PATRIARCHY, GENDER, AND FEMALE AGENCY IN LOOK BACK IN ANGER: A FEMINIST READING

Abstract

The present study views the concept of patriarchy, gender relations and female agency in John Osborne's Look Back in Anger from a feminist perspective. The study investigates the depiction of female characters, mainly Alison Porter and Helena Charles, in a male dominated society and their reaction to the male domination. The study employs the qualitative text analysis to explore interactions among characters, conversations, power dynamics in the play. The results reveal the emotional marginalization and social restrictions that women face, but also show expressions of resistance and self-determination. The study suggests that Osborne's representation of gender relations can be seen as the result of a conflict between traditional male and female values and women's aspiration for independence within post-war British society. This feminist analysis helps to better understand the politics of gender and the portrayal of women in contemporary British theatre.