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Philomela and her sisters : explorations of sexual violence in plays by British contemporary women dramatists
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Park, Kyung Ran (1998) Philomela and her sisters : explorations of sexual violence in plays by British contemporary women dramatists. PhD thesis, University of Warwick.
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Official URL: http://webcat.warwick.ac.uk/record=b1358414~S1
Abstract
The theme of this thesis is women and violence explored in eleven plays by
British contemporary women playwrights in the 1980s and 1990s. In order to explore
these plays, I have made investigations into a basic knowledge of violence against
women in the Introduction. Violence against women is also called sexual violence or
gender-related violence. The knowledge I have gained includes how sexual violence is
defined; why sexual violence occurs; what kinds of sexual violence there are; how
people perceive sexual violence. My definition is that any act which limits the
autonomy of women constitutes sexual violence. Based on a variety of definitions by
feminist scholars, there are many forms of sexual violence in women's history around
the world. As a result, I have found out the continuity, diversity, and universality of
women's pain. The nature of sexual violence has been mistaken by many people from
the perspective of prevailing myths about women's sexuality. Because of them, many
women and female children become double victims. Having understood the true
nature of sexual violence, I have selected eleven plays which explore women and
violence: The Love of the Nightingale (1988) by Timberlake Wertenbaker; Crux
(1991) by April de Angelis; The Taking of Liberty (1992) by Cheryl Robson;
Augustine (Big Hysteria) (1991) by Anna Furse; The Gut Girls (1988) by Sarah
Daniels; Ficky Stingers (1986) by Eve Lewis; Beside Herself (1990) by Sarah Daniels;
Thatcher's Women (1987) by Kay Adshead; Money to Live (1984) by Jacqueline
Rudet; Low Level Panic (1988) by Clare McIntyre; Masterpieces (1984) by Sarah
Daniels. The thesis is divided into two parts depending on whether the plays are set in
the past or present in order to identify the continuity of sexual violence. They depict
the exercise of men's power through sexual violence. In the plays women experience
violence committed by men and then they are silenced. However, the women
demonstrate their fighting spirit and regain their voice or find ways to express
themselves. Women's hope for change is expressed through theatre.
| Item Type: | Thesis (PhD) | ||||
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| Subjects: | P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN0080 Criticism P Language and Literature > PN Literature (General) > PN2000 Dramatic representation. The Theater |
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| Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH): | Family violence in literature, Philomela (Greek mythology) in literature, English drama -- 20th century -- History and criticism, English drama -- Women authors -- History and criticism, Violence in literature , Violence in the theater -- Great Britain | ||||
| Official Date: | July 1998 | ||||
| Dates: |
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| Institution: | University of Warwick | ||||
| Theses Department: | Department of Theatre Studies | ||||
| Thesis Type: | PhD | ||||
| Publication Status: | Unpublished | ||||
| Supervisor(s)/Advisor: | Cousin, Geraldine | ||||
| Sponsors: | University of Warwick. International Office | ||||
| Extent: | vi, 256 leaves | ||||
| Language: | eng |
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