Hysteria, Madness and Disciplinary Power: The Next Room and Mrs. Packard
Hysteria, Madness and Disciplinary Power: The Next Room and Mrs. Packard
Author(s): Sinan GÜLSubject(s): Social history, Gender history, Comparative Study of Literature, Theory of Literature, American Literature
Published by: Namık Kemal Üniversitesi Fen-Edebiyat Fakültesi
Keywords: hysteria; madness; feminist history plays; Mrs. Packard;
Summary/Abstract: Mrs. Packard (2008) by Emily Mann and The Next Room or The Vibrator Play (2009) by Sarah Ruhl explore and deplore the conventions of the 19th century life-style while revealing the difficulties women experienced through the means of medical advances. Protesting the appropriation of scientific methods to oppress women’s body and mind, both plays display examples of alternative methods to resist oppression despite being written in different tones, styles, and for different purposes. Using Foucault’s formation of power and resistance theory to trace the theme of protest in both plays, this paper analyzes their relevance to contemporary audiences by emphasizing their break from the Enlightenment values and modern institutions.
Journal: Humanitas - Uluslararası Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi
- Issue Year: 9/2021
- Issue No: 18
- Page Range: 130-150
- Page Count: 21
- Language: English