Politics and Sex in Four Plays

However, these plays also demonstrate that for the playwright, the definition of "the political" is more expansive than merely those things relating to the government. In ways to be discussed in the body of the paper, each playwright demonstrates that affairs that eventually affect the political administration of a society often begin among the personal interaction of that society's members. In each play, the personal ambitions, beliefs, and agenda of the characters in the play inform the political arena in which they operate. This is essentially the job of the playwright in each of these plays: to made the audience aware that the political can, and often is, personal.

In "The Crucible," Abigail begins the witch hunt to avenge herself against John Proctor, with

. . .
secution is very usually underlaid with issues of personal vengeance. Jack and Margery cannot account for the failure of their farm so they credit their failures to Margery, an easy target. Interestingly enough, the women in "Vinegar Tom" all accept their sexuality as a curse. Jack's belief that Alice has stolen his potency demonstrates the belief also found in "The Crucible" that woman ultimately hold the power and, consequently, the blame for the corrupting, evil nature of sex. Sprenger and Kramer, the authors of Malleus Maleficarum (The Hammer of Witches), a very popular book in the seventeenth century, explain why women are simultaneously at the heart of all things sexual and evil: Kramer: "All wickedness is but little to the wickedness of a woman." Ecclesiastes. . . . . Sprenger: But the main reason is Kramer/Sprenger: she is more carnal than a man Kramer: as may be seen from her many carnal abominations (xxi. 18-19,32-34). Thus, based on the actions attributed to Eve, women's sexual nature is viewed as a "carnal abomination" and a reason for doubt and persecution. "M. Butterfly" carries the least religious overtones of the plays as yet discussed. Thus, the nature of its characterization of woman's sexual
. . .

Some common words found in the essay are:
Song Liling, Tom Butterfly, Vinegar Tom, Consequently Lula, Hammer Witches, Eastern Europe, Reverend Parris, Lula Dutchman, Clay Lula, Brace Company, vinegar tom, hbj anthology drama, drama ed worthen, orlando harcourt, worthen orlando, company 1993, brace company, harcourt brace, ed worthen orlando, hbj anthology, harcourt brace company, anthology drama, worthen orlando harcourt, drama ed, ed worthen,
Approximate Word count = 1511
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page)

More Essays on Politics and Sex in Four Plays