‘night, Mother, a more recent American play, which, in form of a dialogue
between a mother and her adult daughter deals with the daughter’s
desperation for missing autonomy and her decision to gain control over her
life by ending it, has met with controversial reception from critics after
winning the Pulitzer Prize in 1983. On the one hand it was celebrated as a
successful drama by a female playwright, whereas it was denied on the other
hand as betraying Feminism.
Still, in my paper this struggle will not be continued. What I am interested in
here is, how the play treats the subject of free death as a specific way of
dying. In our current society this subject arouses either greed for sensation or
it is looked upon as a taboo and the public treatment or defense of it is
normally denied. Examining the plays reception by critics it is striking that the
protagonist’s carried out death is mainly deemed positive or even compared
with a heroic deed. In the face of this debate I will examine Jessie’s
desperation with her life and show, if she is in the end really successful in
reaching autonomy and a personal identity through suicide.
The first objects of my research are going to be Jessie’s current situation, her
inward state of mind and how she comes to the decision that death might
constitute a solution to her problems. The next step will be a discussion of
this decision and its justification with the help of two different works on
suicide, of which one is rather a scientific study and the other one a
philosophical treatise on the topic. Finally, I will have a look at those critiques
which are in favor of Jessie’s suicide as a positive and successful action and
put them in context with the plot of the play, which will lead to a conclusion
of what Jessie has actually reached and in how far her suicide might be seen
as a wrong reaction.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- Main Part
- Dependence, Isolation and Hopelessness as the Dominating Feelings in Jessie's Life
- Childhood and Family
- Epilepsy
- Male Domination
- Mother-Daughter-Relationship
- Jessie's Decision to Commit Suicide as a Means of Self-Definition
- Self-Determination of Death
- What Has Jessie Actually Reached ?
- Dependence, Isolation and Hopelessness as the Dominating Feelings in Jessie's Life
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper examines the theme of free death as portrayed in Marsha Norman's play 'night, Mother'. It explores the protagonist, Jessie's, struggle with her life and how she ultimately decides to end it. The paper investigates Jessie's motivations, her internal state of mind, and the potential justifications for her decision. It analyzes how the play depicts suicide through the lens of Jessie's experience, and explores the debate surrounding the play's reception. Ultimately, the paper seeks to understand whether Jessie's suicide can be viewed as a successful act of autonomy or a tragic consequence of her circumstances.
- Free death and its representation in the play
- Jessie's motivations for suicide
- The impact of dependence, isolation, and hopelessness on Jessie's life
- Jessie's decision as a potential act of self-determination
- The debate surrounding Jessie's suicide and its interpretation
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The introduction examines the context of the play 'night, Mother', its reception by critics, and the significance of its portrayal of free death. The paper then outlines its objectives and research methodology.
The main part delves into Jessie's life and her decision to commit suicide. It explores the factors that contribute to her sense of hopelessness and the lack of autonomy she experiences. These factors include her childhood, her epilepsy, and her relationship with her mother. The chapter also analyzes the play's depiction of Jessie's decision and its justifications, drawing upon external works on suicide.
Finally, the paper examines critiques that interpret Jessie's suicide as a positive and successful action. It then contextualizes these critiques within the play's plot and leads to a conclusion about Jessie's achievement and the potential implications of her suicide.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The main keywords and topics explored in this paper include: 'night, Mother', free death, suicide, autonomy, dependence, isolation, hopelessness, epilepsy, mother-daughter relationship, self-determination, and critical reception. These themes highlight the central focus of the paper, which is to analyze Jessie's decision to commit suicide and explore the complex factors that contribute to her internal struggle and ultimate choice.
- Quote paper
- Peter Brüstle (Author), 2001, Jessie's Quest for Autonomy through Suicide in Marsha Norman's night Mother, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13146
