PLAY AND ROLE-PLAY AS RESISTANCE: EXPLORING SOCIAL PHENOMENA IN GABRIELA ADAMESTEANU'S "WASTED MORNING"
PLAY AND ROLE-PLAY AS RESISTANCE: EXPLORING SOCIAL PHENOMENA IN GABRIELA ADAMESTEANU'S "WASTED MORNING"

Summary/Abstract: Gabriela Adamesteanu’s ”Wasted Morning” (originally published in 2003) offers a nuanced depiction of post-communist Romanian society, capturing the everyday struggles of individuals navigating socio-political transformations. While the novel primarily delves into themes of memory, identity, and social upheaval, it subtly foregrounds the role of play—humour, irony, and triviality—as forms of resistance. This paper examines the novel as a literary manifestation of social resistance through the motif of play. By analysing the characters' engagement with play and humour amidst socio-political upheavals, the study explores how Adameșteanu employs these elements as subtle acts of resistance against oppressive societal structures. Drawing on theories of social resistance and performative agency, the paper argues that ”Wasted Morning” reveals play as a vital form of social critique and resilience.

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