@article{ART000854685},
author={Hyung Shik Lee},
title={Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life},
journal={Journal of Modern English Drama},
issn={1226-3397},
year={2003},
volume={16},
number={2},
pages={7-224}
TY - JOUR
AU - Hyung Shik Lee
TI - Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life
JO - Journal of Modern English Drama
PY - 2003
VL - 16
IS - 2
PB - 한국현대영미드라마학회
SP - 7
EP - 224
SN - 1226-3397
AB - This paper aims to explore the meaning of violence against women in Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire and Maria Irene Fornes's The Conduct of Life. The fact that female characters are violated on stage is a distinct feature which differentiates these plays from other plays in which rape is only insinuated and implied. Both plays also share similarities in that female characters are defined as being insane and marginalized by men. However, the plays differ from each other in their portrayal of male violence and the idealization of male characters. This paper argues that the playwrights' gender has a lot to do with these differences in the portrayal of male violence and female victims.
Regarding Blanche's presence as an affront and challenge to his male dominance, Stanley Kowalski relies on violence as a defense mechanism which will protect his home and his territory. The use of violence is the ultimate means to subdue and defeat Blanche with her aristocratic background. The second motivation behind his use of violence is the desire to punish Blanche who, masquerading as a Southern Belle, in reality hides her promiscuous past. His violence, which at first was unleashed toward such inanimate objects as radio and trunk, escalates and culminates in rape, the ultimate form of violence against women. Even though we are encouraged to sympathize with Blanche's agony, Stanley's sexuality and male body is also foregrounded and romanticized.
In The Conduct of Life, in which the female characters also go through the marginalization and victimization by male violence, the sisterly bonding and support empower them to overcome the disastrous results of the violence. Here, the male character is also depicted in his stark reality, without being romanticized and idealized.
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Hyung Shik Lee. (2003). Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life. Journal of Modern English Drama, 16(2), 7-224.
Hyung Shik Lee. 2003, "Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life", Journal of Modern English Drama, vol.16, no.2 pp.7-224.
Hyung Shik Lee "Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life" Journal of Modern English Drama 16.2 pp.7-224 (2003) : 7.
Hyung Shik Lee. Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life. 2003; 16(2), 7-224.
Hyung Shik Lee. "Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life" Journal of Modern English Drama 16, no.2 (2003) : 7-224.
Hyung Shik Lee. Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life. Journal of Modern English Drama, 16(2), 7-224.
Hyung Shik Lee. Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life. Journal of Modern English Drama. 2003; 16(2) 7-224.
Hyung Shik Lee. Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life. 2003; 16(2), 7-224.
Hyung Shik Lee. "Violence against Women in American Drama: A Feminist Comparison of A Streetcar Named Desire and The Conduct of Life" Journal of Modern English Drama 16, no.2 (2003) : 7-224.
