In search of an equilibrium: A study of gender roles and style in national drama festival plays

Abstract

This study is aimed at establishing the gender roles and attitudes inscribed in the Drama Festival plays within the period between 1995 - 1999. It is based on ten unpublished Drama Festival plays picking two plays per a year within the given period. The study gives an exposition of the themes, and examines the gender roles and style in the plays. An analysis of the thematic concerns reveals a broad spectrum of dramatic focus which includes, the girl child and education, the plight of women, unfaithfulness in marriage, forced marriages, politics, religion and poverty. The study explores the themes in terms of character interaction(s) which help to establish the given thematic constructs. In the given exposition it is revealed that the Drama Festival plays have a rich variety of issues in their thematic focus which are not only relevant but also affect society. With the feminist perspective as a point of departure, the study examines the portrayal of the female and male characters and how they individually contribute to the central themes. In this instance it is revealed that the male character is accorded the most important roles in society while the female occupies a peripheral and subordinate premise. We encounter negatively portrayed characters on both sides of the sex-divide but with a tilt towards more females who are negatively presented. Noteworthy is the fact that the female is presented as the weaker sex so much so that even the most intelligent one needs a male to help her out of her predicament. On the other hand the male of limited intelligence excels and in certain instances is the one responsible for helping the intelligent female out of her problem. The study also delves into a focus on style in terms of gender. This involves the study of the grave motif, symbolism, the dream and illusion, and diction, with a view of establishing how they contribute to the gender disparity or how they aid to bridge the sex¬divide. It is discovered that style has been used to proffer gender disparity even in plays that set out to create harmony between the sexes. It is then concluded that a gender equilibrium is yet to be established in the Drama Festival plays. The study hence recommends greater encouragement to the authors of Drama Festival plays through the boosting of awards for gender responsive plays.