Skip to main content

How do I analyze and criticize a play using a feminist framework?

To conduct a feminist critique of a play, you will want to take a look at the roles and relationships of women in the piece. You may also wish to consider how the "world" is constructed to either reinforce or challenge these roles and relationships.


I'd like to recommend you begin by conducting this rather popular "litmus test" for whether or not a piece of media is oppressive to women-- the Bechdel-Wallace test. This test...

To conduct a feminist critique of a play, you will want to take a look at the roles and relationships of women in the piece. You may also wish to consider how the "world" is constructed to either reinforce or challenge these roles and relationships.


I'd like to recommend you begin by conducting this rather popular "litmus test" for whether or not a piece of media is oppressive to women-- the Bechdel-Wallace test. This test was first designed to evaluate films, but may be adapted for literature and theater works. In order to "pass" the test, your chosen play must meet three criteria.


  • There must be at least two named women characters.

  • They must talk to each other.

  • They must talk about something other than a man.

Though it  has received some criticism, this simple test is an excellent way to discern the nature of women characters in a piece of media. If your chosen play passes the test, one can infer that these women characters are likely offered some kind of story-line and personal agency that is not entirely in support of and subservient to the roles of the male characters.


In addition to the Bechdel-Wallace test, consider the following questions:


  • When was the play written? What is the setting? What were the gender norms in these times?

  • What roles are the characters depicted in? Consider the roles of both men and women. Do women exist as characters only in relation to others-- the mother, daughter, sister, wife, aunt, or nursemaid relations? Or are they described as having lives outside of their (largely familial) relationships?

  • How are gender roles (or the constructs of masculinity and femininity) defined? Is there any challenge or subversion of this in the play? How does this affect the attitudes of characters?

  • Has anyone else performed a feminist literary analysis of this play? What did they have to say?

I've also shared some helpful links below which offer more detail and some resources for creating your feminist critique. This sounds like a really interesting project and I hope you have a great time with it!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What are some external and internal conflicts that Montag has in Fahrenheit 451?

 Montag, the protagonist of Fahrenheit 451, faces both external and internal conflicts throughout the novel. Some examples of these conflicts are: External Conflicts: Conflict with the society: Montag lives in a society that prohibits books and critical thinking. He faces opposition from the government and the people who enforce this law. Montag struggles to come to terms with the fact that his society is based on censorship and control. Conflict with his wife: Montag's wife, Mildred, is completely absorbed in the shallow and meaningless entertainment provided by the government. Montag's growing dissatisfaction with his marriage adds to his external conflict. Conflict with the fire captain: Montag's superior, Captain Beatty, is the personification of the oppressive regime that Montag is fighting against. Montag's struggle against Beatty represents his external conflict with the government. Internal Conflicts: Conflict with his own beliefs: Montag, at the beginning of th...
Post a Comment
Read more

In A People's History of the United States, why does Howard Zinn feel that Wilson made a flimsy argument for entering World War I?

"War is the health of the state," the radical writer Randolph Bourne said, in the midst of the First World War. Indeed, as the nations of Europe went to war in 1914, the governments flourished, patriotism bloomed, class struggle was stilled, and young men died in frightful numbers on the battlefields-often for a hundred yards of land, a line of trenches. -- Chapter 14, Page 350, A People's History of the United States Howard Zinn outlines his arguments for why World War I was fought in the opening paragraph of Chapter 14 (referenced above). The nationalism that was created by the Great War benefited the elite political and financial leadership of the various countries involved. Socialism, which was gaining momentum in Europe, as was class struggle, took a backseat to mobilizing for war. Zinn believes that World War I was fought for the gain of the industrial capitalists of Europe in a competition for capital and resources. He states that humanity itself was punished by t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Where did Atticus take the light and extension cord in To Kill a Mockingbird?

Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with... Atticus brings the light to the courthouse jail so that he can protect Tom Robinson.  Atticus learns that Tom Robinson, his client, is in danger.  A group of white men want to prevent the trial and lynch Robinson. He is warned by a small group of men that appear at his house.  He refuses to back down.  Atticus knows that the Cunninghams will target his client, so he plans to sit up all night with Jim if that’s what it takes to protect him.  Atticus tells the men that he will make sure his client gets his fair shake at the law.  “Link, that boy might go to the chair, but he’s not going till ...
Post a Comment
Read more