Fefu And Her Friends Play Analysis

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RESISTANCE OF FEMALE CHARACTERS IN
SELECTED PLAYS BY MARIA IRENE FORNES

Mona A. M. Ahmed The purpose of this paper is to examine female characters' resistance in selected plays by the Cuban-American playwright, Maria Irene Fornes who, as a feminist and activist, reacts against the oppression inflicted upon women in male-dominated societies. The paper specifically focuses on three of her most successful plays, Fefu and her Friends (1978), Mud (1983) and The Conduct of life (1985), which will be discussed in the light of feminism. As a feminist, Fornes exerts herself to improve the position of women in society; she skillfully employs theatre as a vehicle for advocating women concerns . In these plays, she masterfully portrays the …show more content…

(1987, 239) Lerner argues that, as most feminist thinkers, she is of the view that ''patriarchy as a system is historical: it has a beginning in history. If that is so, it can be ended by historical process'' (1986, 6). Consequently, women should not yield to the oppression they experience in patriarchal societies; they should resist the oppression inflicted upon them by seeking education and economic independence, and eventually, changing the oppressive institutions prevalent in patriarchal societies.

Feminists actually aim at emancipating women from oppression and exploitation as well as improving their conditions. In her book, A Vindication of the Rights of Women, the pioneer English feminist Mary Wollstonecraft calls for the liberation of women; she believes that women should have political and civil equal rights as men. In order to attain these goals, women should seek education so as to be mentally developed. Wolestonecraft maintains, ''Contending for the rights of women, my main argument is built on this simple principle, that if she be not prepared by education to become the companion of man, she will stop the progress of knowledge and virtue'' (n. d. , 66). Furthermore, Wolestonecraft believes that education will prepare women ''for the possibility of economic independence to give them freedom and dignity, rather than the ability to fascinate potential husbands'' (Sanders 2001, 15). Wolestonecraft is of the view that women should resist in order to get their rights. She

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