Sure Thing Play- David Ives

Name: Tutor: Course: Date: Sure Thing Play- David Ives The task of any theatrical work is not only to entertain but to inspire change in the hearts and minds of its audience. Sublime themes in productions enable playwrights to transmit certain messages of significance to them and the society in a manner that cannot be achieved in any other way. This recognition of the power that productions have on the society is critical in ensuring not only the continued forward trajectory of art. Rather by embracing didacticism in their outlook towards contemporary issues in society, art becomes an agent for change. It allows society to question each and every tenet that it holds dearCITATION Sus13 \p ": http://sgo.sagepub.com" \l 1033 (Eisenchlas : http://sgo.sagepub.com). The result is a society that is in a continued state of progress, dedicated to bettering itself. The paper therefore looks at a particular theme that is contained within one of the plays we have dissected. The paper chose the theme of gender roles which is present in the play Trifles. The theme of gender roles necessitates discussion in light of modern developments in perception of gender. Feminism as an alternative model interrogates the role of the female person in the modern gender divide. In the US and other parts of the developed world, there have been significant changes in gender roles especially after the Second World War. Prior to the war, gender roles were clear. Patriarchy reigned supreme, the male gender being the dominant gender based on a confluence of factors. Key among these religious based assertion of supremacy to the female gender. The male species is and was on average physically stronger. Members of the species were further more intellectually endowed. However, this was in part attributable to the continued denial of education to women. Gender roles have faced significant attrition in the modern global orderCITATION Mar09 \p :17 \l 1033 (Maria Shriver and the Center for American Progres :17). The influx of women into schools, work environment has resulted in a relaxation in the stringent characterisations of gender. The result has been a renewed discourse on gender roles and their suitability in the modern environment. In masculine cultures, males are perceived to have characteristic such as dominance while in females the dominant characteristics include caring for othersCITATION Fau00 \p :274 \l 1033 (Fausto-Sterling :274). The global discussion on the fluidity (perceived) of gender that has allowed the rise to prominence of the LGBT society has an impact on gender roles. Members of the society are more readily accepting of the changing roles noting the dominant society's apathy towards the community. Thus, there is a potential equalisation of the sexes that arises with the acceptance of the LGBT community. ...