FROM MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION TO PRESS CUTTINGS: THE WOMAN QUESTION IN GEORGE BERNARD SHAW’S PLAYS

Abstract

George Bernard Shaw, who introduced social realism to the British stage, is considered to be the most significant playwright of the Victorian era. In his plays, he challenged the typical Victorian representation of female characters and introduced a new woman type who stands as a powerful and independent figure. Shaw’s female characters can be analysed in line with the suffragette movement, the fight given by British women to gain their right to vote. In this regard, Shaw’s play Mrs Warren’s Profession exemplifies a female character who can be considered as an advocate for female liberation and power. On the other hand, his play Press Cuttings, which was specifically written to support the suffragette movement, neither exemplifies the new woman image presented by Shaw in his plays nor contributes to the suffragette movement. Hence, this study aims to discuss the theme of the rights of women and to focus on George Bernard Shaw’s Mrs Warren’s Profession and Press Cuttings by means of Shaw’s involvement in and support for the suffragette movement from the Victorian to the Edwardian era.

Keywords

• George Bernard Shaw,Mrs Warren’s Profession,Press Cuttings,suffragette movement,women’s rights

MRS WARREN’S PROFESSION’DAN PRESS CUTTINGS’E: GEORGE BERNARD SHAW’UN OYUNLARINDA KADIN SORUSU

Abstract

Sosyal gerçekçiliği Britanya sahnesine taşıyan George Bernard Shaw Viktorya döneminin en önemli oyun yazarı olarak bilinmektedir. Oyunlarında geleneksel Viktorya dönemi kadın imajına meydan okuyan Shaw, bağımsız ve güçlü tasvir edilen yeni bir kadın imajını sahneye taşımıştır. Shaw’un kadın karakterleri Britanyalı kadınların oy hakkı için savaş verdiği süfrajet hareketi çerçevesinde incelenebilir. Bu bağlamda Shaw’un Mrs Warren’s Profession adlı oyununun kadın özgürlüğünü savunan bir kadın karakteri örneklendirdiği belirtilebilir. Öte yandan süfrajet hareketini desteklemek amacıyla yazdığı Press Cuttings oyunu ne Shaw’un ortaya koyduğu yeni kadın imajını örneklendirebilir ne de gerçek anlamda süfrajet hareketini destekler. Bu çerçevede bu çalışma George Bernard Shaw’un oyunlarındaki kadın hakları temasını incelemeyi ve Shaw’un Mrs Warren’s Profession ve Press Cuttings adlı oyunlarına Shaw’un Viktorya döneminden Edward dönemine kadar olan süreçte oy hakkı için verilen mücadeledeki rolü açısından odaklanmayı hedeflemektedir.

Keywords

• George Bernard Shaw,Mrs Warren’s Profession,Press Cuttings,süfrajet hareketi,kadın hakları

References

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