Expressionism and The Theatre of Revolt in Selected American Plays
In’am Hashim Hadi;
Abstract
The main goal of this study is to prove that the American’s society and theatre as well underwent radical changes under the influence of the most revolutionarymovement in modern age, Expressionism, since it essentially aimed at social reform and change. Expressionism raised the individual’s social consciousness to the level of understanding his responsibility to bring about this reform and change for the society’s well-being. Thus a further aim, as an affirmation and a continuation to the main aim was initiated. It is related to tracing, explaining and analyzing the two dimensions of Expressionism, the inner psychological realities of modern man under different oppressive forces and the different theatrical devices used in each play, to form a unified stage picture of the human mind and condition as seen by expressionists. The three plays under analysis havedeliberately been selected not only due to their employment of expressionism, but also to the importance of their authors who were considered the pioneers ofmodern American theatre. As advocators of expressionism and as social reformers Eugene O’Neill, Elmer Rice, and Thornton Wilder succeeded, throughout The Hairy Ape, The Adding Machine, and The Skin of Our Teeth respectively, in demonstrating their revolting voices to bring about the desired change first to the individual and eventually to their afflicted society as a whole.
This thesis is divided into three chapters within each chapter there are three sectionsin addition toan introduction and a conclusion.
The introduction is divided into three sections. Section one sheds light on the social and political history of America before and after the Second World War.Section Twotraces the American dramatic history especially before and after the Second World War.Followed is the Third Sectionthat deals withExpressionism and the three influences that gave birth to it as aliterary movement; namely technological innovations, Marxism and Freudianism.
Chapter One deals, throughout its three sections with Eugene O’Neill and his expressionistic play The Hairy Ape.Section One speaks about the personal and cultural forces that implanted in O’Neill his revoltinginstinct.The chapter’s Second Section concentrates on O’Neill as an expressionist.O’Neill was conscious of America’s alienated and lost soul in modern industrialized society, in addition he did not trust any political or social institution, thus the individual would be his best agent of change. In doing so he shared the aims of expressionistic theatre of tackling modern issues from a subjective viewpoint. The Last Section in this chapter analyzes The Hairy Ape with special emphasis on the different expressionistic devices that O’Neill employed to make overt his earnest desire to reject the surface reality in favor of the inner truth or the psychological implications of modern social order.
Chapter TwointroducesElmer Rice andhis play The Adding Machine, one of the finest examples of expressionism. In the First SectionRice is introduced as a man of principle who categorized by many as a rebel and a reformer.He recommends a society based on social justice and freedom and capable of self-development and change. Section Twoexplains Rice’s satirical expressionism that not even attacks the machine, but rather condemns the person who refuses to rebel against it.
This thesis is divided into three chapters within each chapter there are three sectionsin addition toan introduction and a conclusion.
The introduction is divided into three sections. Section one sheds light on the social and political history of America before and after the Second World War.Section Twotraces the American dramatic history especially before and after the Second World War.Followed is the Third Sectionthat deals withExpressionism and the three influences that gave birth to it as aliterary movement; namely technological innovations, Marxism and Freudianism.
Chapter One deals, throughout its three sections with Eugene O’Neill and his expressionistic play The Hairy Ape.Section One speaks about the personal and cultural forces that implanted in O’Neill his revoltinginstinct.The chapter’s Second Section concentrates on O’Neill as an expressionist.O’Neill was conscious of America’s alienated and lost soul in modern industrialized society, in addition he did not trust any political or social institution, thus the individual would be his best agent of change. In doing so he shared the aims of expressionistic theatre of tackling modern issues from a subjective viewpoint. The Last Section in this chapter analyzes The Hairy Ape with special emphasis on the different expressionistic devices that O’Neill employed to make overt his earnest desire to reject the surface reality in favor of the inner truth or the psychological implications of modern social order.
Chapter TwointroducesElmer Rice andhis play The Adding Machine, one of the finest examples of expressionism. In the First SectionRice is introduced as a man of principle who categorized by many as a rebel and a reformer.He recommends a society based on social justice and freedom and capable of self-development and change. Section Twoexplains Rice’s satirical expressionism that not even attacks the machine, but rather condemns the person who refuses to rebel against it.
Other data
| Title | Expressionism and The Theatre of Revolt in Selected American Plays | Other Titles | التعبيرية والمسرح الثائر في مسرحيات أمريكية مختارة | Authors | In’am Hashim Hadi | Issue Date | 2015 |
Recommend this item
Similar Items from Core Recommender Database
Items in Ain Shams Scholar are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.