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Sexual Politics in Speed-the-Plow

  • Journal of Modern English Drama
  • Abbr : JMBARD
  • 2013, 26(1), pp.119-141
  • Publisher : 한국현대영미드라마학회
  • Research Area : Humanities > English Language and Literature > English Literature > Contemporary English Drama

EUNJOO LEE 1

1성결대학교

Accredited

ABSTRACT

This paper analyzes sexual politics in Mamet’s play, Speed-the-Plow. Karen wields a subversive strategy to challenge the power structure between men and women which is established as the ruler/the ruled. If we analyze the play according to Jacques Lacan’ concept of ‘subject supposed to know,’ Karen causes the transference of love toward Gould, whose role is analyst. A counter-transference takes place in relation to Gould, who has missed connection and love. Through the counter-transference, Gould’s power is subverted and the ‘subject supposed to know’ thereby is transferred from Gould to Karen. When feigned love is revealed, however, the power structure is reversed again. At this point, the ‘subject supposed to know’ turns out to be not the ‘subject to know.’ The subject is based not on reality, but on fantasy of knowledge. The endless slippage of signifiers for the subject allows stable meanings to dissolve. Karen uses a confusion strategy to subvert the dualistic view that labels women as either angels or whores. Showing a lack of ambition, she has sex with Gould just to gain power. Gould wants to achieve jouissance by believing in her and having sex, thus transferring all his power to her. But when she suddenly confesses the truth about her hidden motive behind sex, her power is transferred back to Gould again. She gives up power at the end, which makes her enigmatic. It is concluded that she succeeds in creating disruption in the dualistic view on women within male-dominated culture.

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