In terms of this essay I am going to explore the genesis of modern American
Drama.
This topic is quite extensive in scope, and that’s why I want to focus my attention on
women authors who wrote about women and about their place in the society of that
time.
In the beginning of my essay I will explore the role of women in the society of the
USA at the beginning of the previous century. I will examine what made women
change.
In the next part of the essay I will examine the contribution of women writers in the
literature of the USA at that period of time and specifically the contribution of Lillian
Hellman on the basis of her play “The Children´s Hour”. I am interested in topics and
issues that she takes under consideration in her play, and what actually Lillian
Hellman wanted to achieve by writing and staging it.
In the last part of my essay I will examine the gender and sexuality represented in
“The Children´ s Hour” by Lillian Hellman and, finally, I will present my thought about
the contribution of women writers and especially the contribution of Lillian Hellman to
the genesis of the modern American Drama.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2. The Role of Women in Society in the 20th Century and Historical Context
3. The Contribution of Women Writers in the Development of Modern American Drama. Lillian Hellman
4. The Children´s Hour
5. Sexuality in The Children’s Hour
6. Gender in The Children´s Hour. Good and Evil?
6.1. Young Mary Tilford
6.2. Mr. Amelia Tilford
6.3. Karen Wright and Martha Dobie
7. Conclusion
Objectives and Themes
This essay explores the genesis of modern American drama by focusing on the representation of women and their evolving roles in society during the early 20th century, specifically through the analytical lens of Lillian Hellman's play, The Children’s Hour.
- The historical context of women's rights and social status in the early 20th-century USA.
- The role of female playwrights in shaping modern American theatre.
- Lillian Hellman’s dramatic contributions and her portrayal of social taboos.
- An examination of gender, sexuality, and the psychological impact of social pressure in The Children’s Hour.
Excerpt from the Book
6.1. Young Mary Tilford
Children often lie and sometimes much more cruelly than adults. Probably, at their age, there is still no clear understanding of the consequences. They do not understand the scale of the disaster. The protagonist Mary Tilford is a good example. In my opinion she is a very unpleasant character. Mary is extremely hysterical, lying recklessly, artfully blackmails and endlessly trying to blame all in her misadventures, while drawing attention to herself. It is easy for her to slander her teachers, accusing them of having an affair and to manipulate her classmates. I have to admit that she is good in lying and she knows how to lie convincingly.
“The fact that Mary´s lie is of a sexual nature intensifies its impact in the thirties, children, especially girls, were shielded from sexual information and were believed to be uninterested in sex until late puberty. That is why Mary´s lie succeeds so effectively. Adults in her community find it inconceivable that she should know about a lesbian relationship unless she had seen actual evidence of it. Mary is clever enough to disguise how much she has learned from reading illicit French novels.” (Griffin and Thorsten p. 30-31). Thus, describing what she allegedly” saw”, she easily persuaded her grandmother. She ruins the lives of her teachers, despite the fact, that it was only a child´s lie, which could be easily discovered without the “help” of her grandmother and credulous public opinion. If so it could have ended very differently. In contrast to the “highly moral society”, Karen and Martha quickly realized what the goal of the girl was, but the counter-measures taken were insufficient.
Thus, I can sum up, that Mary is not “evil” in the play. She is definitely ill-mannered, but still a child and the terrible consequences of her lies become real only because of the society which her grandmother embodies.
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: The author outlines the purpose of the essay, which is to investigate the development of modern American drama and the specific contributions of Lillian Hellman.
2. The Role of Women in Society in the 20th Century and Historical Context: This chapter contextualizes the socio-economic challenges women faced during the Great Depression and the early 20th century.
3. The Contribution of Women Writers in the Development of Modern American Drama. Lillian Hellman: The text discusses the broader landscape of American theatre and the unique position women writers occupied within it.
4. The Children´s Hour: This section provides an overview of Hellman's play, emphasizing its reception and the central role of rumors.
5. Sexuality in The Children’s Hour: This chapter analyzes how the play explores lesbian themes within the cultural constraints of the 1930s.
6. Gender in The Children´s Hour. Good and Evil?: This section deconstructs the character archetypes of "good" and "evil" as depicted in the play.
6.1. Young Mary Tilford: A character study of Mary Tilford, focusing on the power of her lies and her lack of true moral understanding.
6.2. Mr. Amelia Tilford: An analysis of Mrs. Tilford as a representation of traditional, conservative society.
6.3. Karen Wright and Martha Dobie: A comparison of the two protagonists and their differing reactions to social stigmatization.
7. Conclusion: The author summarizes the findings, highlighting how Hellman's work challenged traditional literary representations of women.
Keywords
Lillian Hellman, The Children's Hour, American Drama, 20th Century, Women Writers, Feminism, Sexuality, Gender Roles, Great Depression, Social Taboo, Lesbianism, Moral Conflict, Character Analysis, Theater History, Patriarchal Society
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work explores the development of modern American drama with a specific focus on how women authors, particularly Lillian Hellman, addressed gender roles and social issues in their writing.
What are the central themes discussed in the essay?
The essay focuses on female identity, the impact of social and psychological pressure on women, the power of rumors, and the exploration of lesbianism as a taboo subject in 1930s American theatre.
What is the core research question or objective?
The objective is to examine the genesis of modern American drama and analyze how Lillian Hellman utilized her play, The Children’s Hour, to challenge societal perceptions of women and their relationships.
Which scientific or analytical method is applied?
The author employs a literary analysis method, interpreting the play through historical context, contemporary feminist criticism, and existing academic discourse on Hellman's dramatic techniques.
What is covered in the main body of the work?
The main body examines historical gender roles, the role of women playwrights in the 20th century, the themes of sexuality in The Children’s Hour, and detailed character analyses of the play's protagonists and antagonist.
Which keywords best characterize this research?
Key terms include American Drama, Lillian Hellman, Gender Roles, Sexuality, Feminist Criticism, and Social Stigma.
How does the author view the character of Mary Tilford?
The author views Mary Tilford not as the embodiment of "evil," but as an ill-mannered child whose lies cause destruction primarily because they are amplified by a rigid and judgmental society.
What distinguishes Martha Dobie from Karen Wright?
According to the author, Martha is portrayed as more vulnerable and high-strung, internalizing social charges and eventually succumbing to the pressure, whereas Karen is depicted as more resilient and self-sufficient.
Does the author conclude that the play is specifically about lesbianism?
No, the author argues that while lesbianism is the subject of the rumors, the play is fundamentally about the devastating power of a lie and the broader pressures exerted by a patriarchal society on "others."
- Quote paper
- Eugen Andri (Author), 2012, The Genesis of Modern U.S.-American Drama: Lillian Hellman, "The Children´s Hour" (1934), Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/201473
