alone and says that probably he had had an important business to attend or maybe he has been raised. Afterward, Mr. Zero and Mrs. Zero’s friends come. They are six couples clothed in the same way and their names are numbers. Suddenly, the bell rings again; Mr. Zero knows that the police is looking for him and says