This term paper will show to what a great extent society is influenced by men. I suggest that in Marsha Norman´s play “Getting Out” her protagonist Arlene would never have faced so many problems in life, let alone would have become criminal, if men did not possess such a great power over society. Men being in power throughout the world was certainly the worst thing that could ever have happened in human history, Arlene being a representative of all the women living and having lived on earth, even if a very extreme one. But in favor of men, I claim that men are not really guilty either because society has become autonomous and cannot be controlled anymore.
The basis for my thesis is Gretchen Cline´s essay entitled “The Impossibility of Getting Out – The Psychopolitics of the family in Marsha Norman´s Getting Out” which contains feminist, psychoanalytic and existential frameworks to show Arlene Holsclaw´s oppression within a family that parallels the institutions that bind her. Cline herself uses Walter Davis´ theory of the “crypt” to analyze Arlene´s familial and the subsequent social scapegoating in order to show how women are shaped by a society in which the most moral institutions, such as family and religion, justify violation and oppression.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- TRAPPED INSIDE SOCIETY OR EVE AN IMPROVED VERSION OF ADAM
- The Basis for the Thesis
- The Theory of the "Crypt"
- Arlene's Early Childhood
- Arlene's Experiences in Prison
- Arlene's Release from Prison
- Arlene's Relationship to Her Mother
- Arlene's Relationship to Bennie
- Cline's Assumption About Marsha Norman
- Arlene's Trapped Situation
- Cline's Idea of Arlene Being Trapped Inside Society
- Society's Deliberate Blindness
- Arlene's Relationship to Her Mother
- Arlene's Relationship to Bennie
- Society's Influence on Arlene
- Life in Prison
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This term paper aims to demonstrate the significant influence men have on society, using Marsha Norman's play "Getting Out" as a case study. The paper argues that the protagonist, Arlene, would not have faced such adversity, including her criminal past, if men did not hold such power in society. The paper challenges the idea that men are solely responsible for societal issues, suggesting that society itself has become autonomous and beyond control.
- The impact of male dominance on women's lives
- The role of the family in shaping an individual's psyche
- The concept of "crypting" and its implications for individual and social development
- The use of women as scapegoats by society
- The societal pressures that lead to the suppression of desire and the normalization of oppression
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- TRAPPED INSIDE SOCIETY OR EVE AN IMPROVED VERSION OF ADAM: This introductory section presents the central thesis of the paper, which argues that society's structure, particularly the power dynamics between men and women, leads to the oppression of women. Arlene's experiences are presented as representative of the broader societal issues women face.
- The Basis for the Thesis: This section introduces Gretchen Cline's essay "The Impossibility of Getting Out: The Psychopolitics of the Family in Marsha Norman's Getting Out," which provides a feminist, psychoanalytic, and existential framework for analyzing Arlene's oppression within the family and societal structures.
- The Theory of the "Crypt": This section explores Walter Davis's theory of the "crypt," which suggests that core family issues are suppressed or "bracketed" to create a functioning psyche. The theory highlights how this process of suppression and humiliation, often inflicted by an "Other" (typically associated with male dominance), leads to the development of a specific gendered identity (female passivity).
- Arlene's Early Childhood: This section examines the specific "crypts" Arlene develops in response to her childhood experiences of sexual abuse by her father and neglect by her mother. These experiences, it is argued, set the stage for her later criminal behavior and societal scapegoating.
- Arlene's Experiences in Prison: This section analyzes Arlene's time in prison and how the institution of religion, represented by the priest, reinforces her experiences of humiliation and societal control. This reinforces the idea that Arlene's experiences are not isolated but representative of broader societal structures that maintain power imbalances.
- Arlene's Release from Prison: This section focuses on Arlene's hopes for a different life after prison and how she continues to encounter societal forces that prevent her from truly "getting out." Her interactions with men, such as Bennie, reflect the continuing societal pressures and expectations that reinforce her marginalized position.
- Arlene's Relationship to Her Mother: This section examines Arlene's complex relationship with her mother, who represents the broader influence of society on her. The paper argues that Arlene's mother, shaped by societal forces, perpetuates the cycle of oppression and contributes to Arlene's current situation.
- Arlene's Relationship to Bennie: This section explores Arlene's relationship with Bennie, who represents a broader societal archetype of men who exert power over women. The paper argues that Bennie reinforces the social order and the pressures Arlene faces as a woman in a patriarchal society.
- Cline's Assumption About Marsha Norman: This section discusses Cline's assumption that Marsha Norman, the playwright, is herself a victim of society and the culture she participates in. The paper questions this assumption and argues for a more nuanced understanding of Norman's work, suggesting that her play "Getting Out" might be a deliberate provocation to encourage audiences to think critically about societal structures.
- Arlene's Trapped Situation: This section reinforces the central argument that Arlene is trapped within societal structures that perpetuate oppression. The paper highlights how she is prevented from truly breaking free from the cycle of societal control and the impacts of her "crypts" on her life.
- Cline's Idea of Arlene Being Trapped Inside Society: This section explores Cline's argument that both men and women are victims of societal forces that have become autonomous and beyond control. The paper suggests that men are also complicit in this system through a form of deliberate blindness to their own actions and their impact on women's lives.
- Society's Deliberate Blindness: This section argues that society has created a system of deliberate blindness that prevents men from recognizing their own role in perpetuating women's oppression. This sets the stage for the subsequent analysis of Bennie's attempted rape of Arlene.
- Arlene's Relationship to Her Mother: This section examines Arlene's relationship with her mother, who represents the broader influence of society on her. The paper argues that Arlene's mother, shaped by societal forces, perpetuates the cycle of oppression and contributes to Arlene's current situation.
- Arlene's Relationship to Bennie: This section explores Arlene's relationship with Bennie, who represents a broader societal archetype of men who exert power over women. The paper argues that Bennie reinforces the social order and the pressures Arlene faces as a woman in a patriarchal society.
- Society's Influence on Arlene: This section focuses on how society's institutions, particularly those related to prison life, further shape Arlene's experiences of oppression. The paper highlights how these institutions are complicit in maintaining the power imbalance between men and women.
- Life in Prison: This section provides a glimpse into life in prison through the daily announcements, demonstrating the regimented and controlling nature of the institution. This underscores the pervasive influence of societal forces in shaping individuals' lives.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
This term paper examines the complex relationship between gender, society, and power dynamics through the lens of Marsha Norman's play "Getting Out." Key themes include the concept of "crypting," the societal scapegoating of women, the impact of male dominance on women's experiences, and the limitations of achieving individual freedom within oppressive social structures. The paper draws upon feminist, psychoanalytic, and existential frameworks to analyze Arlene's journey of self-discovery and the societal forces that shape her experiences.
- Quote paper
- Stephanie Wössner (Author), 1999, Trapped inside society or Eve - an improved version of Adam, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1566
