Although the language itself is not particularly technical or confusing, the way in which the characters speak to each other bars any genuine communication. Even the audience is disallowed the privilege of understanding, because language is distorted in such a way that words lose meaning. Meg and Petey converse in empty, repetitive phrases that indicate their complete lack of connection. Meg uses the word to such excess that she voids the word of any positive association. Indeed, she reduces numerous expressions to sounds that fill the obvious ravine that separates her from Petey. When Petey tells her that his paper says nothing much, on some level he is indicting the vapidity of their existence. His paper says nothing much because he is incapable of saying anything of substance himself. Even if he read something of grave importance, his inability to use language as a communicative tool leaves him impotent to convey the weight of what he read.
The more sinister employ of language comes into play...
Here, the failure of language stems more from
abuse than from inanity. Stanley is unable to combat the verbal attacks of McCann and Goldberg, because their words become weapons against which his own language cannot defend. Stanley is often silent throughout the play as Goldberg victimizes him with rapid-fire insincerity and deciet. Goldberg also draws attention to the lapses in
communication between Stanley, Meg, Petey and Lulu. At one point, he demands that Meg make a toast to Stanley by saying what she honestly feels. Meg is at a loss, however, because she is incapable of converting language into a genuine form of expression. The limits of language are epitomized in Stanley's final scene. He loses all capacity to form words, making only terrible gurgling noises. Ironically, however, this seems to be the first time that Stanley is accurately able to communicate his feelings. The cruel fate that likely awaits him has reduced him to terrified shudders and mutterings, and in this manner he clearly conveys his terror to everyone present.
