Gender Conflicts in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams

Nonfiction, Entertainment, Drama, Anthologies
Cover of the book Gender Conflicts in the Dramas of Tennessee Williams by Kerstin Müller, GRIN Publishing
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Kerstin Müller ISBN: 9783638313605
Publisher: GRIN Publishing Publication: October 9, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing Language: English
Author: Kerstin Müller
ISBN: 9783638313605
Publisher: GRIN Publishing
Publication: October 9, 2004
Imprint: GRIN Publishing
Language: English

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2003 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7 (A-), University of Bayreuth (Faculty for Language and Literature Sciences), 28 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Tennessee Williams has often been called the American national poet of the perverse and a dirty writer because a recurrent theme in his work is sexual deviation, such as nymphomania, promiscuity, rape, impotence, homosexuality, profligacy, frigidity, cannibalism, and castration (Bauer-Briski 11). This statement clearly suggests the controversy with which Tennessee Williams' dramas were perceived by the public and the critics. It is well known that conflicts on these issues can be found in many of his plays. This raises the question as to what extent these conflicts are related to specific gender roles and their subordinate themes. Williams once said that he has never written about anything he has not experienced first hand, thus most of the conflict issues can be considered to be autobiographical to a certain extent. As Williams' childhood was restricted to a rather reclusive life due to diphtheria, which forced him to spend almost his entire childhood at home with his family, the experiences with his mother, father and sister shaped not only his character, but also the themes in his plays. His upbringing was characterised by Puritanism which was of vital importance in his family. His mother later became the model for his antiquated Southern Belles and overprotective mothers in the plays. His boisterous father was perceived as a frightening and alien male presence by him, his sister and his mother. He later became the model for the same type of harsh, brutal characters in his plays, such as Big Daddy and Stanley Kowalski (Falk 155 f). Yet, not only his Puritan upbringing shaped his life, but also the fact that he grew up in the South of the United States, in the Mississippi Delta, and the region's heat, its storms, floods, the division into social classes, the colourful imagery and rhythms of the language were to shape his setting and dialogue (Tischler 2).The uniqueness of the South along with its cultural and social characteristics is embodied in many of his plays, and the social roles appointed to the people living there offers an extensive basis of analysis for not only gender roles, but also the related conflicts. In addition to this, Williams was known as being homosexual and leading a very promiscuous life, especially with men much younger than him (Bauer-Briski 11).

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

Bachelor Thesis from the year 2003 in the subject American Studies - Literature, grade: 1,7 (A-), University of Bayreuth (Faculty for Language and Literature Sciences), 28 entries in the bibliography, language: English, abstract: Tennessee Williams has often been called the American national poet of the perverse and a dirty writer because a recurrent theme in his work is sexual deviation, such as nymphomania, promiscuity, rape, impotence, homosexuality, profligacy, frigidity, cannibalism, and castration (Bauer-Briski 11). This statement clearly suggests the controversy with which Tennessee Williams' dramas were perceived by the public and the critics. It is well known that conflicts on these issues can be found in many of his plays. This raises the question as to what extent these conflicts are related to specific gender roles and their subordinate themes. Williams once said that he has never written about anything he has not experienced first hand, thus most of the conflict issues can be considered to be autobiographical to a certain extent. As Williams' childhood was restricted to a rather reclusive life due to diphtheria, which forced him to spend almost his entire childhood at home with his family, the experiences with his mother, father and sister shaped not only his character, but also the themes in his plays. His upbringing was characterised by Puritanism which was of vital importance in his family. His mother later became the model for his antiquated Southern Belles and overprotective mothers in the plays. His boisterous father was perceived as a frightening and alien male presence by him, his sister and his mother. He later became the model for the same type of harsh, brutal characters in his plays, such as Big Daddy and Stanley Kowalski (Falk 155 f). Yet, not only his Puritan upbringing shaped his life, but also the fact that he grew up in the South of the United States, in the Mississippi Delta, and the region's heat, its storms, floods, the division into social classes, the colourful imagery and rhythms of the language were to shape his setting and dialogue (Tischler 2).The uniqueness of the South along with its cultural and social characteristics is embodied in many of his plays, and the social roles appointed to the people living there offers an extensive basis of analysis for not only gender roles, but also the related conflicts. In addition to this, Williams was known as being homosexual and leading a very promiscuous life, especially with men much younger than him (Bauer-Briski 11).

More books from GRIN Publishing

Cover of the book Women in Saudi Arabia based on 'Desert Royal' by Jean Sasson by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Is 'Third Way' Social Democracy still a form of social democracy? by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book With A Little Help From My Friend - Foreign and Security Policy of the EU and the USA in Kosovo by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Die Theorie von Robinsohn (Curriculumtheorie) - Umsetzung des lernzielorientierten Ansatzes am Unterrichtsthema: 'Einführung in die individuelle Nachfrage' by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book German Reparation Issue by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Concerning Alexander Wendt's constructivism, identity and change by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Die Reflexion des Jahres 1989 in ausgewählten Festreden deutscher Bundespräsidenten aus geschichtsdidaktischer Perspektive by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Turkey's quest for EU membership: Recent developments by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book The Uses of Images in the Study and Teaching of Literature by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Syntax changing of the verb phrase from Shakespearian English to the present by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book A linguistic analysis of BBC Radio News by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book The Second World War as the second foundation of the Soviet Union by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Analyzing the Austrian fashion industry according to Porter´s five forces by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book Misunderstanding skills as part of language socialization by Kerstin Müller
Cover of the book An Introduction to Mass Surveillance and International Law by Kerstin Müller
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy